Female facial hair in the Army?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hello…First I would just like to thank those that support this forum. I have been reading posts for a while, and the first few times I did I cried. I have felt so alone and hiding my problem from everyone, so it is nice to know that there are poeple who understand! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I want to join the Army. I have ALWAYS wanted to join the Army since I was very young, BUT…I am a woman with hair on my face and this has stopped me from joining in the past. I have stiff hair on my upper lip, chin and neck area under my chin and faint sideburns. I shave it everday and have been for about 8 years now. I use to pluck some, but heard that only makes it worse so I stopped doing that. I HAVE to shave it everday and cover it with makeup or it is very obvious. I finally decided I cannot live like this forever so I want to do something about it.

Okay…my question is if I start Electrolysis and go faithfully for 8 or 9 months, what will happen if I stop treatment and go to boot camp for 9 weeks?? Will the hair just grow back like normal and I will have to shave everyday?? I would continue treatment after the 9 weeks. There is NO privacy and NO time in boot to do this and even if I could get over my enbarrassment, the Army probably isn’t going to like how I look without shaving! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

My other option is Laser. Would this be better for the short term future to clear it off, the do Elec. on the rest later?? Money is not an issue! I just want this gone enough to go to boot camp and then continue treatment after.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any advise or info would be greatly appreciated!

#2

Most female clients who work with me are done in that space in time, but the worst case situation after 9 months would be that you would have 10 to 20 percent of what you have now scattered about because they were not in the right phase when we worked on them the first time. We would do a last treatment for good measure just prior to your induction, and that would leave you clear for a minimum of 3 weeks, and what ever 10 to 20 percent that could possibly come out would not start until over 4 to 6 weeks after you leave. Of course, the best case situation is that you would have no hair.

I had one client who was a radio personality who made public appearances all the time. I just happened to see her at an out door festival just prior to one of her friends dragging her in to my office and holding her down on my treatment table. I did not notice her hair, but what I did notice was her demeanor. She was appearing to be shy, and kept her head down. What I did not know was she was hiding the hairs on her chinny-chin-chin. She was looking down, and turning her head away from people in public so she could hide the hairs on her chin, and neck. Later I found that she was shaving and plucking her face as well. By the time the same festival came up the next year, she was Ms. Personality, holder her head up high, and giving out hugs to the fans.

Yes, you can be hair free for boot camp if you see the right electrologist. I have a personal problem with Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, in that you just don’t know what your result will be. I really have seen too many changes in skin quality to be comfortable sending anyone to have this done, and in the end, you still have to “finish with electrolysis” anyway. For the money, I have seen many women who could have done the whole thing in electrolysis and spent less money, and had better results.

#3

James,

Thanks you so much for responding! That sounds encouraging. I am not sold on the Laser thing either and there are risks. My problem now is finding the “right” person to do it. Where I live there are only 2 Electrolosis practitioners to choose from, with the next closest about 380 miles away. I know my state does not regulate it either so that is kind of scary.

I have read on other posts that you sometimes do clients that fly to you for a couple days at a time. Is this true? How does that work?

Thanks again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

#4

Yes, I do have that happen often.

It is pretty simple, they fly in, get cleared out, and go home. Most women don’t have enough hair to keep me busy for more than a day or two. Most men could have a full clearance in a week or more, depending on how much time we spend eating, and catching the sights, like Niagara Falls. I usually end up being a combination hair remover and tour guide.

Please send me a picture of the treatment areas at ExecutiveImageS AT AOL.com and I will have a better idea of what you need done.

#5

it might be worth it to start out with laser and finish with electrolysis if you have a lot of hair. just make sure to use a good laser (alex or diode for light skin and dark hair) and an experienced tech. then find a good eletrologist to finish it off.

#6

It might be even more worth it to stick solely to electrolysis with someone who is fast and can provide you long sessions.

#7

it might be worth it to start out with laser and finish with electrolysis if you have a lot of hair. just make sure to use a good laser (alex or diode for light skin and dark hair) and an experienced tech. then find a good eletrologist to finish it off.

Why start with laser (including expense, dangers etc) when it can be done with electrolysis?

My father is an MD and his opinion is that laser for hair removal has too many unknowns attached. Don’t risk your skin and your health for something that we don’t know all that much about.

#8

<< It might be even more worth it to stick solely to electrolysis with someone who is fast and can provide you long sessions. >>

I am wondering if it is appropriate to ask electrologists when you call them on the phone how fast they work? Is there a certain speed I should be looking for?

