4 women talk about their experience with laser hair removal

Fishtail braiding my hair in a moving vehicle has become a habit, a top bun is my statement look (which also means DND, writer at work) at the Vogue HQ, and you’ll often spot me in a crowd with an abnormally high ponytail. Honest confession, I’m obsessed with my hair—styling it silly gives me immense pleasure. But these joyous little moments only occurred in my life a few years ago. I’d always been a hairy child—which is what I credit my thick head of hair and its fast growth rate to—but that’s the only pro to the cons. And my out-of-whack hormones didn’t help either—facial hair was my biggest enemy.

None of the high buns and ponies were possible, and though I love leaving my hair down, it annoyed me that I couldn’t tie it up. I was too conscious that a pulled-back hairstyle would highlight the fuzz on my face. I lived with this constant state of mind for a very long time, until I finally decided to seek an almost permanent solution—laser hair removal. It took a while to convince myself to go ahead with it, that it won’t hurt as much, that it’s worth all the money and time. And I was right. It does more than just rid you of unwanted hair—it takes away many restrictions you placed upon yourself. After a few spaced out sessions, the only hair on my face are the cascading curls that I love. If I haven’t convinced you, three other Vogue India editors share their experience on how laser hair removal has changed their lives to sway you towards a giving it a try.

Nidhi Sharma Punjabi, beauty director

When did you decide to do laser hair removal?

“I have done the whole body—legs, arms, underarm, bikini and my full face. I did it in batches of course, and through different technologies, over almost seven to eight years now. I am one of those people who would run to the parlour if I would spot even three strands of hair on my hands or legs. Facial hair was especially a huge concern for me—I used to do my eyebrows every three weeks. It took me a while to finally get the laser done primarily because of the kind of money that was involved, and because when I wanted to do it seven or eight years ago, the packages were really high and weren’t as accessible as they are today; plus only a few people of good repute did it back then. So instead, I started slow and divided the whole thing into three packages at The Ageless Clinic.”

Was it painful?

“The only place where it is kind of painful is the bony areas on the face, like the forehead. Anything that has a bit of skin and cushion to it doesn’t really hurt, I could do it in my sleep to be honest! But yes, Brazilian is where it hurts a bit, it also depends on the time of your cycle. If you’re doing it very close to when you’re getting your periods or after your periods, the skin there is a bit sensitive, so that’s the only time when it kind of stung. I’ve also tried numbing it once, which was not better at all, but a stress ball in your hand should help.”

What’s life like before and after laser hair removal?

“Before, I had a contract with my eyebrow lady who would come at any point and time at my beck and call—nights, weekdays, weekends. More than the money (since threading is so cheap) it was the amount of time and pain that went into this. Now I don’t have to think about what I’m wearing anymore, I don’t have to prepare for the dreaded pain before doing a Brazilian wax, for which I even tried pain killers that were of course, of no help.”

Do you regret anything?

“Absolutely not. The only thing I think I should’ve done differently is my eyebrows. I used to have really thick, bushy brows and because I got a little too excited, I lost one or two strands. So, I have to fill the gap every day. It’s still worth not having to thread every few weeks.”

Your advice to women who want to do it too

“Laser hair removal is so much more accessible now. Ten years ago when we wanted to do it there were very few people who were doing a legitimate job with proper FTA certified machines, but now are many clinics that are giving you so many flexible packages with EMI options too. It’s become a lot more mainstream. It’s really the best gift you can give to someone like, ‘here, my birthday gift to you is this—get rid of the hair on your arms.’ I think that’s a good idea!”

Anaita Shroff Adajania, fashion director

What made you do it? And why did it take this long?

“I think I was in college when I met a friend who had been working in the States. We were in the pool when she told she got her laser done and at that time I didn’t even think about it, because I didn’t even know that it was an option. There were a lot of ads for a clinic chain everywhere during that time since it had just entered the market, so I decided to do a patch test—and it was pretty painful. The painless technology came in much later, and two of my friends—both men—and my sister told me how their life had changed after getting it done. And I finally decided to go for it myself at the Therapie Clinic in Mumbai.”

What was it like?

“Even though you won’t see 100 per cent results, the fact that it is 95 per cent is enough for me.”

What was it like before?

“You know, I was really traumatised in college and in school. If someone said let’s go swimming on a Saturday, it was not possible. If we went for outings I had to wear long-sleeved shirts even though it was hot because I had hairy arms. Pre-laser, we lived the wax-to-wait cycle—where we’d wax, then wait for the hair to grow long enough so we could wax again—and the in-between was a state we could do nothing about. I feel like I wasted my entire youth being conscious abut what I was wearing, and now suddenly at 40 it’s so liberating because it’s a total change in my life. I can pick out anything that I want to wear, anytime, without thinking.”

Would you recommend it?

“Of course. People shouldn’t wait. I think it’s a great gift—there’s no question of the person not liking it!”

Priyanka Kapadia, senior fashion editor

What prompted you to get it done?

“I had a PCOD problem and was suggested laser because one of the biggest side effects of PCOD is facial hair. Besides, I am also the laziest human being. That was enough reason to never visit the salon again for a waxing session.”

What parts of your body did you do it on?

“I’ve done my upper lip, chin and neck. Now I just have to find the time to do the rest of my body.”

Why did you wait it out?

“The first time I attempted laser it was really painful—that just put me off and I never went back. Then I was back to the cycle of threading and waxing, which was very painful too, and you know, you somehow have to just plan all your life around it. And for me, [the problem area] was the face, so there was no way I could escape it. After seven to eight years of waiting it out, I heard of Therapie Clinic, and after my endocrinologist explained that laser is the only way out, I decided to give this another chance. It’s crazy how in five sessions it has literally changed my life, and it actually is painless. Trust me, I cry at a blood test so I can vouch for the pain-free sessions, and it has made life so much easier for a lazy person like myself.”

Also read:

8 hair, makeup and skincare mistakes to avoid in your 50s

We asked a dermat: Everything you wanted to know about laser treatments

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