Hi all,
So I’ve been reading posts here for months and I’m finally writing a post asking for advice. I really believe in electrolysis but I haven’t had good results yet. I started it pretty much a year ago and began on my abdomen (I have dark hairs from a bit above my belly button on down with a width of maybe two or so inches of hair) as well as my aerolas and a few stray hairs in between and on my collarbone. I am early 20s with a normal body weight. I noticed hair starting around age 18/19 and then it increased for a few years. I had been tweezing from 19 until 23 which I know can distort the follicles. Anyway so I started getting electrolysis and have been going faithfully (and not tweezing in between) for a year every three weeks. The two areas usually took about half an hour to clear. Anyway I haven’t really been seeing results. I had a few reallyyy bad ingrowns and I have seen them clear up but I still get some. My electrologist has had many years of experience though her machine looks really old–like it’s from the 80s or something. It’s an “elite spectrum.” I hold a metal rod connected to a cord and she will insert it, a beep will go off about a second later, then she pulls with a tweezer. It’s generally pretty fast. Sometimes she will have to beep two or three times if the hair is hard to get. I am still undecided on if she tweezes hairs (i.e. they don’t slide out easily) or not. Anyway but every time, three weeks later I’m back and feel like my hair looks the same. I know it takes 9 to 18 months but I had hoped for more improvement. I just so badly want to be able to throw on a bikini when I go to the beach with friends rather than wear a one piece and feel embarassed.
On another note, I started laser on my bikini and underarms and while it didn’t work on some of the hair because my hair is different colors in different places, it worked well on the upper bikini part so I decided maybe a month and a half ago to switch to laser on my abdomon. Obviously I can’t tell yet how it works. I am still doing electorlysis on my breasts and have started a bit on my face (only a few stray sideburn hairs there- I don’t really have much facial hair) and my toes. Both of those areas seem to be responding better–maybe because they are not hormonal? Oh, I started oral birth control a year ago but haven’t seen a difference in hair. Anyway just wondering what people’s thoughts are. Does this seem off? Is the machine bad? She also only uses a circular lamp. Also, if you have any recommendatoins for electrolysis places in DC, Virginia, or Maryland, please let me know. I really want to find a permanent solution to this!
I wish that clients would take photos of the area every month or so. I also wish that I would remember to take photos of the area every month or so. Sometimes I’m even thinking, “are we getting anywhere with this?” and then the client runs out of hair.
If you have concerns, schedule some consultations at other offices and compare.
hey dc009 - just wanted to say i totally empathize as i ran into similar troubles after a lot of investment. i didn’t even feel like i got a week of clear skin. in my teens i did have an awesome electrologist but she’s retired. sigh!
i share the dream of being able to wear whatever whenever. 
keep us updated…
yeah i really should have taken photos at the beginning. i’m sure there’s been some reduction but I also feel that after going every 3 weeks and getting clearance I should not have hairs coming back so quickly after a year.
Thanks timeofday-- did you ever find someone?
also anyone have any insight into the Elite Spectrum machine my electrologist uses as well as any recommendations for dc/md/va electrologists?
The epilator is only as good as the person using it. Probe choice makes a difference as well. I will e-mail you a name.
Laser only works on coarse dense growth, so it probably won’t work on the stomach growth regardless. Also, all hair treated with laser should shed within 3 weeks. Please post more specifics on the laser forum so we can help you get good laser treatments. It doesn’t sound like you’re getting great ones right now. If the hair is coarse and has pigment, it should be shedding IF the machine and settings are good. There are recommended laser clinics in your area too listed somewhere on the forum. I can dig it up.
With electrolysis, it doesn’t sound like you tried out at 3-4 electrologists like we typically recommend. What do you mean you can’t tell if the hair slides out without resistance after being zapped?
Nipple area hairs are often deep and curled and require good skill. I would sample other electrologists. You can’t really tell how good someone is if you have nothing to compare it to.
Actually I think the laser has been more successful than the electrolysis (not b/c laser is better or worse in general but i think b/c the practicioner seems better). The reason it doesn’t work in some areas is that my hair can be different colors within a few inches of each other as I am a dirty blonde haired girl who has differently colored body hair. But actually I got my second stomach laser treatment about two weeks ago and most of the hairs shedded which I assume is a good time.
I agree that I should try out more electrologists though. Then I might have something to compare this to.