Educating clients

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

So, I get a call from a very nice lady this morning wanting to make an appointment. I recognize her name and her voice from the past, which is uncanny, because it has been at least 10 years since I saw her - for all two appointments. She doesn’t remember coming to me.

She tells me that she has been to several electrologists and they can’t fix her problem and she is so frustrated with her chin hairs. I asked her if she wanted to dart in today as I have an hour of time open. She said she just tweezed, which gave me an ah!ha! moment. I asked her if she tweezed while having electrolysis in the past and she said, “sometimes”.

I am sure every electrologist she has been to warned her not to tweeze, but she just “tweezed a little bit- sometimes” (wink).

Plan : So, she has an appointment two weeks from now and I will “educate” and “reinforce” concepts about the electrolysis process for her at this first appointment and each future appointment, if she chooses to come more than two times. When she verbalizes those concepts back to me, then I will know that she understands what is required of her for a successful end.

#2

Dee Dee …

She will listen … but will she hear?

There is a “hard core” group of people with unwanted hair that seem to make a lifetime thing out of hair removal. And yes, Dee Dee, I have had a few of these too. People that could have been done in record time, but because of their own “intervention” delayed the process 10 years, 20 years … forever?

(It goes like this: Let’s try every treatment out there, every electrologist, not finish anything, and continue tweezing, shaving, bleaching, and whatever, as well! And suffer for years! Sounds like a GREAT plan?)

I do not find this with people with significant hair growth. All the women with “near beards” get right to it and finish up (I love them). My very favorite woman (with PCOS) is really finished now, and she was “pure delight” to work with. We simply mapped out a treatment program, she did it … and we finished on time. She’s happy … I mean really happy … and I’m happy. Done!

Indeed, the most frustrating clients are the ones we know have “no problem at all” and yet fiddle with this for years and years. Usually, there is a bit of blaming in their tone too. They will say, “Well, I came to you a couple times a few years ago, and it DIDN’T WORK!”

The major “male cases” are super EASY too. Predictably, guys hear my “Spiel,” believe me and “get with the program.” They get it done and never look back! (Usually, done in 9 months total!) They couldn’t care less about “modality, needle-type, bumps, scabs, PIH, red marks, creams and lotions” and all the stuff so frequently and nauseatingly dissected here on Hairtell.

Indeed, several of our “Hairtell clients” have been in psychological agony with their negligible hair growth for at least a couple years (since I’ve been posting here). During that time, I’ve completed dozens of “body cases,” and beards. I don’t get it?

#3

Sometimes, I think to myself, I don’t need this frustration, but I always manage to take a deep breath to suck in a little more patience. I repeat and repeat and repeat always remembering that people are different in they way they absorb information.

I do think Hairtell dissects information ad nauseum, Michael, but that is consumer driven and part of why we exist here. All this hair removal information is new to the consumer seeking help and they need reassurance about their problem, whether they are just starting electrolysis or if they are four months into this and their skin reaction is more than they think it should be. What is nicky picky to us is scary for the consumer and we are here to reassure them as best we can over the Internet. Sometimes they want a second opinion after they talk it over with their Electrologist, unlike what we may do when we want a second opinion on a roof job, a car repair or a medical problem.

When I wake up one day and say to myself that I have no more patience for this, then I’m done and I will not look back.

#4

I find that I can at times tire of the blame and the in one ear and out the other approach to educating my clients, but in the end I am still very excited about my profession and find it a challenge to keep the client focused on the prize. Although I did find myself scolding one of my clients the other day and I felt really bad when she left but when she came back in for her next appointment she made sure to tell me that she did not pluck.

#5

Dee I’m beginning to think they should outlaw tweezers to all but electrolysists.
I get it. I really do. Used to pluck my eyebrows daily and remove dozens of hairs each day. They are currently grown out,and it is absolutely driving me batshit.The drive for the “quick fix” for just ONE NIGHT in public is overwhelming. But I’m determined to wait until I’m done my face then do it properly. As bad as the irritation is to the electrolysist,the drive to pluck is 10 times more overwhelming . Keep talking, they will remember , and eventually…listen.

