Trans Joy

If you're pain sensitive, get some 5% lidocaine cream. I use Curist brand in a blue tube. Also, of you're going to do face, near the lips and nose are extremely sensitive. Definitely recommend the lidocaine. Don't fall for the "tough it out" attitude. Take the pain relief in sensitive areas.

Though also realize while some pain is normal, extreme pain can indicate over-treatment and cause blisters or worse. So, start with something less sensitive like legs to get used to what's good and what's not and how your body reacts and how many pulses at each spot.

Face is the exception. It always hurts, lol. Genitals, too. I did electrolysis supplemented with IPL on those areas so a pro did most of the work and because bottom surgery required electrolysis so insurance paid for some. I also find it easier to distract myself when someone else is inflicting pain on me than when I'm doing it, but needs to be a pro for that since the other person can't feel the pain and needs to know other signs.

Also recommend witch hazel toner, I use Thayer's because it's unscented and no menthol or other harsh stuff, mostly just witch hazel and aloe. And cortisone cream with aloe is great or just plain aloe for sunburn, nothing with other ingredients or pain killers like menthol since those strip moisture and aren't good for treating burns. Witch hazel both before and after for clean up and general anti-inflammation, and cortisone after for the swelling. You're basically going to feel like you have a mild sunburn after.

And watch out for skin color differences. For example, avoid hitting dark freckles too hard and avoid birthmarks. Use lower intensity on darker skin like around genitals or underarms. And as mentioned of there's a cluster of dark hairs, start slow and low intensity and/or just hit the ones on the edge and slowly work inward over several sessions. Hitting a big patch too hard can cause severe burns. I only burned myself badly once and it was a fold of skin that was hard to see and didn't get shaved well enough and happened to be a big cluster of thick hairs. They never did come back though. LOL. Fortunately, I didn't end up with a scar after the blistering healed.

Probably could infodump for a while, bad habit...but that's most of it. Happy to answer specific questions though if I missed something.