Hello,
I am searching for electrologists and am looking for a comprehensive list of questions to ask like method used, machine, etc. I believe I came upon it before but cannot remember where I found it. Thank you.Shopping for an Electrologist?
Top of the list:
Basic Honesty
Personal hygiene and grooming
Good attitude and concern toward the client
Followed by :
Office setting
Where is the office located? Do you feel safe? Is it clean and comfortable? Is it fairly private?
What equipment does the electrologist use? The newer generation of digital, computerized epilators offer fantastic advantage such as, better skin outcome, less sensation and quicker time to completion. They also permit the electrologist to control and repeat energy and timing levels with great accuracy for every appointment. I use the Apilus Platinum, but other electrologists use highly thought of brands and models and deliver great care to their clients.
I use the faster form of thermolysis 95% of the time, PicoFlash specifically. Before that, I used MicroFlash 95% of the time. I also use Blend about 5% of the time. Both modalities work well. PicoFlash thermolysis offer more comfort. Whatever your chosen electrologist uses and uses well, is what you are looking for. Get sample treatments from several electrologists in your area and compare three things: speed, sensation and healing. Follow your instincts as well.
Ask how she disinfects and sterilizes her forceps (tweezers). Ask her if she uses a dry heat sterilizer or an autoclave. Ask her if she uses biological moniters monthly to test whether these sterilizers are working properly to kill germs.
Does she use pre-packaged sterile, disposable probes for each appointment? This is a must. She shouldn’t be saving your probe in an envelope from treatment to treatment. The probe should match the hair’s diameter. I like gold and insulated probes over stainless steel.
Does she wear gloves after she washes her hands with soap and water for 15-20 seconds?
Does she answer the phone with her gloves on and then touch you after touching the dirty phone?
Does she disinfect everything she touches after a treatment? Knobs, epilator, light, glasses, indifferent electrode, treatment table, etc.
Is she using magnification so she can see fine blond hairs or any hair for that matter? If she is spending more time rubbing your face and searching for hair than treating hair, then she probably can’t see as well as she should. Not good.
You should get a consultation before your first treatment. It takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes. She should tell you about how electrolysis works and talk about hair growth cycles, general timelines to completion. Every case is different, so we can only speak in generalities. Some offer sample treatments so you will know what it feels like. Some just go right to it. Some charge for their consultations and many don’t. Each runs his or her office as desired, so be ready for variations.
Are they a member of a professional organization? Do they commit to continuing education as required by there professional organization or state licensing requirements?
This list is by no means totally complete, but it emphasizes hygiene, modern equipment, training and skill. You also need to like this person because you will be spending several months with her/him.
Dee
Thank you for the information. So I presume there was no list that Andrea created?
From www.hairfacts.com :
How to choose an Electrologist
Watch the video and then scroll down to How to choose an Electrologist.
Hello dfahey,
May I ask: would it be reasonable to email an electrologist with all these questions? A silly question, perhaps, but it seems like interviewing or ‘recruiting’ the electrologist…
…On the other hand, that is in effect what the client is doing, isn’t it?..
Hi hairybumpyroad, I know that this question was for Dee and I’m sure she will be along later to answer. I just thought I’d add my bit…I would email or phone and ask questions before hand, especially if you are going to have to travel some distance for consultation/treatments. You can narrow your options quickly that way.
Maxine
Personally, I don’t have time to answer long e-mails, but have tried my best to answer a few questions by e-mail about electrolysis. That is what the complimentary consultation is for. I need to see someone in person and advise them and guide them on their particular situation. The consultation takes 45 minutes for me and I just can’t be thorough enough in an e-mail or phone call to tell one all they need to know about electrolysis. Most questions per phone are how much do you charge questions and it is a totally idiotic thing to ask since there are so many variables involved, but the new client doesn’t know that, so I am polite and patient with them. The how much questions need to be qualified with information and that information can only be passed on if I see someone in person and then, it is only a guesstimate. Besides, I would think they would want to check me and my physical office out, too. It’s best to go in if you can because you get so much more of their time. Well, at least you should. Many electrologists give sample treatments for no charge.
If you live a distance away, and you need to e-mail or call,tell them so and ask them if they could answer three questions that matter to you most. Most of us just don’t have the time for long phone calls because we are working and in my case, I’m already involved here typing away to answer questions here in between sessions or on my afternoon off, so it makes me doubly happy if I can just set up a consultation and schedule it into my day to do the client justice.
Dee
@ both dfahey & max 1970,
Frankly, I HATE driving (and now that I’m in Dallas, seems like that’s all I do - now why did I move here from Canada again? Oh yeah, I got married 
).
Anyway, I do see your point dfahey; besides, in such a ‘hands-on’ service, it does make absolute sense to actually go in person.
I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to get so many inquiries from people who don’t want to give you one cintilla of information about themselves, but want you to tell them about… themselves. They don’t understand that the question, “How much would it cost to get a face done” really means, “What would it take to do MY face?”
The don’t want to send you pictures. They don’t want to talk to you on the phone. I have had people call me from blocked numbers, and bristle when I ask them to give me their number so I can call them back at a time when I have more time. I have even had people send me mail from blocked email addresses. (I didn’t even know you could do that)
In the end, the in person consultation is the only way you will ever know what you want to know fully. This will answer the questions about what this person can do for you, on you. The practitioner can do a sample treatment, and know what she or he is dealing with. You can ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere, and in the end, you know what you would be paying for by the time you leave.
All a phone call or email can do is poorly answer questions that have a true answer that would require an in person, or a medical report to do it justice.
So, once again, we say, get as many sample treatments and consultations as you can with as many different practitioners as you can find, and then, you will know what is the best available treatment possible in that scope of practitioners.