Electrologist who work from home?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I’m still on my search for a new electrologist. I’ve been browsing and taking note of places that are a bit closer to home, considering I traveled an hour and a half for my last electrologist who worked out of a building in a rented office space.

The pattern I’ve noticed in areas around here is that a lot of the buildings seem a bit run down. I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but I’d like to go somewhere where things seem more up to date. Maybe I’m a bit picky?

I haven’t yet been to someone who works from home, but it seems as though there are quite a bit that do. I feel a bit odd going to someones home for treatment. I’m not sure why. Maybe it has a lot to do with a less professional feeling to the environment?

I’m curious on others experiences? Where do you go for your electrolysis? When first deciding where to go was it a factor whether or not they worked from home?

#2

Well, a lot of that is priorities. If the place has fresh paint, a beautiful lobby and all, yet does not have top of the line equipment, what are you really paying for?
I would go to see someone even if I was laing on their kitchen table if they were very skilled and had great equipment.

#3

My electrologist works out of her home. She has a separate clinic set up in the front of the house and she lives in the back and upper part. Its quite nice actually. If I did not drive up to a house to see her, I would think I was in an office somewhere.

I work from home as well for my job so I actually prefer to see small business owners work where they feel comfortable.

I agree that the building should not reflect the quality of service. So long as the electrologist is good at what they do, where they do it, should not matter.

#4

I’ve been treated in someone’s home before. The space was reserved strictly for electrolyisis, and fully dedicated to it. Her room was stocked exactly as was her business office, and as professional as any other commercial location.

#5

As long as the home office is safe, private and clean, there should be no worries. If a cat jumps on your abdomen while you are laying on the table in your calm zone, then that’s troublesome. Many electrologists work very long hours. A home office allows for flexibility so the electrologist can see you at odd hours, from very early in the day to very late in the day. It is great for the person calling and asking for a quick last minute appointment. This is a business that requires a table, a light source and an epilator. It is a simple set up, unlike other businesses. Many people work out of their home these days. For all the “greenies” out there, you can appreciate that a home business means that the individual is not driving their car back and forth to an office location.
Oh, and one other thing - if someone cancels their appointment at the last minute or forgets their appointment altogether, one is not sitting in their office doing crossword puzzles to kill time. A home office allows for one to go in other directions related to taking care of home needs such as walking the dog, doing a load of wash, gardening, taking a nap, scrubbing the floor, making dinner…

#6

When I first began going to my electrologist she worked out of an office. It had been an electrologist office for more than 30 yrs. Her mother was one before her and she had taken over then business from her. Then she began going back to school over a year ago to become a respiratory therapist so she closed her office and designated one of the spare bedrooms in her home to continue treating clients who wished to. I know that she was apprehensive about how her clientele would react to being treated in her home rather than coming to the office. But she told me she was actually surprised at the positive response she had from everyone. I wasn’t surprised at all, because frankly she is one hell of an electrologist! And that’s not always easy to find. I drive 30 minutes farther to her house than I drove to her office, but I never once reconsidered discontinuing my appointments with her. She is accurate and dedicated to permanently removing the hair that I want removed. Not to mention she easily keeps me entertained with great conversation for the 2 hours I spend there each time. And that’s a job in itself.
So moral of the story. I would focus your attention more on finding a good electrologist and not dismiss them because they have chosen to work from their home.

#7

I was not going to comment on this thread. I really wanted to just sit back and let the consumers do all the talking, but I can’t resist anymore.

Many clients want a situation where no one knows they are getting this work done, and as such, they don’t want to be seen walking in, or out of the door marked “Hairy People Come Here.” :wink: They don’t want anyone to see their car parked in front of that place either.

I have had a variety of offices in my career, and although I loved the former dentists office that I had, both because it was all set up, and I had nothing to do but move my equipment in, and because it had the big open waiting room that looked out to the sunshiny street, but from a client’s perspective, it was one of the worst locations I ever had, because not only was their car parked in front of the place with the huge electrolysis sign, but they were sitting in a waiting room, facing the full glass wall picture window looking out on the sidewalk and the street, with the cars going by, while in the place with the big giant electrolysis sign framing the picture of them sitting on the waiting room couch for those passing by and looking in.