Seana

#6

MIchael with all due respect you really arent being fair and your tone just sounds arrogant. Not all of us who would like “to just get the job done” are lousy clients because years later we are not done! MANY do NOT have a competent electrolysist where they live. Not everyone lives in California !
Many of us do what we can with the resources we have and what we have available to choose from ! When dealing with a female face, and the need to travel to have ANY work done and MOST zappers NOT offering marathon jobs on female faces it is just not as simple as you make it sound! Yes we have hair but we also have jobs and families and lives that can prohibit expensive travels to see a zapper everytime the hair grows in! And just because we post questions here doesnt mean that these curiosities are stopping us from trying to find and see zappers. NOr does it mean we barage the zappers with ANY of these questions! This forum is a place to discuss things , it doesnt mean that these questions or concerns are even mentioned when you are on the table paying a zapper over 140 dollars an hour! Usually that is laying down and having the work done end of story. Dont call me a lousy client because my face is not done. I’d happily skip ANY questions of a zapper if there was a good one nearby that i could see regularly ! Every chance I have had in the past years Ive given my face over to many an unknown zapper just to try to deal with this. Believe me female facial hair and the lack of zappers in most areas does not exactly make this pursuit a cake walk.

#7

Well, leave it to me … he he he

If I remember correctly, Danika, you live in the Vancouver area? I remember recommending Melody Frock to you (?) She is one of the “best of the best” and if you could see her, you could be done with this. I worked with her for a couple weeks and I can guarantee that she KILLS hairs! (I would even give you my own written guarantee for her work! Yeah, she’s THAT good!)

I’ve got people flying in from Europe and Australia to get this done. Some effort on your part is going to be required if you want to join the ranks of the “un-hairy.” It does little good to “vent” and not take some aggressive initiative. I’m pretty sure you know what it takes?

“Arrogant?” Well no … FRUSTRATED YES! I have many clients that live minutes from me and can’t get their “shit together” to ever get their “chin hairs” finished! I mean, some of these lovelies have been “pestering” me for 25 years and had all of 3 or 4 treatments during that entire time … and continue to tweeze, complain and tell me “I’m not doing a good job!” Lots of phone calls, lots of missed appointments … endlessly! (Spoiled?)

Maybe I have encouraged you? See, my encouragement is not like Dee’s (my “sweetheart” … well, one of them) … I’m a bit more prickly, but sometimes that works too. Listen to the coach sometimes!

GIT ‘ER DONE … whatever that takes!

#8

No i dont live in Vancouver though i did travel near there and did have some good zapping done while i was in that region, as I tend to whenever I am near a large centre and I can find zappers in the phone book. ANywas Thanks for the recommendation .

Glad to hear about your clients who travel in. Smart folks ! But you dont do womens faces. AND most womens faces are not done ideally through these marathon clearances mentioned here so often.

Yes if i had someone good in my area and was complaining like your neighbors I’d be frustrated too but hey you live in california what do you expect? :wink: Different world from me I will tell you. Round this area there are either no zappers or a few incompetent ones :frowning: who will take your money and waste years of your time.

I hear you loud n clear and BELIEVE me I am DOING ALL I CAN DO to get it done with the resources I have and what is available . But it is NOT THAT SIMPLE for MANY of us and i dont want us to be LABELED and it to be assumed that we are BAD clients!

YOu have your rants and I have mine. Different worlds!
And today I am prickly too…besides in the real world Fuckishima just had another 7.4 earthquake so it keeps this hair stuff in perspective.

#9

Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!

#10

I completely disagree with this but you’ll probably ignore my post as usual. I’ve had my work done like this, so has my sister and so have many of Josefa’s clients. And probably those clients of most of the rest of our hairtell electrologists who do marathon work.

The solution is not out of reach. You book an appointment with one of these electrologists for some time in the future (2 years? 3 years? 5 years?) and then spend the time until then saving for the trip and work.

I started seriously looking into permanent hair removal when I was in my late teens. I was 25 by the time I had the money to begin. It’s all about having a goal and working towards it.

It’s not simple and it’s not easy but when you have all the information you need to make the right choices and get the job done, then there’s little getting in your way although it may take some time to make it happen.

#11

All good comments … mostly.

Wow, I had a guy contact me about a year ago. He didn’t “have the money.” He just contacted me this afternoon and said he has saved up $6,500 and wants to get going. Well, that’s going to be WAY more money than he needs for the job ahead.

There is no facial hair situation on women (unless they actually have a beard) that comes anywhere near what guy’s are spending for their body hair removal. (I posted the numbers!)

Marge Smith (owner of Clareblend) used to tell me that when you point a finger at someone, you have three fingers pointing back at you! Almost anything can be accomplished if you set your mind to it.

It takes WAY more effort cursing the difficulties than to make a plan and implement it. Once you get started you are already half there!

#12

Stop it up tidy, you quote my ENTIRE text and say that you disagree with it ! And then assume that i ignore you? Excuse me? Wtf? Perhaps i SHOULD ignore you! I am taking the time to simply share MY personal , actual ,experience and despite all i have experienced i continue to put an effort into this . My effort , my path with electrolysis and laser is not the same as yours but is that any reason to dismiss it or insult me ?

