Is there anybody who can provide me with an honest answer to this question? I have heard once, seven times at least, up to ten times. What is the truth? How many times does one single hair need to be treated in order for the follicle to cease producing a hair?
Do we really have to do this again? The answer is once.
Okay, that’s not completely fair. On a rare occasion, something will go wrong and the hair isnt fully killed the first time. Maybe one out of 50 hairs say with a descent practitioner, 1/10 for a poor one and not at all for a great practitioner. That hair grows back, thinner this time, and weaker and is generally killed the second go round.
Want proof? The growth cycle of a hair is 2-3 months. My face above the jaw line is finished after 6 months of intensive treatment. It’s not physically feasible therefore for the hair to have grown back more than once, anywhere.yes, I still get he ODD stray but for the most part I’m done.
These two pictures are taken 5 months apart.The first was the week I started electrolysis, the second a month or so ago . No I didnt shave.You tell me:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/IMG387.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66437553/IMG_1251.JPG
Seana
Also , note this was a month or so before I finished. If you zoom in, you can see some of the very fine hairs I removed at the end.These would be hairs that “werent quite dead” the first time I treated them. They are gone now.
Michael has often said to me that without showing results, all the theories and estimates in the world arent worth a hill of beans. Well Michael, here are results.
Seana
This question always stimulates a question. In turn, I would ask, “How does one even know if they are treating the SAME hair five times, eight times, ten times?”.
If hair came in different colors, say blue, green, yellow, magenta, maroon, red, purple, I guess we could offer a guess that the same hair is back, but even then, how would we know? Hair that grow in different follicles can be 2 microns away from each other and one follicle could be active in March (let’s say it is a “yellow” hair) and the other might not be active until July (let’s say that is a yellow hair, too). So, the March yellow hair is treated, per electrolysis in March, when it can be seen and then in July, the neighbor yellow hair that is 2 microns away from the March follicle, decides to come to the surface. Now, one is left with the frustration that the same hair grew back when it didn’t. It’s a different hair.
It is better to say that it takes several sessions to permanently rid an area of all bothersome hair, because that is more accurate. I tell my clients that they need anywhere from 12 to 20 sessions on their facial hair, spread out over 9- 18 months and it always true to form. There have been some oddball exceptions that I won’t expand on right now, but basically, that is how it goes for 98% of the cases.
For larger “man back size” areas, it takes more sessions and the sessions are longer in length because there is so much hair, but they still finish in that 12 to 18 month period if they put the time in up front.
The other strategy of three sessions and “done” doesn’t apply to female fine facial hair, but it is awesome for other areas. You have to let the hair grow in its natural state, untouched for three or four months, then punch it adequately to clear it. Wait for several months again to punch and clear and then do this a third time. Works great for legs, arms, underarms, etc.
So, it is easier to say that it takes eight times to kill a hair to a client, then to go through a long explanation about hair growth cycles. Easy is not the best, but many still choose to promote this explanation.
You can tell it’s Sunday morning! Too wordsy, but I’m rested, what can I say?!
I nominate Dee’s above post for the “Hall of Fame.” This is a perfect explanation, and one I hope every patient considers. Love love love … kiss kiss kiss! (THIS post will make me happy all day long! Yes, I’m easily satisfied.)
As a “coda” to my invidious post about annoying facial-hair clients, I’ve found (over the decades) that it’s primarily folks with scant (nearly zero) facial hairs, that have been tweezing for years, who are the “bean counters;” I mean “HAIR counters.”
The person that “tweezes ‘the same hair’ every couple days” is the client that will be absolutely convinced that that ONE HAIR you treated has come back … in only two days, yet! There is no convincing them otherwise. “Hak mir nisht kein tshaynik!”
Indeed, they usually say they “understand” your lengthy explanation, but you get the same story again at the following 5-minute appointment. I still refuse to do it, but I DO understand the electrologists that just finally gives in and say, “Yep, it takes FIVE times to kill the hair.”
Now, where did I leave my “Paint Brush?” … tee hee!
It’s on your head, or stuck to the ceiling .
Seana
It’s always a GREAT day ahead when you start out with a good laugh!
THANKS Kiddos!
Thanks everybody for the great responses. However, my electrologist insists that it takes at least SEVEN times for a single hair to be treated to the point where it will not longer come back and when I mentioned some of the responses here she told me that it is impossible to effectively treat a hair with a single treatment. Should I look into seeing someone else?
I always encourage consumers to get more than one consultation. You will discover vast differences among us.
I adore your diplomacy Dee. I’d say you should have been a politician, but I like you better as an electrologist.
Seana
…and client can then determine which of the electrologists they “gel” with. (And discern the best electrologist of the bunch.)
I would. She may be undertreating you.
mine said that if it was in growth stage it should die first time but if it was in resting for instance it may need 2 or 3 regrowths and zaps for it to be dead for good but that they would come back weaker each time. I have used my electrolysis for 9 months and seriously considering going elsewhere she was great when I had really dark / thick hair although I only ever got 2-3 at a time but now that they are thinner paler but still stand out to me she says she can see nothing and I have to point them out to her although she’s using a magnifying mirror.
I went today and had 3 treated on chin a few corner of upper lips she left loads on there I will have to shave before hol tomorrow, they were no where near each other, she is in her mid/ealy 60’s and wears glasses she didn’t wear gloves again today like she did when I first started going. For the first time today she also didn’t put any alo vera on after. Very frustrating 9 months in I think she is skilled as I had one on my hand treated 7 months ago never came back and as I say they do still come in same times but are no longer thick and black. Its nervous trying someone else should have visiting a few from the start. Good luck with your journey.
WOW! Now, that’s the understatement of the year! I mean, “She might be undertreating you?”
I would say that the person (who alleges SEVEN treatments for ONE hair) is tweezing, and you will never be finished. I would ask if this person has ever completed a case. If you get a “yes” answer, ask to speak with the former patient.
Repeat: ask to talk directly to a former patient (or two). Many patients like doing this.
BTW we do this all the time, i.e., have real former patients talk directly to prospective patients. This is a very common practice and I encourage and promote this endeavor. It’s all about gathering authentic information to help you decide on the appropriate treatment option.
It is impossible for me to agree more.
Hi Josefa,
Please check your messages