

Thanks to ingrown hair and sensitive skin, I decided I wanted to explore methods of hair removal besides shaving. I initially settled on waxing because I had gotten my underarms waxed in the past and it was an okay experience. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn't like that I had to allow the hair to grow back a bit before I could get the service again. I did a bit more research and decided to give laser hair removal a try.
After one time, I was hooked, and I haven't looked back since.
I have gotten laser treatments on my underarms, my upper lip, and my bikini line, and enjoyed the ever-popular Brazilian. So, if you're curious about laser hair removal like I was, here's all you need to know.
What To Know About Laser Hair Removal
The Research
Get information on the facility before making an appointment. I did thorough research before deciding to go to Blue Water Spa for my laser hair removal sessions. Blue Water is owned and operated by a board-certified plastic surgeon and all of the technicians are trained and certified. I also recommend going in for a consultation as well. This gives you a chance to ask any questions that you may have so that you can make an informed decision about whether this is truly something you want to invest in.
Before making an appointment, I was actually required to go in for a consultation with a medical professional to see if I would be a good candidate. During that visit, we discussed my health and any medications I was on. It's important to be honest, as some medications like antibiotics can cause your skin to be more sensitive to the laser.
The Prep
Unlike waxing, you will need to shave before you go. I always shave no earlier than the night before my appointment. While most technicians are happy to shave your treatment areas before your session, they will charge you for this service. So, if you want to save some of your coins, I recommend shaving at least a few hours before your appointment since you are getting ready to zap some delicate parts with a laser.
The Pain
Image by Giphy
Now, I am not even going to lie to you and tell you that it does not hurt at all. It does, however, it's not excruciating. How bad it hurts honestly depends on the person and their pain tolerance. I have 8 tattoos and a pretty high tolerance for pain, so I may not be the best person to ask. Describing the feeling is difficult, but I'd say getting repeatedly popped by a warm rubber band is pretty comparable. My tech Kayla gives me a stress ball to squeeze (definitely not kidding) and she also talks to me about normal everyday stuff and that definitely helps distract me. My underarm treatments were not that bad, but listen, the Brazilian is not for the faint! Thankfully, it is a very quick process and only takes a couple of minutes.
The Process
Personally, I think that it should be called laser hair "reduction" instead of "removal". There is a misconception that if you do one treatment you will forever be hair-free. That is not the case. There are always going to be hair follicles but laser hair treatment does reduce the density and the volume of the hair. How many sessions you will need and how often you need to go vary person to person but your technician can definitely give you an idea on all of that. I go in every 8 to 12 weeks for a session. I have received more sessions on my underarms than on any other area, and when hair grows there, it is very light, fine, and pretty hard to see.
The Cost
This is probably the No. 1 question I am asked when discussing laser hair removal. A lot of places that provide this service sell packages that make you pay upfront in advance for a certain number of sessions. I wasn't really feeling that approach and thankfully Blue Water Spa recognizes that treatments vary from person to person and per area being treated so you pay for each session at the time of service, which I love. It's why I still go there even though I've moved more than 2 hours away. Depending on what areas I get done, I pay between $125-$250 a session. If you are getting at least three areas treated at Blue Water, you get a discount on each area---a plus---so definitely ask about any specials or deals.
The Conclusion
So, while laser hair removal can be a bit pricey and a bit reminiscent of middle-school rubber-band pops, it is well worth it to me. It's honestly the best money I've spent---second to my Lasik eye surgery---and is one of my favorite forms of self-care...well, after she applies the aloe.
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Erica Green is a Clinical Research Associate, blogger, and a sneakerhead. She has a love for all things women and she's pretty sure that women are God's greatest creation. Connect with her on Instagram @ erica_britt_ or www.lovethegspot.com
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
A Celebration Of Black Voices: What You Missed At The 3rd Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival
Over the weekend, iHeart Radio held its third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival in Atlanta, attracting a star-studded lineup of personalities and shows. Charlamagne tha God, founder of the Black Effect podcast network was in attendance along with other notable personalities like Mandii B and Weezy WTF, the hosts of the popular Decisions, Decisions podcast, who also served as the festival's hosts.
Sarah Jakes Roberts, the esteemed pastor and host of Woman Evolve podcast, singers and co-hosts of the R&B Money podcast, Tank and J. Valentine, former NFL star and Funky Friday host Cam Newton and many more further rounded out the festivals' lineup.
The festival hosted panels that focused on mental health and the future of podcasting as well as many live shows. Good Moms, Bad Choices hosts, Erica and Milah, welcomed Dreka Gates and held a live dating show that was nothing short of hilarious. Naked Sports host Cari Champion sat down with Iman Shumpert and they discussed sports and dating.
Tank and J. Valentine surprised the audience with Jacquees, Cam had a live conversation with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams, and Sarah closed out the festival with reality star Toya Johnson. Check out photos from the festival below:
(L-R) Shawn Bethea, Jay Barnett, Devi Brown, Charlamagne tha God and Amber Grimes
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Jamilah Mapp, Dreka Gates and Erica Dickerson
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Mandii B and Weezy WTF
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Porsha Williams and Cam Newton
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Iman Shumpert and Cari Champion
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Tank, Jacquees and J. Valentine
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
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Feature image by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network