I went today for a consult & they said that after 6 treatments they guarantee the hair removal for 2 yrs from the last laser treatment. Supposedly the hair in that area grows in 3 wk cycles so after the 3 treatments most of it should have been treated & it's as though you're going through them again to make sure you've gotten them all. As a matter of fact they do not recommend having any stubble. Regardless of what part of the body you have done they tell you to shave it off the day before your treatment. They tell you not to tweeze or use a depilatory though. Having any hair will make the procedure more painful b/c the laser ends up having to zap that hair, making it smell awful & also causes more pain at the skin surface vs. if you allow the laser to concentrate on just the follicle. My place requires you purchase the topical cream. I start my treatments next wk! Michie

coolmama- I have not noticed any side effects. I was cautious as I have been known to react to certain things. The dermo said to use 2X a day but I started out by using 1X a day for a few days and everything was fine so I have been doing it 2X for almost 2 months now. I didn't notice any drying, burning,etc. I'm not sure yet but I may use a depilitory on the rest of my face (as I have never done that before). I very carefully put a small amount in the eyebrow area and have noticed a big difference there also. I believe for the VANIQA to work, the hair has to be eliminated first because I have been putting it on my jawline and I don't see any difference. My jaw line is blond peach fuzz. What does everyone else do with theirs (if it is just peach fuzz)? Like I said, insurance doesn't cover it and it is $85 for @ a 1oz. tube. I think it will last me @ 6 months if I continue to put it on my jawline too. The instructions say to really rub it in. Otherwise, if you just put it on the upper lip..it will last forever. If you quit using it, it is my understanding,that the hair will return to the pre VANIQA.

Okay - I had not heard that so had to look it up. This is from some laser hair removal site: Hair Color The second factor that helps to determine the outcome of you laser hair removal procedure is the color if the hair to be treated. Let�s take a look at each hair color type and the result it is most likely to produce. Dark hair - Dark hair, such as black or dark brown, is going to be the easiest to treat because it contains the most pigmentation which allows the laser light to be absorbed to a greater extent. Also, dark hair tends to be more coarse which will produce a better result. Medium hair - This is most often light or medium brown hair. This hair type is going to be easier to treat than lighter hair colors, but may require more procedures than candidates with very dark brown or black hair. Also, not all medium hair is also coarse, some can be very fine and thin, so it goes without saying that those with coarse medium hair will produce better and quicker results than those with fine medium hair. Light hair - There are many varying degrees of light hair, more than any other hair type. Overall, light hair is the most difficult to treat and will require more time, money, and procedures than candidates with other hair color types. The easiest to treat would be dark or medium blonde hair, with light blonde and red hair both being the hardest to treat. This is because they contain phemelianin pigment which makes them less able to absorb the laser light. White or grey hair - It may be almost impossible to treat those with grey or white hair. It contains no pigmentation and therefore can not absorb the laser light enough to heat the hair follicle. -------------------------- Maybe the number of treatments has something to do with the hair color? tina

Poohbaer, I was going to recommend Magic Shave also. It gets very good reviews. One thing about using a depilatory is that you do not have to use it everyday. The product dissolves hair slightly beneath the surface of the skin so it takes a while before it begins to appear above the surface, and is visually apparent. Also the hair grows back feeling softer, since the end of the hair shaft are not cut off like with a razor leaving a "sharp" end. There are warning for the product though, and just like with any depilatory, there is a risk of burning the skin if you are not diligent about the timing. Keep in mind that this product is made by L'Oreal and marketed solely to Africa American men who naturally have skin that is more oily than their Caucasion counterparts and have a greater concentration of melanin in the skin offering greater protection. The product is stronger and more concentrated than the depilatories sold to women, and there is a greater chance of inflicting burns to the skin if you are very pale, with soft, thin , non-oily skin. You may want to experiment with hair on another part of your body in a small patch, to see if the product is right for you. Magic Shave is what a lot of guys use to achieve that hairless look on their heads. They don't run a straight razor over all the head bumps, risking nicks and cuts. The head is curved, The razor is not. Magic Shave is the perfect replacement for head shaving especially since the scalp has a lot of protective oils so there is less risk of burns from the product.