I seriously have had better response from having less visible offices. It seems to me, that the best situation would be to have a small “Big Box Office” that one could have fist time appointments, and consultations. There you could impress and put at ease the people who just have to see the hospital style set up, or the Euro-Spa set up, and then, have your comfy less expensive, and more private set up, for everyone who either starts out not wanting that, or knows your skill level enough to… how was it that TempleJ put it, “lay on the kitchen table if they were very skilled and had great equipment.”

The first time I spoke to a client who was visiting an electrolysist who worked out of a private house, I asked her about her feelings about the set up versus a professional office building, or retail complex, and she said, "The thing I love best about here is if anyone sees my car here, or if I am seen coming in, or out of here, I get to say that I was visiting a friend – and I am visiting a friend! My hair removal is my secret. :wink:

#8

Thank you all for your comments! I’ve been pretty skeptical about going to someones house for treatments, but there aren’t many options around this area and I find it is common that there are a lot of electrologist that work from their home. Your comments have made me a bit more open minded to the idea!

#9

Both electrologists whom have worked on me worked from their home, and both had separate office space dedicated to electrolysis. Their offices were as clean and professional as any doctor or dentist’s office I have ever been in, and I never had any concerns about the fact they were working from their homes.

As someone who also works (primarily) from their home, I completely agree with Dee, it is so much more cost effective in terms of time and money. Whether it is electrolysis or tech support, working from home means less less cost overhead and less stress for the owner, both of which can only benefit the clients.

#10

I’m glad James said what he said. He hit the nail on the head. When I first started my hair removal journey, I had my first “laser” treatments at a place in the mall. I absolutely hated waiting in the so-called lobby as it was exposed to all who walked by. I tried to make my appointments before mall opening hours (which they had) and I would try not to show up early so I wouldn’t have to wait as long.

After my first treatments, I went to another place which was in a fairly decent size professional building. So, I could park anywhere and it was pretty anonymous.

I first was getting electrolysis treatments at a place where it was a small office-type building. It wasn’t nearly as anonymous so I would park at a different location and walk in.

I also had electrolysis treatments with someone who had her business in the home. By far, that was the mosts comfortable setting. The house was someone obscure which made it nice and as far as I was concerned, this was a huge selling point. However, I don’t think I was getting the best service there so I found someone else who is very methodical and careful. She is in a smaller professional complex so there is an air of anonymity there.

#11

So would you say that you wanted to find a home office from the beginning, or only after you started having work done, did you want to seek out something more private?

It just seems to me that many people seek out first treatments looking for some big box spa/doctor’s office style thing, but after they know what to look for in a practitioner, location of the treatment table becomes less important.

#12

After reading everyones opinion, I decided to make an appointment with electrolysis number three for this Saturday. I haven’t seen her place yet, but she works from home and she described that he has a seperate small space on the side of her house dedicated for appointments. That definitely sounds a bit more comfortable so we shall see. She says she has been doing electrolysis for 30 years and she uses thermolysis, because she has found it to be more effective. I just hope that I’ve finally run into some luck. Searching for someone good is dang hard! At least this place is closer, that is a benefit!

#13

I’ve almost completed my “studio” that started life as a brick built shed. I’m actually very happy with the way it has turned out, it will be snug but more than adequate. I’ve managed to fit everything I need within the space including stereo microscope and I have and have built a separate WC with wash basin on the side, complete with fairies :slight_smile:
It struck me that people might appreciate their treatment being more private with no neon signs or attractive signage indicating their reason for being there. Also I’ll be happy to work whatever hours are best for my clients as I will only have a twelve step commute to my office (happy days) I’m going to have to be very creative with my reasons for keeping my motorcycle, the “convenient for getting to work angle mightn’t cut it anymore”

#14

Congratulations,that all sounds wonderful. I envy you the 12 step commute !! What model of microscope did you buy?

#15

The microscope hasn’t got any identification on it unfortunately so I can’t say for sure who made it. I purchased it from India via ebay. It was sold as a new item but when it turned up this was obviously not the case and I spent some time negotiating a partial refund, which I’m not convinced I actually received in full, but it got to a point when I could no longer be bothered to chase it down. I only fitted it a day or so ago when I noticed the gas spring contained within the support mechanism was broken. Yet another reason not too be happy but I’m pushing on because in spite of the headaches I’ve had with getting it and fitting it, I’m convinced it’s going to an asset once I’m used to working with it. It has truly opened up a whole new world. I’m hoping the replacement gas spring supplied and manufactured here in the UK will be with me by Friday, the thought of trying to get one from India left me reaching for the headache meds :slight_smile:

#16

You were very courageous to order this and I hope it works out really well.

