Let’s Talk About Laser Hair Removal For Darker Skin Tones

Does It Actually Work?

My treatment has been gifted by Skin Perfection but these are all my honest opinions. There are also some affiliate links.

I don’t think I’ve ever discussed my relationship with hair removal. Basically it’s complicated and usually linked with some kind of embarrassment.

At the age of 11, I remember being incredibly conscious of my overgrown armpits during a dance club rehearsal and begging my Mum for a razor. £3 threading sessions at a random Tooting salon followed when I was 16 and I wish I could go back in time and rescue my Delevingne-esque brows. I’m also still traumatised by my first and only pricey bikini wax, where I felt pressured to buy a £26 cream afterwards. Ouch.

Now there are far more positive conversations around body hair and whilst I’ll happily joke with friends about tweezing my strays, I’m still not entirely comfortable with my fuzz situation. Even though I’d given up on face-threading, I was still self-conscious about extreme close ups and usually ditched any vlog footage that showcased my chin hairs. It wasn’t a life or death situation, but I would usually pluck any strays every 3 weeks.

Table of Contents

• Does It Actually Work?
• How Does It Actually Work?
• Things To Note
• My Treatments So Far
• What Happens Next?

I was curious about laser hair removal but had heard so many mixed messages. Did it even work on darker skin? Can lasers really be racist? I’d also considered certain at-home contraptions, but felt nervous about being in control of such a mysterious device. Also, most of the shade charts didn’t look very promising.

Skin Perfection got in touch a little while ago and invited me to try out a series of laser hair removal sessions on my upper lip, chin and sideburns. Whilst I’m still early on in my journey, I thought I’d share some of the things I wish I’d known beforehand plus the reasons why darker skin tones need such special treatment.

How Does It Actually Work?

It’s taken me a while to understand some of the jargon but it’s so important to do ALL the research and have a basic understanding of the technology when your skin is involved. Skin Perfection’s director Ayse explained that the laser is a light that goes 5mm under the skin, targets the pigment/hair, then converts the light energy into heat to destroy it.

There are three stages of the hair growth cycle and each strand is either growing, resting or falling out. If you’ve been consistently plucking like yours truly, then your follicle growth stages are probably all over the place. Because of this, each laser session targets around 5-20% of the hairs.

It’s best to target the hair with the laser when it’s active and fully connected to the root. If you get regrowth, then it means that those hairs weren’t at the correct stage you’ll have to keep going until you catch it. Once that happens, they’re permanently destroyed.

So how does skin tone come into it? Skin Perfection use medical grade lasers manufactured by Cynosure, as opposed to the IPL lasers you may have heard loads about. Cynosure works for all skin tones and the the Nd:YAG wavelength is what you need to look out for if you have darker skin. It’s safest as it bypasses the skin colour and picks up the hair.

By contrast, IPL is a filtered light that can accidentally target the melanin in the skin, causing burns, marks or scars instead of getting rid of the hair. This method works best if you have lighter skin and darker hair. I’ve read that those with blonde, grey or white hairs will find laser less effective too, as there’s no pigment in the hair follicle for the laser to target.

Things To Note

It’s best to plan your treatments for the colder months. You can’t be exposed to the sun six weeks before and six weeks after treatment, as this could cause an adverse reaction.

Sessions need to be planned one month apart, so ideally you’d have a six month stretch involving no beach holidays. Make sure you wear a decent SPF (I love La Roche Posay) just in case.

Don’t wear makeup on the day of your appointment. You’ll need a clean face free of product, as this can affect what the lasers pick up. Also let your practitioner know if you start using any new medication or become pregnant as it’s too much of a risk.

You’ll need to shave the area beforehand. Basically plucking or waxing beforehand takes the root away and is a waste of a treatment. This freaked me out a little as I’m not used to shaving my face, but your practitioner can help (plus it’s useful for them to see the areas to target).

Avoid hot baths, showers and exercise 24 hours after. Sweating post laser is not a good idea.

My Treatments So Far

18/1/19 – Patch Test (images above are pre-laser) Pain rating – 6 OK, here it goes. Months of emailing has resulted in me actually having to cope with the reality of laser hair removal. The most nerve-wracking thing is that I don’t know what kind of pain to expect. It’s also quite a confusing experience as your eyesight is blocked by tiny goggles.

