Wow. Thanks for sharing your experience. Good luck whether or not you decide to continue. (I sense your frustration.)
A few questions:
(1) Have you tracked how much money you spent on all your sessions?
(2) If you fresh shave today, how long before you see/feel any stubble growing back?
(3) How are you judging the density now and when you started?
(4) Where do you fall on the Norwood MPB scale?
1) First of all, I live in Russia. One sessions for whole head costs about a 100$ here. I guess I made about 10-12 sessions already.
2) I am very meticulous about that moment, so even a 0.5mm hair already annoy me. I guess it takes 1-2 days for stubble to grow back. On the photos I have no shave for 3 days (yes, as I said they are growing slow for now, only 2 month break from last session).
3) I make photos of progress since the day of the first session. I mean, i ve already had the similar situation : you see almost no shade (cause hair are very weak, so even skin around them is pink, not gray), the density of hair that broke through skin is lower. But it takes some month for more hairs breaks through skin, and day by day density is going to initial state, the skin becomes gray etc.
4) I had about 4 Norwood. And was very sure in my decision. And i am still. Definetly. If I will succeed in treatment, I will be very satisfied with my clean aesthetically beautiful head.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For now, I am really considering to take another 2-3 month break to make some conclusion about the REAL permanent results (not just the shock state of scalp hair).
But.. I guess that s what I will do:
1. I ll wait another month to be sure all the hairs are in active growing phase already (necessary condition of follicle nest termination)
2. Find the clinic with Alexandrite laser equipment with 16-20mm spot size (bigger size - deeper laser penetration) with power setted to 40+ J/cm2 at the same time. Follicles located very deep in scalp skin - 5-6 mm, twice deeper than any other skin area on the human body. Really hard for laser to reach, I think (medical papers i found claims the same)
3. Take 5-6 month break if the result will be satisfying, to prove it with the time.
I dont know what to do else. Please, dont say "you should consult with your doctor". Here, no "specialist" even know very basic things about laser epilation and conditions for successful laser treatment.
Still waiting for some advices. Thanks for all, guys.