A few questions.

I’m 17 and I have hair on my sideburns and chin. I’ve just started electrolysis in September and I’ve been about 3 or 4 times. I wouldn’t say I have a lot. But I have really thick hair and its really noticeable especially on my sideburns. The hairs also are really long so it really grosses me out. I’ve been depressed for about 4 years now because of my self esteem and other things and this just adds on to my problems as I am a teenager and looks are very important to me. I even had to start homeschooling because I developed a social disorder and I was on anti-depressants, I have no idea if this has anything to do with the hair, I think I had it before the medication. When I started electrolysis I was really optimistic about it and the lady I go to is really nice and shes been doing it for over 30 years or so. I’ve been crying every day because this is really stressing me out, and my mom is really struggling financially and its hard for me to get these treatments and I don’t want it to be a waste.

Anyways my questions.
Everytime I get a treatment the hair grows back after about a month. I really thought the last time I got a treatment it would go away forever as I don’t have that much…I did notice that most of the hair on my chin has disappeared except a few stray ones and I’m worried that the ones that arent there now will grow back. How long until they are gone forever?

How do I know if they are gone forever? I really just want this done as soon as possible because were running out of money and this is my only option… I’ve never tried waxing only shaving before I started electrolysis so I don’t know if it prolonged the hair growth or what.

I would just like some advice as I am desperate. I’m supposed to go in for a treatment tomorrow and just want some reassurance, thanks.

Hi appletea.

With electrolysis, permanent hair removal starts on the first treatment. The thing is that each and every hair is in different cycle and even though your electrologist “zapped” a certain hair, it will most likely grow back thinner because it wasn’t at certain stage or so. The thing with electrolysis is that it does permanently remove hair but it take time. It really does take quite a while. It doesn’t really work the way you think it does. Many hairs, that are treated with electrolysis once might not grow back, but however, there are certain hairs that are thicker and will tend to constantly grow back until they are continuously zapped.Also, the thicker courser hair, are the once that tend to grow back. As time continues, and as your treatment continues, your hair will be grown thinner and finer each time. Thee will be a point where your hair will e gone for good. Also, what kind of hair removal options have you tried previously? ex; hair removal creams, waxing, etc? This also effects the time it will take for your hairs to be eliminate d permanently. Also, do you have hormone problems? PCOS?

Oh alright, I’ll just expect this to keep happening to me for a long time until it finally disappears completely one day…I’m not sure about any hormone problems, I’m generally a hairy person I have been all my life. My periods are irregular a lot, and I wouldn’t consider myself overweight but for my height I am supposed to be skinnier. I guess I could have some hormone issues, I don’t know. I know that will be a problem with electrolysis and all. The only hair removal options I used previously were shaving and tweezing and I didn’t do it that often.

Did your electrologist tell you that you shouldn’t be plucking your hairs while having electrolysis done? Plucking should not be done at all.

Yes, I haven’t picked up a pair of tweezers since I started going to get electrolysis. That’s just what I used to do before I started.