The only way I can describe the feeling, is a series of light pinpricks on the skin combined with cold air blowing (you may be able to smell burning hairs). Sometimes you feel the pinpricks, sometimes you don’t and I think the uncertainty is probably the worst thing. With piercings and giving blood there’s a clear end point, but I found not being able to see quite daunting.

The patch test is also a bit of a different situation as they test the laser on different settings. The lowest ones were fine but I was slightly apprehensive about anything higher. Higher settings mean that more hair is targeted and it destroys the root better, but it’s best to get used to the feeling then gradually work up towards it.

4/2/19 – Patch Test
Pain rating – 5

I pop into the clinic for another patch test as I’m paranoid about marks appearing on my face after the initial session (it’s best to voice any concerns if you notice anything out of the ordinary). I also feel a more prepared for the lasers and explain that I want to keep to the lower settings.

13/2/19 – 1st session
Pain rating – 5

My nerves! I’m a little apprehensive as I don’t know how long the full treatment will take, but Ayse reassures me that the three facial areas can be done in 5 minutes. The laser can zap an area the size of a 10p coin, so underarms take a similar amount of time and legs up to 45 minutes.

After the treatment, aloe vera gel is applied to the area plus SPF to combat the sun. Everything feels so smooth and there’s no side effects.

A few days later I notice some bumps on my face, but this could be down to shaving so close to the treatment.

Three Weeks Later

This is usually when any stray hairs would pop back to say ‘Hiya!’ but my sides and upper lip are still smooth. My chin hairs take a little longer to return, but they’re not as dense as before.

18/3/19 – Patch Test

I have to go in for another patch test as Tenerife was a little sunnier than I’d anticipated. Luckily there’s no reaction after 7 days, so I schedule my second session.

27/3/19 – 2nd session (I took the images above a few days before)
Pain rating – 6

Ayse notched the laser up by one setting and it’s much easier now I know what to expect. It feels slightly more painful but again I think the worst thing is not being able to see what’s going on.

I do notice a bit of chin stubble a few days later, but this could be down to my growth cycle being all over the place. My sides and upper lip seem to be responding better, as I haven’t had them threaded in years.

What Happens Next?

Is laser something you’ve ever considered? It’s been really interesting getting to grips with the technology and understanding why other methods don’t work for darker skin tones. I’m finally going to ditch the IPL unit that I’ve had sitting around for ages and start working out how much other areas of my body will cost.

Unfortunately due to unexplained scarring on my legs I won’t be able to have that area treated for a while but Skin Perfection mentioned that they may be able to help with fading them.

Since I have some trips coming up, I’ve had to put my treatment on hold due to the no sun exposure rule. I’ll be making a note of my progress and continuing with sessions later in the year.

If you’re interesting in trying out Skin Perfection for laser hair removal, then IWYTK readers will get 10% off with by mentioning KRISTABELSP when booking.

Further reading

Refinery 29
Fashionista

First Impressions

This press trip was courtesy of Next, with travel, accommodation and food included. Affiliate links are included.

It may have seemed like everyone and their mother was in Marrakech last month for some kind of brand trip. I spotted the Dior signs as soon as we landed at Menara airport and even my aunt messaged asking if I was hanging out with Lupita.

We may not have been sitting front row at the El Badi Palace, but our Next trip was the perfect introduction to a country that had been on my list for years. Although I’d heard mixed things regarding the souks, I was keen to form my own opinions and appreciate some of the colourful interiors first hand.

Whilst our stay was short and sweet, I’m definitely keen to return for more tagine and eclectic surroundings. Hopefully this overview will help if you’re thinking of spending a few days in the city and need a bit of a starting point.

Table of Contents

• First Impressions
• Our Colourful Villa
• Four Hours In The Souks
• The YSL Gardens
• Things to note

Dress & shoes – Next (gifted), Earrings – Tatty Devine, Bag – Zara

(I wore most of these outfits within the villa, keeping shoulders and legs covered whilst in public).

Our Colourful Villa

I still can’t quite believe that we stayed here! Azaren is a bit of a mysterious gem with zero Instagram presence, located roughly an hour away from Marrakech. It’s the kind of calm place you’d hire out for a retreat or bougie wedding (there’s nine rooms), since there’s beautiful views of the Atlas mountains and the only thing you’ll really hear is the call to prayer.

I did feel a little bit like we’d walked into an Architectural Digest feature, with all the clean lines and artisan rugs. All the decor is down to French furniture dealer Liliane Fawcett, who included a mixture of vintage finds and contemporary pieces by the likes of Tom Dixon. Each room has its own distinct, colourful personality and I definitely felt all kinds of inspired.

