So I started my electrolysis journey about 3 weeks ago. This is the first time doing electrolysis and I’m beyond excited! 
I feel like my electrologist is doing a great job but at the same time I read on here that finding an good electrologist is pretty rare. That has me worried, but at the same time I remain optimistic considering that I’m finally doing this after years of suffering. What indicates an effective treatment? Or is this something I will have to determine at the end? Are there any red flags I need to look out for? Besides the sensation of plucking…
If you got full clearance in the target areas, you would have had 3 weeks of relatively hair free time in the treated area. Women tend to grow more hairs more quickly, and thus may not enjoy this 3 week period to the fullest in the early stages, so your results may vary.
If you are not doing full clearances, you won’t be able to tell much at all until a few months from now, as that will be the time when you see reduction in hairs returning.
In general, no matter what you are doing, you should see some reduction in the treated area by the 3rd month of treatment. In the short term, the condition of your skin after treatments, and the time it takes to heal would be a good indication of the quality of the work you are getting.
Since I’m not doing full clearances and I’ll have to wait a few months from now to see a reduction, what condition should my skin be in to indicate that I’m heading the right direction? I understand scabbing is good, but honestly I don’t scab much. A few pin points here and there. The area is red after treatments, and a bit tender a few days later. The pain during is tolerable, sometimes painful (an hour and a half is my limit) and the hairs slide out like butter, some with slight resistance…
All sounds good, but to really be able to say much, would require pictures. I hope you took before pictures, and are taking progress pictures. Sometimes, it is the only way you will ever know what progress you are making, or have made.
Since you are doing a slower approach than full clearances, you will do well to have progress pictures so you can compare from a few months ago to now. Otherwise, the changes may be happening too slow for them to register with you. It is said that one must lose 50% of one’s hair before one ever notices any change.
My electrologist takes pictures after every treatment. Unfortunately I don’t have a working computer right now but I will post pics as soon as I can. My electrologist is Maria Denicola’s daughter, Stephanie. She’s fantastic, they speak very highly of you
IMO you are in VERY good hands.
While I have never had work done by Stephanie, I have had work done by her mother Maria, and I know that mom would not let daughter get away with being any less than her abilities. (maybe someday when I see her in person again, she will have time to work on me, and I will be able to say she is great from personal hands on experience)
I will therefore say that I trust you are in good hands as well.