Here, I will discuss my first experiences with the Epila Laser Hair Remover.

As mentioned in (1.2), I received the item on May 30, 2006.  I read through the entire instruction booklet.  The instructions are in rather broken English, but are understandable.

The booklet suggests zapping a black piece of paper to be certain the laser is working properly.  I did so, and was pleasantly surprised to see a tiny tendril of smoke.  I repeated the test on white paper, no smoke.  This was good news to me.  Laser hair removers are supposed to have little or no effect on pale skin, but should ZAP dark hair follicles.  So far, so good.

The instruction booklet also recommends that hairs should be about 1mm in length, so it is best to shave the area you wish to treat one day before use.  So I shaved the areas in question (chin, under chin, upper lip) and waited until the next day to begin use.

I found that using a hand mirror and a bright, easily moveable light was more convenient than using a fixed mirror and overhead lighting.  For my first session, I iced my sking and put a light coating of clear aloe vera gel on the area I planned to treat.  Just in case the laser was going to damage my skin, I wanted some protection.  I have found that the laser does NOT damage my skin, so I stopped using the ice and gel.  I now keep both nearby, just in case I treat an area that is more sensitive to the laser, but I have had no problems.

So, I zapped and zapped and zapped.  I knew from my professional treatments that the sensation of the laser hitting a hair follicle should be like a tiny elastic band snapping the skin.  When I was zapping 1mm hairs, I felt a tiny burn or pin prick.  I suspected the treatment was not being effective, particularly since the visible hairs would smoke.  So I now shave immediately before I treat an area, instead of leaving even a tiny amount of hair visible.  Use your own judgment in deciding if you want visible hair or not.

I have discovered that the mechanism beeps three times; when the button is pressed and two more times a second or so apart, then the laser shuts off.  Now, with no hair visible above my skin, I aim the laser as best I can at a hair follicle and press the button.  As quickly as possible, I adjust the location of the beam until I feel the snapping sensation.  I hold the beam in that location until the two subsequent beeps sound and the laser shuts off.  Then I move to another hair.

The booklet suggests that you can ZAP the same area several times in a session, but not all at once.  So, I zap all the hairs I can find using the method I describe above.  Then I start at the beginning and ZAP them all again.  And I usually ZAP them all a third time for good luck.

After my professional laser treatments, the unwanted hairs simply fell out.  After using the Epila Laser, they do not fall out, but they are held in place much less firmly than when I simply pluck.  I take this to be a good sign and I am now waiting to see what regrowth appears.  As a test, I have treated one armpit, but not the other.  If this thing actually works, I might look like a freak to anyone who gets close enough to see underarm stubble, but that's a small price, no?

All the research I have done suggests that laser treatments are most effective when done six weeks apart.  I continue to treat different areas, but I should have some comments on the first areas treated about one month from now.  If anything interesting happens in the meantime, I'll add to this guide.

But, for now, dear readers, if any exist, we wait.