Let me start this by saying the pain was truly no one else’s fault, but my own.
I booked a HALO facial after a friend had one & SWORE it changed her entire life. She will also SWEAR that she told me she had LAUGHING GAS the entire time, except for that detail didn’t carry over for my own treatment.
But before we jump ahead to what ultimately almost ended our friendship, let’s start with the basics>> Like what is a HALO facial and how to know if you need one.
What is a Halo Laser Facial?
A Halo Laser Facial is not your average spa day treatment. It’s a cutting-edge, hybrid fractional laser that combines the best of both ablative and non-ablative laser technologies. This unique fusion of lasers is like a magic wand for your skin, addressing a wide range of common skincare concerns> > >
Here’s how it works:
Hybrid Technology: The Halo Laser Facial uses a combination of fractional and non-fractional lasers to target different layers of your skin. Fractional lasers create micro-injuries in the skin, triggering a natural healing response. Non-fractional lasers work to even out your skin tone and stimulate collagen production.
Customizable: One of the key advantages of Halo is its customization. Your skincare professional can adjust the laser’s intensity and energy to target your specific concerns, whether it’s fine lines, sun damage, pigmentation issues, or texture irregularities.
Minimal Downtime: Halo’s unique technology allows for quicker healing and less downtime compared to traditional laser treatments. You can get back to your daily routine within a few days, all while enjoying that post-facial glow.
Long-Lasting Results: The results of a Halo Laser Facial are designed to be long-lasting. Over time, you’ll notice improvements in your skin’s texture, tone, and overall appearance, making it an excellent investment in your skin’s health.
How to know if You Need a Halo Laser Facial?
Here are some signs that might indicate it’s time to consider this magical treatment:
Sun Damage: If you’ve spent years basking in the sun without adequate protection, you might see signs of sun damage, including sunspots, uneven skin tone, and premature aging. Halo can help reverse these effects and restore your skin’s natural radiance.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Over time, the skin loses collagen, leading to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Halo’s collagen-stimulating properties can reduce the appearance of these age-related concerns.
Acne Scarring: Acne scars can be a pesky reminder of your teenage years. Halo Laser Facial can help smooth out and improve the texture of your skin, reducing the appearance of acne scars.
Uneven Skin Tone: If you have an uneven complexion due to pigmentation issues, Halo can even out your skin tone, leaving you with a more uniform and radiant look.
Overall Skin Health: Even if you don’t have specific concerns, a Halo Laser Facial can enhance your skin’s overall health and keep it looking fresh and youthful.
Fortunately for me, I had a solid mix of ALL of the above. & so the way I understood it, the Halo Laser Facial is like a superhero in the world of skincare treatments, so I decided to pull the trigger.
I made my appointment and didn’t think much about it, aside from the fact that Halloween would be the next day. I knew (somewhat) what to expect but as with most everything in my life, I decided to just go for it & figure it out as it came. When I arrived I filled out a few quick forms and then was asked to pay. She looked at me “You know, you’ll likely just be super hot when it’s over so we get payment now” which I heard as “I can see you’re super stoked to be here but you’re going to not want to pay once she gets done torturing you so we’re making sure to collect now, thanks”
FYI* this was NOT a paid trade. This was in NO WAY sponsored (incase you can’t tell)
The treatment I opted for was BBL + HALO which were suggested to do them together. We talked briefly about what to expect & numbing cream was applied (like when you get lip injections) and I was left to sit for a while until it took effect. After what felt like an eternity, I was asked to go and wash my face with a specific wash that was provided and then laid back to start the BBL.
“Normally we wouldn’t numb you for this, but since you’re having the halo after we do”
Let more preface this by saying (after the treatment I decided what TO DO BEFORE TREATMENT) bc that’s unfortunately how my mind works, and it said to stop using all exfoliators and acids approx 14 days prior. I exfoliated my face that morning, and every other morning leading up to it.
The BBL felt like a rubber band snapping only my face. Not hard, but it wasn’t comfortable and it wasn’t “hardly noticeable” I started to grow uncomfortable as the words “We normally wouldn’t even numb you for this” repeated over and over in my head & I started to wonder exactly what kind of hell I’d be in for once the halo started.
The BBL was tolerable. I’d say it’ like having a cavity filled. No one wants to do it. No one really likes it, but it’s fine.
HALO was like a tooth extraction with a rusty pair of pliers in your uncles garage for a sore tooth that’s already a pain level of a 9 before he sticks his dirty hands in your mouth to help pry it out.
The HALO felt like a small steamroller of HOT ASPHALT rolling across my face repeatedly, each time with more excessive force. My legs were slippery I was sweating so much from the pain. My sweatshirt was also soaked. I was gritting my teeth so hard that I couldn’t even really remember what this whole experience was for, but I also am not one to admit that I have made a very poor decision.
“You doing ok” she asked, but before I could answer she said “We’re 40% done” which I mistakenly thought meant for my entire face, but instead only meant for the right cheek she’d started steam rolling an hour earlier. I guess I said yes but I think I blacked out from the pain.
Here’s the deal. At some point it stopped hurting bc it hurt so bad. Does that make sense? I knew I was almost done by the time she finished each of my cheeks and started with my forehead & could see the “light at the end of the tunnel” >>> once it was finally over, I was handed a cooling tube that truly felt like oxygen. I would have DIED without it.