The journey into town was torture as I could see shops selling rugs and rattan furniture, but we weren’t able to stop and take a look. Next time! Although the drive wasn’t always convenient, it was great to get a sense of a different area and see the contrast between the centre of Marrakech. I’d love to experience a riad next time though, so I’ve got my eye on Emma, Courtney and Mel’s recommendations.

I also have a video if you fancy seeing other parts of the villa and some of the amazing lunches we had.

Dress, sandals, bag and bikini – gifted by Next

Four Hours In The Souks

I was probably equal amounts of excited and apprehensive about the souks, after hearing stories of friends getting lost or led away by men working on commission. Fortunately Next organised a guided tour, so all I had to worry about was dodging motorbikes, carts and the odd guy shouting ‘Rasta!’

The only way I can describe things is like a complex city within a city, with shops selling anything from ornate ceramics to herbal remedies. The streets are too narrow for cars but that won’t stop smaller vehicles from seemingly appearing out of nowhere. I found things a little overwhelming at first, especially being in a large snap-happy group.

If you don’t have a guide, then I’d definitely recommend downloading Google Maps beforehand (if data isn’t an option) and noting down a few key places so you have a bit of a plan. I’m pretty sure that we started our tour near Rue Sidi el Yemani, which is a little quieter than the bustling areas and crowded Jemaa el-Fna square.

We took in a few rug shops, before stopping for juices at Le Jardin and admiring the chairs at Max & Jan. Nomad is also great for dinner and people-watching, plus Comptoir Darna boasts a few belly dancing shows.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to buy much due to limited time, but it was so useful to figure out my tastes. I definitely have a newfound appreciation for all the different Berber techniques and there’s so many processes involved.

It’s also tricky to know whether you’re getting a ‘good’ deal, as most of us were quoted prices over a grand. I’m glad that I didn’t make a rushed decision and now have an idea of what I’d purchase next time.

T-shirt & skirt – gifted by Next, Espadrilles – Castaner

The YSL Gardens

Getting a photo at the YSL Jardin Majorelle is a bit like an extreme sport. Expect a conveyor belt of people waiting to get the shot on the stairs (plus it’s the only area guaranteed to be in shade).

It’s a shame as the gardens should be quite calm and relaxing. They’re named after the French painter Jacques Majorelle, who built an Art Deco style workshop back in 1931 and adorned the grounds with exotic plants brought back from various travels.

Everything unfortunately fell into disrepair after his death, so it was fortunate that Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge decided to save them from being turned into a hotel. They’d fallen in love with the virtually empty gardens back in the 60s and and felt inspired by the Matisse-like colour combinations.

It’s understandable why most photos focus on the bold Cubist villa, but the gardens are actually part of a larger cultural centre. The Musée Yves Saint Laurent opened in 2017 and it’s a stunning building (none of my pictures did it justice so you’ll have to have a look here).

It features over 1,000 couture garments in the permanent exhibition and sketches of theatrical costumes. You can also buy the famous Love posters for around £12, which is perfect if you’re looking to create an arty gallery wall.

Things to note

It’s complicated to exchange money beforehand – The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency, so make sure you have a Monzo-style card for withdrawals and remember to change it back once you’re at the airport. Dress respectfully – Although nothing bad happened when a few of us were inadvertently caught out, it’s important to respect the Muslim traditions and keep shoulders and legs covered in most public places. Alcohol also isn’t served everywhere, so use this as an opportunity to try the amazing orange juices. The passport control queues are not to be messed with – We managed to catch our flight in the nick of time, but make sure you arrive at the airport at least three hours before. If you’re feeling super organised, then grab a departure card when you arrive and fill it out beforehand to save time.

So how did I feel about Marrakech? Although there were some busy and somewhat stressful areas, if you research and find a trustworthy guide, you should be fine. We were never harassed (though someone did shout ‘IKEA!’ at us) and kept a close eye on our belongings as you would anywhere. I realise that our trip was a bit of a unique situation, but it did help me feel at ease with the destination and know what to expect.

This guide isn’t as comprehensive as I’d like, but I’d recommend looking at posts by Emma, Courtney and Mel to create a bespoke trip. Ella also recently went to Fes and I’d love to see the tanneries for myself.

