I began transition in October 2008. My facial hair is a blend of dark, blond, and gray hair. For the dark, I decided to try laser reduction, for the rest, electrolysis. I asked all the transwomen I knew for a good electrologist in Seattle. All the younger women, though, were using laser, the more mature women having completed electrolysis long ago. While I received several recommendations for a laser specialist, I got no help at all in my search for an electrologist.
So I researched online. The paucity of consumer-client recommendations on the trans websites amazed and baffled me. Giving up my online search, I emailed a support group leader at the Ingersoll Gender Center. She recommended two electrologists in the Seattle area, one south of Seattle, the other at a spa here in my Shoreline neighborhood - Be A New Creation.
Armed with this recommendation, I surfed to the spa’s website Be A New Creation . Electrologist Roberta Smith’s credentials impressed me. She’s a Licensed Practical Nurse, a Certified Professional Electrologist, a member of the American Electrology Association, and Secretary of the Washington State Electrologists Association. Allure magazine recognized her as one of the best in the business.
Seeking additional independent verification of her skills, I focused an online search on Roberta and discovered that several transgendered clients had posted recommendations for her. These recommendations on blogs and other independent websites seemed legitimate and sincere, so I decided to give Roberta a try.
Roberta has been a godsend. It’s sometimes hard to believe that I actually look forward to my visits with her. I’m certainly not masochistic - I generally run from pain - but Roberta is so technically proficient, and her personality so bubbly, that I forget she’s repeatedly poking a needle in my face. An hour or two with her seems more a nice long visit with a good friend than an electrolysis appointment. What’s more, we seem to be making good progress. I started at the end of October with just an hour of treatment a week, and for two weeks now have increased to two hours a week. Already, after just twelve hours of treatment, large areas of my face are clear. The redness following treatments is minimal. Roberta uses a blend of thermolysis and galvanic, and has been good at adjusting blend and power settings in accordance with my skin’s sensitivity and tolerance to the treatments.
Roberta could not possibly be more trans-friendly. One of her best friends is a transwoman, as is her accountant. Both are former clients who have completed transition, so it’s probably safe to assume they were happy with their electrolysis.
Roberta is not merely a great electrologist - she’s a great human being - sweet, generous, compassionate. Nothing better illustrates her nature and character than what happened during my afternoon appointment with her Christmas Eve. I was her last client of the day. Just before she began my treatment, we discussed my first laser session, which I’d had nine days earlier with a doctor in another office. I told Roberta I was feeling depressed about the results. I had not realized how rough-looking and long-lasting the post-laser shedding process would be. I expressed doubts about continuing with the laser, telling Roberta I believed it more cost-effective to have her remove all my facial hair, both light and dark. Half the hair on my face being dark, I essentially was offering Roberta the chance to double her profit on me. If she had wanted, she could have easily firmed up the deal for herself, reinforcing what I already believed. Instead, she showed class and integrity, remarking, “Well - I think you should give laser a couple more tries before you give up. We’ve got enough gray to work with in the meantime, so when we’re near finishing that, we can talk about clearing any dark that’s left.” I should point out, Roberta has no financial or business connection with the doctor giving me laser.
What Roberta did next felt like “Gift of the Magi.” Roberta double-checked her appointment book and told me she had a Christmas gift for me. She asked if I needed to be somewhere after my appointment. When I told her I didn’t, she said she didn’t either, not for a few hours. So, when my hour-long appointment was over, she kept working on me - two hours - three hours. At first, I thought she simply was continuing my electrolysis, but finally realized she had, at some point, stopped electrolysis and begun testing each and every dark hair on my face and neck with those little forceps she uses. She was removing all the shedding hairs that had been loosened by laser. Her Christmas gift proved magical. When I got home and looked in the mirror, the unsightly, rough-hewn dark stubble was all but gone. A sleeker feminine countenance looked back. I wept.
If you are in the Seattle area and in need of electrolysis, I strongly recommend Roberta Smith at Be A New Creation. The initial consultation, including electrolysis, is free. See for yourself what you think.