“All done” she said. “You did great”
“I am going to kill Tamara” was all I could mutter, when she said these life altering words. “Oh, yeah, well I mean Tamara had laughing gas! You didn’t you want laughing gas did you?”
– – – – –
The next hour I hardly remember except as me running to my car as quickly as humanly possible with only one good knee and a face freshly dipped in acid, in which I sped to the nearest CVS drive-through and pleaded for them to give me the highest form of pain medication they could without a prescription.
YALL. MY FACE WAS UNIMAGINABLY HOT. like, I had my AC ON FULL BLAST W/ ALL VENTS SHUT OFF BUT MINE AND MY FACE DIRECTLY TO IT to not feel the BURN that took place if it ceased. I called my sister & sobbed the rest of the drive, just so UNIMAGINABLY ANGRY that I’d just put myself through something that could have easily been avoided if not entirely, nearly entirely with the assistance of laughing gas. . . until I got home to my family who just starred at me as I walked straight to bed with frozen peas I’d may Juliana greet me with ,pressed firmly to my face.
The pain subsided after nearly an hour and a half> > to what felt like nothing more than a bad sunburn. But I am not going to sugar coat it. Up until that point. IT HURT. Maybe I had a reaction. Likely it was just the fact that I exfoliated the morning and had NEVER had laser done before & decided to do TWO TREATMENTS in one, unmediated. You decide. But I’ve had 4 c-sections. & torn an acl.
My experience up until that point was top 5 pain level.
– – – –
Over the next few days the effects of what happened to me, started to show up on my face, giving credit to the pain I’d endured. In a way I was thankful, because although it NO LONGER HURT, as painful as it began to look was actually every bit as painful as it had felt the days sooner.
If you’re a texture girl (HI, ME TOO) these next few sets of photos are not fun.
& if you don’t like looking at them, imagine having to touch them, four + times a day to wash and then apply moisturizer as you slowly heal. That was ALMOST worse than the pain.
DAY 1
DAY 3
They say day 3-4 are your worst days & I’m sure that’s the absolute truth. FOR MOST PEOPLE.
At this point my entire face felt like sandpaper. I gagged each time I touched it.
I was so incredibly disgusted by the texture & being a HABITUAL picker, it took EVERYTHING I had not to take a dry brush to it to get the thousands of tiny scabs off IMMEDIATELY.
It’s actually still disturbing to me to look at this one. Sadly, it looked like this for the next 2-3 days. I had to create my own mixture of antihistamines and sedatives to make it through. I honestly started to worry that I was the anomaly. The girl who would have her face forever ruined by a laser treatment she didn’t even really know about. My sister didn’t make me feel any better in this department.
& while my bestie kept encouraging me that it would all be worth it, the remainder of my crew suggested she was a liar and had likely done bc she actually hated me and now I was ruined, for life.
day 5 /6
LISTEN. I know it doesn’t look awesome.
But this was the first day I woke up & was like, MAYBE it’s not worse.
Looking at these photos it still looks pretty awful & I was thinking what you are. . .
THERE IS NO WAY BY DAY 6/7 it was all better. . . .
& you’d be right.
It wasn’t.
“BY DAY 7 MOST START TO FINALLY EXPERIENCE GLOWING SKIN THAT WILL FADE OVER TIME”
COOL.
Idk what happened between day 7 & 8 but slowly the dry dark patches started to wipe off. But it def looked WAY WORSE before it looked better.
It was weird.
& I might have gotten a little to antsy washing over and over again once I noticed they were coming off, but by this point, the fact that I hadn’t clawed my entire face off was a MF MIRACLE. I was willing to suffer the consequences a “harsh wash” on day 8 would bring.
I couldn’t stand it any longer.
omg. ok. maybe I didn’t completely F up after all & I am going to be ok.
Now look, day 8 there was still scabs. Dark spots. & some areas I wasn’t super happy with but after looking like the above images the past few weeks, I was thrilled. Not with ” the results” but with NOT HAVING the “effects” of the procedure any longer.
It would take until day 9 that I felt human again
DAY 9. FILTER FREE. NO MAKEUP. TINTED SUNSCREEN.
Now what you all wanna know. Was it worth it?
I’ll let you decide for yourself.
I have found, that like most other crazy women online, given the results & what I know now, I would 100% do it again
BUT WITH MOTHER F-ING LAUGHING GAS & for sure NOT right AFTER USING EXFOLIATOR ON MY FACE
& I’d likely take a Motrin beforehand for the swelling & heat.
BUT SHOULD YOU DO IT? listen, I can’t say, but I do know this.
Chances are you see that little scar on your cheek where you went AWOL the last time you had your period and busted that pimple you couldn’t take any longer. . .
Or those 3-4 random sunspots that appeared overnight that you apply concealer to everyday. . .
Or that area on that one side that just looks old and tired and makes you hate yourself a little more than is fair because it felt like you just had good skin a week ago but there is now NO AMOUNT OF WATER, OR LIQUID COLLAGEN OR OTC PRODUCTS that could make you FEEL YOURSELF again.
Not like a SUPER MODEL, but just YOURSELF. . .
& this post has made you feel like you’d be willing to go through hell and back to feel better too. Then I’d say go for it.