Getting To Grips With More Of The Caribbean

This press trip was courtesy of The Antigua & Barbuda Tourist Board, with flights, accommodation and food included. This post also contains affiliate links.

Antigua basically had me at 365 beaches and the sweetest pineapples in the world. I said yes immediately when I was invited to spend a week on the island and was so excited to experience a different Caribbean country for the first time.

Although I’ve visited Jamaica four times, I’m ashamed to say that my knowledge of the other 25 countries is lacking. I’m curious to find out what makes each place unique and not just paint it as another place to top up your tan.

Antigua & Barbuda is a twin-island nation and although Barbuda is open to visitors after 2017’s hurricane Irma (I need to visit the pink sand beach one day), I’ll be focusing on Antigua in this post. In terms of size, it’s definitely more manageable if you’re used to Jamaica and you could probably see the majority of the island within a week.

Table of Contents

• Getting To Grips With More Of The Caribbean
• So Where Exactly Is Antigua?
• Where To Stay
• Things To Do, See & Eat In Antigua

With a population of around 100,000 (this is a rough estimation given by our bus driver) and a size that equates to Birmingham, it takes up to 45 minutes to drive anywhere. Handy if you’re itching to get to your hotel after the eight hour flight.

This press trip also had a bit of a different spin as it was partly hosted by Traverse, a company that runs events, conferences and campaigns for the travel blogging community. Our itinerary was filled with talks and workshops in addition to the usual excursions and enough free time to make the most of the resort. If you’re still confused, I shared even more insights into these kinds of trips over on Instagram Stories.

Read on for my tips and a few reasons why Antigua is a great introduction to the ways of the Caribbean.

Watch my Antigua highlights over on YouTube!

So Where Exactly Is Antigua?

Remember those 26 countries I mentioned? Well Antigua is considered an Eastern Caribbean country, so it’s nestled in between Monserrat, Guadeloupe and St Kitt’s & Nevis. The flight time is just under nine hours (we flew with Virgin Atlantic) and you’ll need Eastern Caribbean or U.S dollars as currency.

In terms of history, there’s a lot of similarities to Jamaica. Antigua was previously inhabited by the Arawak Indians and named ‘Wadadli’ meaning ‘Land of Oil, Land Of Many Waters.’ Christopher Columbus, slavery and colonisation followed with Antigua & Barbuda finally being granted independence in 1981.

Where To Stay

The trip was partly hosted by Elite Island Resorts, so although we were based at The Verandah Resort, we also had access to the colourful Pineapple Beach Club and St James’s Club for a workout on the beach.

Be prepared to get your step count up. There’s 186 rooms spread across 30 acres, so whilst there’s buggy transportation, most of the time I ended up taking the hilly route to reception. It’s a spacious resort where you never feel like you’re on top of the other guests and I loved that each room is named after a different Caribbean country or local fruit (you can see my room with a view over on YouTube).

The all-inclusive nature means that it’s convenient to not have to worry about food or logistics, but I’d definitely recommend exploring independently. Some of the buffet food was tweaked for tourists (though you could always add some Susie’s hot sauce) and the Beach Bar was my go to for Escoveitch Fish with a kick.

Luckily there are some affordable ways to see more of the island if you don’t fancy driving. The Verandah offers a shared shuttle to St John’s (it’s $14 for a round trip), giving you a few hours to explore the port town and try some local food.

Independent taxis are around $50 (based on four people sharing) and if you’re willing to wait and catch a local bus from Wilikies, then you’ll only have to pay a dollar. I went for the first option and the driver even assisted me in finding some authentic jerk chicken.

Top & Trousers – c/o Oasis, Shoes – Castaner

Things To Do, See & Eat In Antigua

I’m definitely a fan of mixing beaches, excursions and soaking up the local culture to create the perfect break. Antigua is small enough for this to be possible when staying in a resort (no three-hour transfers here) but would also be the perfect road trip destination. Here’s a brief rundown of everything we got up to.

Visit the capital city of St John’s – Antigua is a popular stop for cruise ships, so St John’s is a combination of a candy-coloured shopping district, bustling markets and vibrant backstreets.

Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to visit the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. It’s said to be the oldest building in the city and shares the same architect as the Spanish Town Statehouse in Jamaica. Further up Long Street you’ll find the majestic Saint John’s cathedral, which is still being restored.