#9

It never hurts to ask, however, unless an electrologist has a newer machine with an insertion counter, they don’t know the answer to that question for themselves. Even if they do have an insertion counter, they don’t know how fast they will be able to work on YOU in the area you want done without seeing you.

For example, the fastest I have ever worked on anyone was 1200 hairs per hour, in thermolysis. My average is between 400 and 600 per hour, and some people have such difficult growth patterns that you are lucky if you can get 250 per hour. What am I supposed to tell you when you ask me how fast I work? It is a one in a million person who has the situation that allows a 1200 hair per hour treatment, and I would not know if you would tend to be on the low or high average range without working on you either.

What I tell people on the phone is that my average client gets to first clearance on the mask area of the face in 4 to 6 weeks depending on how they schedule their treatments, and I have people who have done it in one to two weeks.

One other point about what an electrologist can do, and people’s perception of speed. If I have a client who has 50 hairs per centimeter, I will appear to have done much more than clearing the same number of hairs on a person who has 150 hairs per centimeter. My speed is the same, however, the client’s perception of amount of work would be different (especially if I did not have the insertion counter to verify the number of follicles treated).

In the case above, both people would have had the same number of hairs treated, but one would LOOK like more work was done, because more skin was bare.

I have always said that the problem with interacting with perspective hair removal clients, is that they don’t understand enough to know what questions to ask, and they don’t understand how what they believe to be simple questions don’t have simple answers, or can not be answered at all with the information they are capable of giving.

That is why you have to sample the treatments of everyone you are able to see, and then choose who gives you the best value for your money, based on number of hairs removed, and the appearance of your skin post treatment.

#10

I don’t understand why you just don’t join the army and then work on it later…I’m in the military and have been for 18yrs…It is ture that there is no privacy and i understand that it is enbarrassing for you.All that I can tell you is that after boot camp, I have only met one person that I went to boot camp with…Oh and if you think that is enbarrassing? Wait till you get there <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />…Just don’t rush into anything…

#11

i have to agree with the last post. i spent 5 years in the army and am a woman with a lot of facial hair. literally there is hair all over my face. when i went into the army i was plucking my chin, upper lip, and eyebrows constantly. i even went through the trouble to sneak in some tweezers. i put them in my pocket in the front of my bdus and they’re so small you can put them in this little pocket for pens and no one would ever see them even if they searched. you’d be surprised how many girls will grow a little moustache or beard while they’re in basic training. the guys used to say they didn’t think it was fair they had to shave in the field when there were so many girls who needed to and didn’t have to. basically there will be so many humiliating situations that this will be the last of your worries. usually when we were cleaning the barracks on sundays we would find a few minutes to try and do some plucking. not that i recommend plucking bcs i don’t. but maybe if you do a couple of solid months (like 2-3) of electrolysis those 9-10 weeks won’t be so bad. there will be hair but less of it and less noticeable. but honestly, that was the least of my worries and i was really nervous about it. like i said i spent 5 years in and that included weeks in the field and months in the desert. i was finding a way to manage it the whole time. i’ve been out almost two years and i just started electrolysis in january. good luck to you and take it easy.
jessie

#12

<< I have always said that the problem with interacting with perspective hair removal clients, is that they don’t understand enough to know what questions to ask, and they don’t understand how what they believe to be simple questions don’t have simple answers, or can not be answered at all with the information they are capable of giving. >>

Thanks James. That’s why I wish there was a guide which told new clients how to go about choosing an electrologist in theie area, if they want to do it locally (and not travel) or don’t have the money to do an ultra session, and only can afford3-5 hours per week.

Actually, transgendercare and andreajames (I think ?) do offer lists of questions to ask, on their websites, but that may not be enough.

#13

<< i even went through the trouble to sneak in some tweezers. >>

What’s wrong with having tweezers? I use them all the time to pluck nose hairs and other superfluous hairs. I’m sure the Army would allow them, especially if you had a good reason.

#14

During Boot Camp, which is what the original poster is worried about, you get in trouble for having even a stray piece of paper in your pocket. you are NOT allowed to have electric razors, and if anyone had found her concealed tweazers, they may have been confiscated, and in any event she would have been punished for having unauthorized items on her person.

#15

James is totally right. In basic training you don’t have anything you’re not told to have. at least that was the way it was when i went in. also, you can’t have anything even remotely cosmetic so i’m sure the drill sgts would have confiscated my tweezers. when your drills come get you there’s a long drawn out process where everything is dumped out of your bags on the concrete and you go through each and every embarassing item one by one that you’re supposed to have. what you’re not supposed to have is confiscated. if you get caught with it later, there’s hell to pay.