Basically I was saying honestly in my post that those of us who haven’t had as positive experiences with electrolysis or a completely clear cut , and quickly completed case should not be dismissed as a lousy clients.

#13

Danika,

I dont think stopitandtidyup meant that nearly as negatively as you seem t have taken it. Michael is in a unique position, he’s well established and can pick and choose his clients. And does. And you are absolutely right that the challenges some of us face DOES NOT make us bad clients.

The point both have made to you, is that it’s very easy for some people to make excuses. To stretch things out and make things more difficult than they have to be. In effect, they become their own worst enemy. Telling you to make an appointment 3 or 5 years in the future, is well frankly an easy answer. I dont know anyone who books that far in advance.

What both have stated though is in some ways correct. Where there is a will, there is a way.In your case you I think maybe live rurally and that probably affects your access to services. But there are cities with services somewhere.I myself face a HUGE hurdle in hair removal. Money, as in I dont have any, and dont have a lot of hope of making a living so that I do due to my own personal situation. My solution, has been to use a school , and to delve deeply into DIY. It has not been easy. I spent more on equipment in one month than I had to live on for a family of four in that month. I should note I do see this in your sig file as well, and if I recall correctly I’ve seen postings by you in regards to DIY. I should also warn you it s NOT an easy thing to do, self insertions are difficult in some places, and downright impossible in others. I’m lucky in that I have a life partner to assist with this. If DIY is an interest to you though, I would encourage you to follow through. Although a difficult answer it IS an answer.

Most importantly though, whatever the path, look for solutions instead of more problems. You CAN make it happen, and that’s the point both have tried to make to you.

Seana

#14

I go once a week (still in the first two months of treatment) and pay about $60 per session. I want the hair gone, so I make it happen somehow. I have cut out unnecessary purchases (daily Starbucks, new clothes/shoes, new electronic toys) and devote my “extra money” to my electrolysis sessions. I want the hair gone, so I do my part and make sacrifices as many people have to do. I’m also sticking with the same person and sticking with the plan we’ve discussed. She’s about a 30 minute drive one way.

Hmm, that’s weird, it’s working for me…

#15

Thanks Seana. I REALLY appreciate your logical and compassionate response.
As I said I have simply honestly shared my experiences here of both LHR and E .
To my surprise the fairly inexpensive laser sessions I had last year have been quite effective so overall for the money spent I am pleased. I didnt go in expecting much and now I can said it has made a decent difference overall. I am really glad I did it. I didnt and wouldnt do my face with laser though.

Yes I live in a fairly small city so there is really nothing here. I have a plan which I have been following for some time which is EVER time I am in a larger centre I get E done so I have a pretty wide array of people I have seen.

ALOT of money has been spent to date on a very small area and I am being honest when I say that it hasnt been a great road and there is still much work to do. I even bought a machine but it is really only my face that I need to do so I likly wont be able to work on myself and life has kept me too busy from going that far.

In the meantime I have never met one E who will do more than one hours work on my face . I have been pleasant and easy and most have been the same way to me. ONLY one E of all I have seen used good lighting and a pro magnification but I am NOT complaining , just stating a fact.

Of them all there has only been one zapper who stood out but she is across the country so I am only ableto see her sporadically, although believe me I have and do save up to travel ( approx 800 airfare) and to able to stay there just to get some work done.

Due to those travel factors and the nature of facial hair it HAS been very expensive and along process to date and here is still SO far to go that it can easily be discouraging as a reality. Anyways I just take it in stride , know that THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE than hair and am greatful for what i can do E when I can do it.
PS I want to thank IBP Laurier Probes for offering their assistance and ALWAYS being supportive of my journey. YOur kindness is noted!

#16

Actually, I bolded the part I disagreed with. I’m not assuming that you ignore me, I feel I can say that quite confidently based on past replies to you.

I have absolutely no issue with people venting or writing about their problems, I do the best I can to help if feel that I can. Since you have been on HairTell, I have read a number of things in your posts which I have aimed to address and offer my advice - I’m always met with silence and then I read the same things from you again.

In the time you have been posting, I’m sure most of our HairTell electrologist’s have started and completed clients.