Of course it makes sense to have your wits about you, especially if you plan to wander far from the port, but I definitely felt safe getting my bearings and attempting to hunt down some jerk chicken (Jerk Masters on Old Parham Road came through with the goods).

Apparently early on a Saturday morning is the best time to head to the markets and try local delicacies such as goat water and peanut milk. There’s also strong Trinidadian, Guyanese, Jamaican and Syrian communities, so expect to find plenty of options for shawarma, roti and conch fritters as well as the famous black pineapples. They’re said to be the sweetest in the world and seem to prosper thanks to the rich Antiguan soil.

Playsuit – c/o Boden

Tackle Triflexcursion – Fancy an adventure? Triflexcursion was started by two friends who wanted to showcase the ‘real’ Antigua to tourists and offer their take on a triathlon.

Don’t worry if you’re not at athlete level though, the 5km cycle was manageable enough for the likes of me who only learned in 2014. The route takes you past colourful villages, kayaking through a mangrove reserve before admiring the views from the historic Fort James.

Reflect at the historic Devil’s Bridge – There’s several myths surrounding the history here and this limestone ‘bridge’ is a particularly poignant spot to visit close to the Verandah Resort. Our guide told us that this is where slaves used to escape to in order to try and reach Africa, before eventually dying by suicide. As expected, the rough waters mean that it’s not safe to walk across.

Eat seafood at English Harbour – What a place to experience my first Caribbean Fish Fry in! Nelson’s Dockyard feels a little bit like being in an English village with decent weather due to the Georgian architecture and odd phone box. This former naval dockyard is now a UNESCO world heritage site and famous for hosting Seafood Fridays on the lawn.

Fish Frys are a religious tradition throughout the islands (and something to ask my Nan about) linked to abstaining from meat one day of the week. It’s a popular place for locals and visitors, so make sure you arrive early.

Shirley Heights Lookout is around 10 minutes away by car, so you could arrive earlier to take in the views. You may even be able to see Montserrat and Guadeloupe on a clear day.

So am I converted to small island life? There’s definitely an appeal to being in a familiar yet stress-free environment. Antigua seems like an ideal destination if you wanted to hire a car, travel independently and not feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to see. I felt safe, barely got hassled (there was one man trying to propose at a pineapple stall) and wish I’d had a chance to try out the local transport.

Now excuse me whilst I make a soca playlist to remind me of the farewell boat party!

Is This The Most Authentic Hotel In Mauritius?

This press trip was courtesy of Attitude Hotels with transport, accomodation, food & excursions included

Can you tell that I’m a little bit in love with Mauritius? After going from Antigua to an island in the Indian Ocean in the space of 48 hours, I definitely needed to be greeted with something pretty special (and a decent amount of coffee).

The press trip situation was also slightly different, with a smaller group of fourteen and packed itinerary to help us get to grips with Mauritian culture. I was probably a bit all over the place after missing the first day and feeling overwhelmed by the new social situation, but the calming nature of the Attitude Ravenala (plus a dreamy massage) soon sorted me out.

Even though my time here was fleeting, I thought I’d share my first impressions and the reasons why I was won over by the hotel’s ethos. Here’s everything I got up to including cookery classes, eating curry for breakfast and falling in love with the colourful basket bags.

Table of Contents

• Is This The Most Authentic Hotel In Mauritius?
• Where Exactly Is Mauritius?
• What Makes Attitude Hotels So Special?
• 3 Unforgettable Experiences

Fancy seeing Mauritius in vlog form? I have a YouTube channel!

Where Exactly Is Mauritius?

OK, so it takes around 12 hours to get to Mauritius from London (though we flew via the rather boujie Charles De Gaulle airport), but the end result is definitely worth it. ‘Ile Maurice’ is around 2000 metres southeast of Mozambique, with Madagascar and Réunion sandwiched in between.

In terms of size it’s slightly bigger than London (I find it’s always useful to give comparisons) and it seems like you could get anywhere on the island in less than two hours. I’d recommend staying at least 7-10 days because of all the travelling and it helps that the time difference is only three hours ahead.

It’s interesting to note that there was no indigenous population prior to colonisation, slavery and indentured labour (Laila has an informative highlight about the history plus musings on their own mixed identity). The result is a multicultural population that consists of Mauritians with Indian, African, Chinese and French ancestry.

I found the language situation particularly fascinating and ended up Googling facts about Mauritian Creole instead of getting an early night. Basically a ‘Creole’ can be a person of mixed ethnicity or a language that has developed due to different displaced populations creating a common dialect. Mauritian Creole is based on French (the official language as well as English), but there’s also elements of English, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili.

