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 OK 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, 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.
The Research
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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During the event, the socialite spoke to the outlet about the importance of “friendship and trust” in her three-year relationship that started in the midst of the pandemic.
“We were really good friends before we started dating, and COVID gave us that free time in our life to really get to know each other,” Jordyn said. “Because a lot of people don't really get to know each other and they go into this relationship.”
She continues, “So, we've been through a lot together. We've seen each other at all different ways, times, phases, so I think we have a very strong foundation.”
Jordyn also notes that “quality time” has been a means to bond and keep their relationship thriving. Despite the NBA star’s demanding schedule, she expressed her desire to attend as many of KAT's games as possible, including his upcoming birthday game with the Minnesota Timberwolves. “It's his birthday in a few days, so I'm going to go to that game,” she says.
Quality time isn’t the only love language that the couple speaks.“We love gift giving and... What is it? The love language? The love language is quality time. We love everything,” she says.
The couple was introduced by mutual friends many years ago, and in May 2020 decided to move forward from a close friendship to a romantic relationship. Jordyn and KAT went public with their relationship in September of that same year and have since become young Hollywood’s discreet “IT” couple.
“I'm excited. Every holiday, we like to really go large for each other,” she explained. “He does so much for me. I do what I can for him. I want to say it's a lot. So when it's time to show that appreciation, we like to go all out.”
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