#17

I want to hear more from hair removal customers on this subject. Anyone got something to add here? Let’s just call this a BUMP!

PS, how are things going follizap? How has your home office worked out?

#18

Hi james, thanks for asking :slight_smile: I’ve been a little distracted of late with other projects and trying to make a living :frowning: I’m hoping to focus on the electrolysis thing again real soon. I have now got a basic web site but it needs a couple of tweaks before I include a link with my posts. My technique could do with some polishing as well but I should be getting busy soon so all good…

#19

I’ve only done electrolysis once but I’ve had laser where it’s in a home (was a former member on here actually). I’m very picky about doing things in peoples homes, it depends entirely on the location. I don’t care if it’s in a sketchy area, but for me when I go anywhere I’m hitting up Google Streetview right away to see what the place looks like. If it’s someones home in a sub-division type thing, then I want to see a dedicated area for treatment, whether it’s a section on the side, or a sign or anything pointing to where you’re supposed to go. I don’t want to have to go there and figure out do I ring the doorbell or what? The laser place I went was like this, a big house in a sub-division in the subburbs of Toronto, and you had to go into the back yard and then it was in the basement with a sliding glass patio door. I felt like I was breaking in so I really hate that.

Also it depends too if they’re in an apartment or condo or something as well. I’d definitely ask how their set up is first, or see if their website has pictures to show a dedicated treatment area vs a table just in their living room. Going to an apartment/condo can be weird but at least you know you’re in the right place. Where I find it weird is if the apartment is entirely their business, because then I never know do I knock or just walk in!

To James post about his former dentist office, I find that weird but that’s just me. I don’t see what’s so embarrassing about getting work done at all. You’re bettering yourself and making yourself feel better so who cares really. I can’t honestly think of anyone thinking bad of someone for getting hair removal done. I tell everyone I do it Maybe it’s different if you’re doing it because you have a real hair problem, like a woman with PCOS or a man with a back covered in hair etc. For me it’s more just cosmetic, I do it because it’s easy to do but if I didn’t do it I wouldn’t really care.

Anyway I’m rambling but I think it all depends on how professional they are. Start with their website, for me I think having a bad website is inexcusable since it’s so easy to do now. I love when you look up a new clinic and their website is professional, no typos and just full of information talking about their treatments, machines, how it works etc. Doesn’t mean the treatments will actually be good, but at the same time if it’s in a sketchy area of town or something at least you know it’s probably a legitimate place.

#20

I’m mostly passive on this site but I’ll throw in my 2 cents on this. I would absolutely never in a million years go to someplace like a mall for my electrolysis treatments. For a woman with a serious hair problem (a visible hair problem on my face), a certain degree of privacy is really important. I would be way too embarrassed to walk up to and sit and wait someplace where others could see me. Not because I’m embarrassed to be having electrolysis, but because I have to let the hair grow out for treatment and it’s visible. Not so much now as I’m 9 months into treatment but at the beginning, no way.

My electrologist has a space in a bit of a run down office complex. There usually isn’t much going on there as most of the businesses aren’t customer intensive. On my first appointment I was a little put off by the location. I thought the fact that it was out of the way, run down, sort of hidden meant that she might be a bit sketchy. But then I met her - her office is clean and organized, we clicked, her treatments yielded results - I would follow her anywhere now. If she started working out of a cave in the side of a cliff I would follow her.

As to the specific question of working from home, I’ve gone to many people who offered various services out of their home and it’s never bothered me at all. I’ve had hair stylists, massage therapists, one of my daughters speech therapists, and more that worked out of their homes and all of them had a dedicated office space set up. All were professional and I never questioned their decision to work out of their home. Of course, my father ran his business out of the home for 40 years so I might be biased. He did it because he had the space, it made financial sense, and since my mom worked outside the home, it was good to have a parent there when us kids came home from school.

For me, regardless of the service someone is providing, I care far more about the actual service and the person providing it than I do about the space they work out of. If I feel comfortable with the person, if I’m happy with the service they provide, then that’s what really matters.