What Makes Attitude Hotels So Special?

It’s rather telling that the main image on the website is a Mauritian man making the ‘OK’ symbol with his hands. Attitude is a brand that does everything it can to immerse you in the local culture, from the intricate bamboo furnishings to the creole phrases dotted on the walls.

I quickly got used to my curry and dholl puri breakfast combo at the Ravenala and I’m pretty sure that it’s some of the best hotel food I’ve ever tasted. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to try the ten (!) different restaurant options, but I definitely appreciated the fact that Kot Nou didn’t skimp on the spice levels.

We also stayed at the Zilwa Attitude and spent the day chilling on their private island Grand Zil, which can be booked for weddings or special parties). There’s also the opportunity to rent electric bikes and explore the local area using the handy ‘Otentik Discovery’ app.

3 Unforgettable Experiences

Dining with a local family. This was the culinary highlight of the trip. We were invited into staff member Rani’s home and given a crash course in Hindu traditions and making puris.

If only I could have brought my tupperware! We tried about eight different dishes on a banana leaf (I need to find a recipe for the green chilli sauce) and danced to the much loved tune ‘Li Tourner.’

Attitude offers this bookable experience once a week and it’s admirable that they don’t take a percentage of the fee (this is also the case for the handcrafted items in the gift shop).

Cooking Up A Storm. I may have been a little bit competitive during our cookery class but it was so fascinating to learn the components of a typical Mauritian curry. Expect lots of ginger, garlic, turmeric, onion and chilli.

Discovering the colourful woven shopping bags. Even though I arrived a day later and missed the initial street food tour, I was determined to see what life was like outside the hotel.

Port Louis market was the best place to do this. I always find local markets incredibly fascinating and quickly zoned in on the colourful woven shopping bags (I bought two for a tenner). They seem to be used in most situations, so you’ll spot staff using them to transport bits around the hotel.

If you’re going to wander around the capital, then the streets near the market and Chinatown are probably the most interesting for snapping colourful details. The 2015 Porlwi contemporary culture festival seemed to kick off the trend for colourful murals (head to Bourbon Street) and there’s a mix of local and international artists.

Additional drone photos by Xavier, Guillaume & Dan

I definitely have some unfinished business when it comes to the dholl puree (think of it as a savoury pancake filled with curry, veg and chilli) and snapping colourful streets of Chinatown. Mauritius isn’t just about the beaches, but a unique blend of cultures and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. In the meantime, I’m going to hunt down some authentic restaurants in London (apparently Lakaz Maman and Lovely Coconuts are decent ) and start learning the words to ‘Li Tourner.’

Paid partnership With L&Q

Does anyone else panic at the thought that they should be saving for a house deposit instead of stalking the Free People sale? I often write about my day-to-day spending in my Money Diaries (I promise, a new one is coming soon), but my upcoming birthday and 5-year-flatshare milestone have prompted me to think about the future. What is actually going on with my life?!

I have a Help To Buy ISA but seem to be in denial about the amount I need to save. I’m hoping to buy in London eventually but haven’t actually researched the options available. Also until two weeks ago, I thought that Shared Ownership and Help To Buy were the same thing. Optimistic, much?

After spotting Emma’s L&Q partnership (she has some serious interior styling skills), it seemed like fate when they also got in touch. If you’re not familiar, L&Q is a charitable housing association that aims to build affordable, quality homes in London and beyond. It’s a not for profit, so any money generated from sales gets reinvested into building new communities.

Table of Contents

• Paid partnership With L&Q
• So How Does L&Q’s Shared Ownership Scheme Work?
• What Makes Help To Buy Different?
• What’s Bow East Like?
• My Property Ladder Plans

If you’re also a bit clueless, I thought I’d take you all on the journey with me as I find out the reality of living in London and what you may need to realistically save. It’s something I’ve been thinking more about, especially since some of my friends and family members have bought property in this way. There’s also an East London Homebuyer event coming up this Thursday, where you can benefit from exclusive savings of up to £5000 if you reserve on the day.

Read on for all the jargon and figures you need to know.

So How Does L&Q’s Shared Ownership Scheme Work?

When I chatted to the sales agent at L&Q’s Bow East, he predicted that Shared Ownership would become more common in future. It basically means that you can purchase a new-build home with a lower deposit when compared to the open market.