You see an electrologist sporadically and spend 800 airfare? Do you get clearance or significant reduction? If you were, I’m sure we’d be seeing more positive posts. Why would you spent 800 just to get ‘some work done’. You have written about electrologists not being able to treat fine hair which I have aimed to correct numerous times. Why not save a few of those airfares travel to someone who can get a huge amount of work done in one trip? Jossie is out of the question now I imagine (she wouldn’t have been if you contacted her a year ago) but about 1500 would have gotten you from Vancouver to Malaga and a couple of days with her on your face would have changed your life. You have Dee and others in the USA (Michael’s suggestion in Vancouver?). I completely appreciate people have all kinds of issues, financial, work commitments, family, children. I don’t know anyone that has travelled for electrolysis who doesn’t have issues to contend with. Where there is a will there is a way and you have to be smart about your choices.

I had the kind of facial hair that is so difficult to treat - fine, very dense, difficult to see and extremely shallow. Few can deal with this kind of hair so I did not compromise. I waited and went for the person I was confident could deal with it.

#17

Here’s the thing. If I didn’t care about the folks posting here, i.e., Danika, I would say nothing. I still don’t know what city you live in (Danika) so it has been impossible for me (or others) to help in recommendations.

I really have little else to contribute except to comment on this great kid (23) from Oregon. He spent more than two years doing unsuccessful hair removal, spent $8,000, quit school and went to work (at Starbucks!) to pay for these failed treatments. He paid for all his treatments himself. (His back is still a hairy mess!)

In a very real way, these hair zapperettes caused a monumental “delay” of sorts in his actual life.

This guy has every reason to “bitch and complain” and yet he does NOT! He’s not even very interested in “telling his story.” He is not focusing on the “failed treatments.” He’s a VERY happy kid and great to be around and work with. I like him … and I will be doing a story on him in a few months.

(Anyway, it was “fun” being called arrogant in one post and a “moron” in another. Can a moron be arrogant?)

#18

Hi again Michael and Stopit,
Firstly i would like to say that many things can be misinterpreted simply because they’re in the written form.
Michael ,no matter what my posts say, and sometime as you know straight out honesty can sound harsh, I do respect you and I admire you as a total professional in your craft. I have also appreciated your advice on this forum and impressed by your willingness to share. I have sent emails to you privately and had some great telephone conversations , both which have explained a lot about me personally , including where I live. However I DO NOT WANT to PUT THAT PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PUBLIC FORUM so frankly im glad you cant recall my town! I really prefer a degree of anonymity here and I am grateful to those who can respect that.

Hopefully for the FINAL time I will say that I am simply honestly sharing MY experiences here. Like it or hate it it is what it is. I don’t mean for it to sound like one huge complaint either, or a huge cry for help. Its basically a kind of journal of my experience with hair removal. And it is honest. Some of it has been good. I wish i lived in bc where i had a blast and had wonderful E with one of the best i had met yet, after a handful of not so good zappers. However i dont live anywhere near there and so it does wait until i can get back but thats life.

My sister lives in a big city and has had great Electrolysis . Her results and then especially this forum is what got me going back in that direction again despite years of a local zapper who though we had developed a fantastic relationship after those years i finally realized i was paying to pluck my eyebrows. BUT I learned my lesson and continued on.
Thats right , I dont live in a major centre so yes when i am in a bigger city i almost always go and see zappers. That is my method and i am fine with it. Sorry if you felt I was ignoring you Stopit but i dont always respond to ever post and to be honest sometimes especially if I just don’t relate to it. I am happy for you and your sister but I have am on a different journey and a world away. Don’t take a lack of in depth response so personally and please dont shoot the messenger just because i share what I’ve experienced which may be different than yours. Jossie has been booked solid since I began on this forum so I will not hang on to some hope of traveling to Europe to see her.

I really don’t need to defend every line of my post do I ? I thought that this forum would appreciate and benefit by comments from a wide criss section of peoples experience whether or not it jives with their views and experiences. Ive seen enough Zappers to at least have compassion for people who may be coming across some of the same type of experiences I’ve had. Not everyone is a Jossie, Bono, Dee or Walker so dont be fooled by this forum just because so many good ones are all grouped together and post amazing photos here. I WISH there were more of you spread cross the globe but fact is you are FEW and FAR between so please don’t attack me or label me as a lousy client for expressing it. So sorry if it offends you that sometimes I am triggered by post where I see clearances of men’s beards after the amount of money that I’ve spent on tiny areas of my face and I’m still working on them i just speak up…however i am not giving up! I may be interested, i may ask questions ,And i may express myself, but I continue on this journey grateful for my good fortune and keeping it all in perspective.

#19

Ps. And if good zappers were not so few and far between i would not have bothered buying my own machine!

#20

Well-spoken, Danika. Your honest input is very valuable to everyone, so thank you for being here.