About to start my journey..Help needed in London!

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
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Hi all,

Firstly just wanted to say what a brilliant place this is, I’ve spent the past week or so doing as much research as possible on electrolysis, but there is a lot to take in!!

A little bit about me, I’m a male, 30’s, half itallian but not particular olive skinned but darker than your average English person!! I have been having laser hair removal for over 10 years on my face, unfortunately the hair growth has only got worse! I go to a reputable laser clinic that uses a gentlelase with a good practioner. I only ever used to get the area above my beard, high up the cheeks treated, on one occasion several years ago another practioner lasered around my temples and hairline which I never had a problem with, since then the hair has grown more in that area, and now I get treated every 10 weeks or so. I get complete clearance but know its comming back.

I’ve had enough, 10 years and thousands out pounds is long enough so I’m hoping electrolysis will end this for me! I’ve been desperately looking for an electrologist who uses the apilus Platinum but cannot find anyone. I have found a lady who uses the apilus senior which I believe has a flash mode (I’m hoping the clear the areas a quick as possible and with as little irritation as its the face and then go from there)

I’ve spoken with the electrologist over email and am hoping to have a consultation this week. My only concern is I’ve not read any reviews on her work on line and I don’t see that she is a bmie member? Should I be concerned?? She certainly seems friendly over email and knowledgable… She even stated the apilus may not even be suitable if the hairs are thick and that she also has a sterex???

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to name her so mods please delete… Her name is cheri parish and has around 15-20 years experience. Based in woolwich in south London. Has anyone heard of her?? Would really put my mind at ease! Also, her salon usually only treats women but treats the odd male customer out of hours.

I’m basically very scared of getting a bad facial reaction and scarring! I’m hoping I can find somewhere where i can get the least redness (apilus??). Also I will prob go for treatments on a Friday afternoon to give my skin as much time to recover before work on a Monday!! I know what to expect with laser and how my skin reacts, this is new territory for me!!

I do well to hide my problem and the laser from everybody! My wife knows I have the odd treatment, but it’s so embarrassing, I’m hoping to clear this once and for all! I know it may take a couPle of years but I’ve already wasted over 10 so I’ve got nothing to lose!!!

Well, that’s me… Any advice, opinion on cheri parish or general help much appreciated!

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Another poster went for a consultation in London with an electrologist who claimed to use an Apilus… when she went there, it was no where to be seen… I think it was the same one.

As I keep telling people… it’s the electrologist that matters more than the machine.

Really, I think the best advantage of someone who knows how to use a high-end Apilus is the speed. A good electrologist will keep the reaction down with any machine they use (if possible without compromising treatment).

I can recommend my old electrologist. She’s treating two of my friends right now. One is having eyebrow work and when I see her the next day - hair gone, no sign of treatment.
Sharon at Parkside Beauty Center in Islington. There are 4 BIAE registered electrologists working there. Consultation is free and I always recommend booking a 15min app immediately after the consult so she can test out a decent amount of hairs.

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http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/85111/issywissy.html#Post85111

Pretty sure issy went this electrologist ‘C’.

I’ve tried Margaret too. I’d recommend having a short test appointment with her too. Her rate her hour is very reasonable and like Issy, you may get on better with her in terms of reaction. For me, blend suited me much more.

Try them all!

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Thanks for the quick reply stoppit!

It’s so confusing, I have read you logs about parkside I they are pretty close to me, only 5 miles or so but have read they use pretty old equipment there! Everywhere I read suggests the apilus makes clearance much faster and with much less of a reaction to skin! Interesting what you say about not having the apilus, I have no reason not to believe her, as she usually only deals with women but sees the odd male and said she would make an exception… On the other hand she did say it may not be suitable for me. I found her on another forum singing the apilus’ praises.

What to do!!! Maybe go for a consultation with her and then maybe parkside too??

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They use the Sterex machines. I had blend treatments with Sharon on my face and I only ever had temporary redness and swelling. Sharon is pretty quick with Blend too - 5-8 hairs/min. Her thermolsysis is fine too. She did that on my sister’s face and the reaction was pin prick scabs.

This is my upper lip result with Sharon: http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/96044/stoppit_tidyup.html#Post96044

Apilus does make it faster provided the appropriate modes are being used. Less reaction? That depends on how the electrologist conducts his/her work and the type/density of hairs being treated.

Generally, if you want less reaction, don’t treat hairs too close together and don’t have long appointments (I had no more than 20mins at a time on the upper lip). If you want it all cleared in as few, long sessions as possible, expect more reaction.

Issy also went to her on the back of her posts on the other forum, so she was pretty surprised when it wasn’t used.