You pay a mortgage on the share you own and rent the share you don’t from L&Q. There’s also the option to increase the share you own, which is a term known as ‘staircasing’. This can be done up to three times and means that your rent will reduce and your mortgage payment will increase.

If you’re interested in one of these developments, then it’s important to check that you meet the eligibility criteria (so any freelancers may need to meet with a specialist advisor). For example the minimum household income for Bow East would be £61,284 (deposit £11,750) but if you headed further east to Barking Riverside, then you’d need a household income of £28,500 (deposit of £6,188).

The next step would be to complete the application form with L&Q, wait for your application number, then either book a viewing or reserve a property. If you’re planning on attending the upcoming event, then you could save up to £5000 as L&Q will waive legal fees and one year’s worth of service charges.

Bow East example (two bed apartment)

Full Market Value: £470,000
25% share: £117,500 of a two-bedroom apartment
Monthly rent: £807.81
Mortgage: £546.10
Service charge: £139.77
Total monthly charge: £1,493.68
Deposit required: £11,750

What Makes Help To Buy Different?

London’s Help to Buy Equity loan allows you to put a 5% cash deposit towards a new build home worth up to £600,000, as the government would offer a loan of up to 40% when buying in the capital (or 20% elsewhere). You would then need a mortgage for the remaining 55% of the purchase price.

The main benefit is that you own your property outright and the government equity loan is interest free for the first five years (there’s a monthly interest charge if you haven’t paid it off in this time). Some people choose to remortgage before the 6th year and buy out the government’s share. Again, it’ll take some financial planning and comparing calculations.

Barking Riverside Example
H

Home value: £250,000
Deposit needed: £12,500
Government loan of 40%: £100,000
Mortgage of 55%: £137,500

Although the scheme you’ll end up using depends on what the development offers, it’s so useful to see these figures worked out and broken down. Owning a home in London is possible!

What’s Bow East Like?

Since I have a friend nearby, I decided to focus on the Bow East development and explore the local area. I viewed one of their two bedroom apartments, containing two bathrooms and plenty of storage. The main benefit is that you can move in and everything’s sorted plus there’s a 2 year warranty in case of any issues.

There’s Bow Road Tube, a park and creative arts studios situated nearby plus the Olympic Park and Westfield Stratford City around ten minutes away by bus. Roman Road Market, Hackney Wick and Victoria Park are also within walking (or cycling) distance and there’s a Heritage Trail to follow if you fancy investigating all the blue plaques.

L&Q tend to build in areas that are undergoing regeneration and it’s interesting to see that Barking Riverside has a fifteen-year plan for 10,800 homes (fun fact, that’s where I was born).

My Property Ladder Plans

This has been so useful to understand, especially since I had no idea of the costs involved and a figure to aim for. Although I’m happy renting for now, that situation could change if my BFF moves out and I want to make sure that I’m in a good place financially (this is a handy read).

I have no idea what my situation will be like in the next couple of years, but it can’t hurt to aim for a mid-range Shared Ownership deposit plus any fees.

Here are a few things I’m also planning to do.

Read property supplements and start researching the market. The Evening Standard has a pretty decent section plus there should be a lot of buzz around Shared Ownership Week in September. L&Q also has plenty of case studies.

Start understanding the terminology. Do you know your freehold from your leasehold? Have you budgeted for conveyancer fees? I definitely skipped this section in the book ‘Money: A User’s Guide’ so I’ll probably have lots of chats with my Dad about all the hidden costs.

Look out for areas that are undergoing regeneration. Wouldn’t it be funny if I ended up going full circle and living in Barking in a few years? The perception of certain boroughs is always changing and I’d be keen to live somewhere that still retains its character and charm.

Are you in the same boat as me or further along in the home-buying process?

The East London Homebuyer Event is taking place at Leonardo Royal Hotel St Paul’s on Thursday 11^th July from 12-8pm. The exhibition will offer a one-stop-shop for first-time buyers looking to purchase with London Help to Buy: Equity Loan or through L&Q’s Shared Ownership scheme, with guests given the one-off opportunity to reserve a home at eight East London developments. Helping first-time buyers on to the ladder, L&Q will be offering exclusive incentives to guests who attend the show, including a one-year service charge holiday and legal fees paid, or a furniture pack, saving homebuyers up to £5000. Register for a place here: http://lqhomes.com/homebuyerevent