My laser hair removal experience was something I had thought about for years before I finally decided to try it.
As a licensed esthetician, it certainly wasn’t a new concept to me. I’ve seen the at-home devices, I’ve known about professional treatments, and I’ve understood why people choose laser when they’re tired of constantly shaving or waxing.
But knowing about something and actually doing it yourself are two very different things.
And for years, professional laser hair removal simply wasn’t something that fit into my budget.
There was one area I had always wanted treated, though.
My upper lip.
The stash, if you will. 😂
It might sound like such a small thing, but the hair on my upper lip was something I genuinely felt insecure about. I managed it myself for years with at-home waxing and occasional dermaplaning, and that worked well enough—until there were times when I couldn’t remove the hair when I wanted to.
Eventually, thanks to my sister getting a job at a laser spa and blessing her sister with that beautiful family discount 😂, I finally decided to try professional laser hair removal.
And girl…
Best decision ever.
Why I Wanted Laser Hair Removal in the First Place
My biggest reason was simple.
I didn’t want to keep worrying about my upper-lip hair.
Waxing at home had become part of how I managed it, but that also meant keeping up with regrowth and planning when I could wax again.
It became especially frustrating whenever I had a cold-sore outbreak around the area. During those times, I wasn’t going to start waxing over irritated skin, so I would leave the area alone while everything healed.
Which meant I was already uncomfortable because of the outbreak and becoming increasingly aware of the hair growing back.
It was one of those little insecurities that probably wasn’t nearly as noticeable to everyone else as it was to me—but I noticed it.
And that’s what mattered.
I wanted the freedom of simply not thinking about it anymore.
Why I Never Tried At-Home Laser Hair Removal
I had known about at-home hair-removal devices for a long time, but I personally never felt comfortable using one.
That’s partly because of my background in esthetics.
Anything involving light- or laser-based treatments deserves respect. There are different technologies and different considerations that can affect whether a particular treatment is appropriate for someone.
Personally, I also wasn’t convinced an at-home device was the route I wanted to take for the results I was looking for.
That doesn’t mean someone else can’t have a completely different experience with an at-home device.
It simply wasn’t something I felt comfortable experimenting with on myself.
If I was finally going to do this, I wanted to have my treatment performed professionally.
Then My Sister Came Through 😂
The thing that had kept me from professional laser hair removal for so long wasn’t really fear.
It was the price.
It was something I wanted, but it wasn’t something I could justify fitting into my budget at the time.
Then my sister started working at a laser spa and suddenly…
Hello, family discount. 😂
That finally made it possible for me to try something I had been thinking about for years.
I started treatments on my upper lip, and several months into the process, I’m genuinely so happy that I did.
My Laser Hair Removal Experience So Far
This is probably the part that surprised me most.
A few months into my laser hair removal experience, I realized just how much less I was thinking about my upper-lip hair.
Since starting treatment, I personally haven’t needed to go back to my old routine of regularly waxing or shaving the area.
And that alone has been incredible.
Not having to constantly check for regrowth or think about when I need to wax again has taken away an insecurity that I carried for a long time.
I’ve also noticed changes in the appearance of the skin in that area during my treatment journey. That’s something I’m describing strictly from my own experience, though—not something I’d promise another person would experience from laser hair removal.
Skin and hair can respond differently from person to person, and treatment outcomes aren’t universal.
That’s one of the reasons I think professional evaluation matters so much.
Something Else Changed That I Didn’t Expect
There’s another change I’ve noticed personally since starting treatments.
I used to deal with cold-sore outbreaks around that area, and I haven’t experienced one there during the period I’ve been receiving treatment.
I’m obviously happy about that, but I want to be very clear about how I talk about it:
I don’t know that laser hair removal is the reason.
Cold sores can recur for many reasons, and my experience doesn’t establish that laser treatment prevented them.
It’s simply something I’ve noticed during this same period of my life.
Being an Esthetician Made Me More Cautious, Not Less
I think sometimes people assume that having a professional beauty background means you’ll be more comfortable experimenting with treatments.
For me, it’s almost the opposite.
Knowing that skin treatments can have unwanted effects when they aren’t appropriate or aren’t performed correctly makes me take them more seriously.
That’s why I’m a huge believer in doing your research and going to an appropriately trained professional who understands the technology they’re using and can evaluate the individual sitting in front of them.
Being an esthetician didn’t make me think, Oh, laser is no big deal.
It made me think, If I’m going to do this, I want it done correctly.
And experiencing treatment from the client’s side has reinforced that even more.
Would I Do Laser Hair Removal Again?
Absolutely.
For me, it has been completely worth it.
The biggest benefit isn’t even that I don’t have to worry about waxing anymore.
It’s how little I think about the area now.
Something that used to make me feel insecure simply isn’t taking up the same mental space anymore.
And that’s been incredibly freeing.
Would my experience automatically be someone else’s experience?
Of course not.
That’s why I would never tell someone, “You need laser hair removal.”
But if someone told me they were interested in it, I’d absolutely say it’s worth speaking with a qualified professionalto find out whether they’re an appropriate candidate and what realistic results might look like for them.
My Perspective as Both the Esthetician and the Client
Being on both sides of the beauty industry has taught me something I think is really important:
A treatment can sound simple when you’re talking about it professionally, but it can mean something completely different to the person receiving it.
For me, upper-lip hair wasn’t simply hair.
It was something I noticed in the mirror.
Something I planned waxing around.
Something that made me feel uncomfortable when I couldn’t remove it.
And now?
I barely think about it.
That might seem like a small change from the outside, but it doesn’t feel small to me.
After wanting professional laser hair removal for years, I’m genuinely glad I finally had the opportunity to try it.
Overall, my laser hair removal experience has been incredibly positive, and I’m genuinely glad I finally had the opportunity to try it.
The stash and I have officially parted ways. 😂
And I am perfectly okay with this being a relationship that never gets rekindled. 💚
Personal experience note: This article shares my individual experience as a laser hair-removal client and licensed esthetician. It isn’t medical advice or a guarantee of results. Laser and light-based treatments aren’t appropriate for every person or situation and can have risks. If you’re considering treatment, speak with a qualified professional who can evaluate your individual circumstances and discuss potential benefits and risks.