As I mentioned… yes go to all the places you find. It’s the best way. You may need second trips to your top choices before you decide who you are really most comfortable with.

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Thanks stoppit,

That link you sent doesn’t sound great does it! To be honest I think I’m better sticking with bmie members as at least their work has deemed to be safe and of sufficient quality! There is also a bmie member literally half a mile away from where I work, her name is Alice jahns and is in finchley. She seems very nice… Anybody have any knowledge of her?? I will book a session at parkside too!

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Just a quick update…

I have a consultation with Sharon at parkside this Friday! Have also booked a quick 15 minutes after for some extra treatment to see how my skin reacts!! Looking forward, spoke with Elaine who seemed very helpful.

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Elaine is the owner and a BIAE member too.

To be honest, if you don’t get on well with Sharon in regards the treatment you may want to try Elaine for one session too. Lots of clients don’t stick to one person there and book whoever is available, so it won’t be strange if you do so.

Good luck!

(Actually, it just goes to show that they can all have the same machine, same probes, same magnification but have different individual technique which means different results for the client in regards to skin reaction and possibly results!)

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Stoppit,

Thanks for all your help again, much appreciated! Hopefully this will work, worse case is it doesn’t and I have to stick with laser indefinately!! Hope not though!!

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Hi all… Just a quick update!

Went for my consultation with Sharon on Friday. Very nice lady who spent time explaining how electrolysis works, after care etc. she thinks blend will be best for the hairs I want removed but said they do also use thermolysis. I believe they use some kind of digital sterex machine there.

I had 10 minutes of electrolysis after the consultation, on some stray hairs around/under the eye socket, above the eyebrow and to odd one or two on the forehead/hairline. … Ouch! Really does hurt, wasn’t expecting it, cant feel the insertion which is good, but then feel a rush of heat and a stinging sensation until the beep. It’s quite slow though, although I’m sure Sharon was just taking her time making sure she had the right probe and trying different settings as she was asking if the pain was less or more etc. I found that after 2-3 hairs were removed from the area I went pretty much numb and only felt the pain again when she started a new area for the 1st few hairs.

As soon as the electrolysis was stopped in a particular area there was no pain etc which I think is a good thing. I had welts or bumps from every area where the hair was removed… Is this normal? I was quite red but got home around 2 hours after treatment and my wife didn’t notice or say anything! My only concern is that I will end up with hundreds of welts over my face as there will be quite a lot of hair needing to be removed? Friday night I just wiped my face with thayers unscented witch hazel toner and put a very small amount of teatree oil on the areas. I also took a few piriton tabs over the past day. As it stands now, it’s Sunday afternoon, no welts or soreness, I do think I have some tiny tiny pin prick scabbing pretty much in all areas treated which is a concern as I will eventually have then all over although I really have to look close in the mirror to see them. From research the tiny scabs are normal??? I’m scared I’m going to end up with pitted scars in 6 months as I’ve read happens after electrolysis at times??

Also, any ideas on a good numbing product for the face? I’ve read about some but I can’t be having a thick layer all over my face for an hour with cling film around it!! Anything else people use??

I’m going to book another 15 minutes this week, clear what little hair I have In small slots before the hair from the last laser treatment comes through in the next month to 6 weeks! Sorry for the long post… If anyone can answer any of my concerns it would be much appreciated!!

Mark

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I have not posted in a while but wanted to respond to this thread.
Hi Mark and special hi to stoppit.
I did go to Cheri and will report on my experience. She stated she had the apilus but used her other machine - I think sterex. She used thermolysis and I had the worse skin reaction - hugely swollen with severe long lasting scabbing. My skin has never been in that state.
I saw Margaret for 8 months and I was happy with her treatment but felt that with my curly hair texture therm was not effective for me. I know it is the skill of insertion but Margaret had good insertions.
I have been going to Sharon since December and am very very pleased. Mild skin reaction, painful treatment (current not insertion) but it is working!!! I am having blend. I can go a week with minimal regrowth, seeing fine hairs and advancing from chin to jaw line and neck. Fabulous. And she is lovely just like Margaret. Was sorry to have to stop with Margaret.
I wish you a happy journey Mark.
Good luck.

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Your post reaction and healing is great. I would try, with your electrologists permission, some cold aloe vera gel put right on top of the tea tree oil. I don’t think you have to worry about pitting because your reaction sounds very normal and EXPECTED. There will always be some TEMPORARY skin side effects. Don’t worry about long term problems because all sounds good in the healing department.

