Laser Hair Removal: Did I expect too much?

Lured by promises of being able to "throw away my razor," I surrendered over $1800 of hard-earned money to a certain laser hair removal company (we'll call them "Certain Laser Company" or "CLC," for now). I signed up for 2 packages: one to have my underarm hair removed, and the other to have the hair along my bikini line removed. These are the two areas that I absolutely hate shaving. I also chose these areas because I am prone to razor burn. No matter what combination of razor and shaving lotion/gel/cream I used, I was honestly at a point where I'd rather not shave those areas than be seen in public in a bathing suit with all the red bumps.



The packages I purchased included six (6) laser treatment sessions every ten (10) weeks. This particular company offers a "guarantee" that if hair "ever grows back in the treated areas," then I can come back for more sessions, "free of charge."



I did not notice any difference after the first treatment. When I went back for my second treatment, the technician assured me that I would notice a reduction in hair, but not until after my second or even third treatment. It turns out, she was right. I started noticing a difference in the amount of hair in my underarm area after the third treatment.



Each time I go for a treatment, the tech asks me to estimate my overall hair reduction. Since the fourth visit, I have estimated that my bikini line hair has been reduced about 70%, and my underarms are in the area of 50%.



I finished my sessions in February 2007, without ever realizing my "hair free" dream. Even with the reduction, I'm still shaving those areas as often as I was before, and I'm still getting those nasty bumps. I will say that my underarm hair is "finer" and slightly "lighter," but as I said, it still needs to be shaved on a regular basis. The hair along my bikini line is exactly the same as it was when I started the treatments.



Recently, I spoke at length to a woman who owns a medical spa here in town where they also do laser hair removal. She told me that in her opinion, no one in the laser hair removal industry should be talking in terms of "throwing away razors." She said she goes out of her way to tell her clients that they will not necessarily be "hair free for the rest of their lives." She knows for a fact that she has lost sales because she won't tell people what they want to hear. But, for her, it's all about expectations. She understands the limits of laser hair removal and knows that if she speaks to her clients in terms of "hair reduction," instead of being "hair free," her clients will be much more satisfied with the results, and some, the lucky ones, will actually be hair free for the rest of their lives.



Honestly, I would not have signed up for laser hair removal with CLC if they spoke to me in terms of "hair reduction." That's not what I wanted, and they know that. I didn't want to have to shave my underarms or bikini areas ever again, and now, I realize, that was an unreasonable expectation.



So, what's my recourse? What am I going to do about it? I'm not sure yet. I'm still receiving treatments "free of charge." I'm pretty sure it's in vain, though, because as I said, I have now received 10 treatments, and I have not noticed a difference since after my third visit. I've been told that the hair that's left, especially in my underarm area, is "too fine" and the laser can't "find it" to "zap" it.