I have decided to get electrolysis done (THANK GOD!!!) because I truly need it. I am a woman with facial hair and an abundance of body hair in places that are…uncomfortable, embarrassing, and cause more than enough problems. My hair is also a little coarse.I plan on starting with the face.
On a rough estimate, about how long would it take(how many sessions) a woman to permanently remove hair around the jaw area, on and around the chin, and tiny hairs above the upper lip? And does the electrologist typically require shaving before the procedure? What’s the MINIMUM time this would typically take if someone got all the treatments in as quickly as possible?
We can’t estimate how many hours it will take (you count in hours, not sessions). This depends on how many individual hairs you have to remove since electrolysis removes hair one by one, and we can’t see you over the internet. Also, hair grows in cycles, so whatever you see now is only at most 30% of the hair you actually have. The rest is dormant etc right now and will come in with the next cycle.
If you go in for treatments on schedule, i.e. get everything cleared as quickly as possible with long treatments to start and come in as soon as you see new hair appear to clear it immediately, you will be done in about 12 months after your first clearance. If you don’t get clearances on schedule, that will extend the time it takes.
You may get something out of reading this thread through. It will help you understand why we can’t blindly answer your question, and why any one person’s information on what it took for them to get the work done would have little to nothing to do with your situation.
Most of my clients are “finished” in about 9-12 months after their first, full clearance. By “finished”, I mean they are 90%-95% finished, but they still need to see me for the next 6 months, give or take, for nit picky hairs that are farther apart and mostly very weak. Some people need to go for 24 months, but they are not shaving, bleaching or doing anything temporary anymore and their hair does not distress them at all. The first 6 months requires real effort and TIME to clear and keep the area clear, but it pays off if you smack those hairs faithfully in the beginning. Sessions, whether they be one hour or five hours, become farther apart and time on the table becomes shorter and shorter. Severe tweezing cases and women with a lot of fine, blond facial hair may need additional time. The fine blond peach fuzz hair is especially frustrating because there are great numbers of these hairs. Some of my clients have invested more than 24 months for severe peach fuzz removal. One is heading into her third year. With her case, I have verbalized to her that she looks great and normal and does not need to see me anymore, but she doesn’t agree with me and I keep seeing her every six weeks. I advise my clients to throw their 12X magnification mirrors away and be done with electrolysis - they don’t need it anymore! If they choose not to, then I serve the client as they wish.
All of you are different and time involved questions will have a different meaning to all individuals seeking electrolysis care, but know this: ELECTROLYSIS WORKS FOR ANYONE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH to live near a well-trained, modern electrologist. You will become new best friends in the process and what a perk that is
Have you found a practitioner yet? What is probably most important now is to schedule some consulations, where you will be given some indication of what will be required. If you need help finding an electrologist, ask for help here. Congratulations on the last decision you will ever have to make about hair removal, as long as you find a skilled,competent operator.
Thanks everyone. No, I haven’t seen a consultant yet. I can’t afford the procedure right now, so it’s gonna be awhile before I get to that point–just wanted to know what to expect.
Story8, Christine is right: “No shaving is required prior to your appointments for electrolysis”.
In fact, it slows down the end of treatment as follows:
The hairs telogen (resting phase) will not grow enough so they can be treated and because they appear on the skin surface after a few weeks. Giving the impression that the results are not as optimal as indeed they are.
In the first picture you can see the appearance of an area a few days after shaving. Just before starting the electrolysis:
PHOTO 1
In the second picture, I surrounded by white hairs that can not be treated because they are in resting phase:
PHOTO 2
In the third image, the appearance of the skin when we have completed the first clearance:
PHOTO 3
In the fourth, the evolution of hairs that could not be treated.
PHOTO 4
In the fifth, the appearance of the area after a few weeks after the first clearance. Yes, they are hairs, but they were never treated. Also you can see the bald.
PHOTO 5
NO SHAVING IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS FOR ELECTROLYSIS !!!
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
PHOTO 4
PHOTO 5