If you can get a cream with 4% or 5% lidocaine or a combination of a 'caine product, that will take the edge off, this may be helpful for you. LMX or EMLA are two such products. If your electrologist understands you are sensitive to the currents, she may have some tricks up her sleeve to help you. Some epilators have programs that are just lovely for the sensitive client. There is a difference when it comes to comfort with the newer Apilus epilators as long as the electrologist is skilled. I worked on a lady’s abdomen last night. It was her first time with me and she told me she can only take 15 minutes of electrolysis in this area. I said okay. Well… we accomplished 45 minutes of work and we were having a great conversation at the same time. She was amazed that she lasted that long and was joyful that all the big, bothersome hairs were eliminated.

It is now possible to perform electrolysis for more time, with more comfort than when I had electrolysis many years ago. And yes, an area naturally gets numb after several minutes of work due to the natural morphine-like chemicals that bath the area that come from the brain. Also, there is nerve fatigue in the localized area that can happen to lessen the pain. If you can hold on for a few minutes, you may not need to mess with expensive numbing creams that you have to apply 30 minutes or more before a treatment. Enough said! I wish you the best!

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Hi issy! So great to see you here :slight_smile: When I was digging through the old threads to link them to Mark, I was going to pm you to ask how you were getting on but I’ve been pretty busy recently.

I’m so glad your treatment is progressing. Margaret and Sharon are both lovely and blend certainly does have its advantages when we’re talking about electrologists with more basic machines. I did suggest to Margaret that she should get a blend machine.

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Hey Mark, between Dee’s post and my pm that I saw before your questions in this thread. I think everything has been answered.

Do try the numb-it (recommended by electrologist Barbara on here). 5% lidocane and it acts fast.

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Hi stoppit hope you are well!!!

Mark just wanted to add that I feel that Sharon is very skin aware and notes my reactions and asks how my skin has been. She uses tea tree oil immediately afterwards and I add aloe on top. For me it is to create a barrier against follicles and the environment. London is very polluted.
But as Dee suggests - check in with Sharon about her thoughts for your skin,

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Thanks for everyone’s input!! Really is much appreciated!! Going to see Sharon for a quick 15 mins tomorrow just to tidy up some stray hairs before the regrowth from laser starts in the next month or so! I will get some of the numb it and see but hold off for as long as I can … Want to save it for the long hour sessions I’m going to need! If it doesnt work I have found some other stuff that permanent makeup artists use containing lidocaine, tetracaine etc so see how it goes!!!

Thanks again!!

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I’ve been seeing Sharon for the last year. Whilst I think she’s great for smaller areas i.e. the upper lip or chin. I’m not as impressed with her work on larger areas of the body (maybe I have high expectations!). I’ve been treating my chest area where the hair is very fine and thin, but dense. I recently had a 30 min session and to be honest I couldn’t see much improvement from the before to the after! Sharon seems to think I should be happy with the current level of hair, which I’m not. I don’t know if she really wants to treat the fine hairs, as I imagine it’s quite labour intensive if you know what I mean…

I’m now looking to find someone with an Apilus in the London area. I’ve heard about Sara in Harrow (not sure if she’s taking on any new clients) and a clinic in Dorking (would have to travel, but I’m getting a bit desperate here!). If anyone has any suggestions, I’d be grateful.

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I have said this to someone either on the forums or via pm, if you have a large, dense area of hair to treat the only way it can be combated is if YOU put in the time. 30 mins is really nothing.

If you’re not happy with how it looks, you need to be clear that you want it all gone and start booking long, weekly session to achieve that goal (with her or anyone else).

Finding someone with a Apilus who can remove more hairs/min will certainly help, but even then, don’t underestimate the time commitment for this type of hair. This is something I have learnt after our trip to Josefa.

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Ok, I found my pm. This in regards to fine, dense peach fuzz that I have on my face/neck. I have the same kind of fuzz on my chest and abdomen, back etc.

“I scheduled 2 hours for my neck with Josefa…she worked fast but it turned out I had a LOT more hair than I expected. I would have needed another 2 hours minimum (will get it next time) to finish it. Given Sharon works at about 1/3 - quarter of the speed… that’s 12-16hours I would have needed with her for neck clearance.”

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Thanks for the reply! You’re completely right, I need to be more clear about my expectations with Sharon. I would ideally like the whole chest and abdomen area cleared, and I understand that it will be very time consuming and costly. Sharon has said to me that I should thin the hair out between my breasts, rather than remove it, as there will be a distinct patche of hair (cleared) vs the rest of my chest and abdomen (uncleared). Is it feasible to have the entire area cleared?

I’ve been booking 30 mins sessions, as I was worried that booking longer sessions may be too much for the chest area? Do you think 1hr sessions weekly would be too much for that area? Your hair pattern seems very similar to mine. Thanks!