I have been getting electrolysis done on myself by a skilled electrologist. I was thinking how it would be if I get my own set up and start working on myself. Actually, I know the face would be hard to do and I wouldn’t risk my face. After practicing, and going to a legit school, will I be able to perform on myself? I think it is possible to work on your own legs, stomach and breasts, mostly the front part of your body. But the back would be impossible. So am I insane for saying that I want to work on myself after having minimum experience???
No, you’re not insane. I worked on myself, did a great job, and was able to focus pro treatment time and money on the back areas that I couldn’t get to. Over the course of a year, my skills improved greatly, and the areas I could get to were cleared just as good. But, it took getting a pro machine, reading and learning Bono’s book, buying all the accessory items like eye magnification, excellent tweezers, a good halogen light, gloves, needles, a cart to put everything on, extra hand-pieces (you wear them out), and a good bench to sit on while working. All in all, I invested about $1500 on all my equipment and supplies, but feel it was money well spent, and saved lots. Plus, I can continue to treat myself in accessible areas at no cost now that I have what it takes to do the job. Is it for everybody to do what I did? Honestly? I think it was a really smart thing to do. I would recommend it. But if you’re going to jump in, buy quality tools and magnification. Going the cheap route might save you a few hundred, but frustration from trying to work with low-grade machines and magnification could lead to throwing in the towel and giving up. You want to use equipment that you can grow into.
Hope this helped.
Mantaray, wow that was VERY helpful. I’m glad that you worked on yourself and the results were good. How long did it take you to grasp techniques and so forth?? Did you go to school for it or you just decided to start on your own? Exactly what type of machine did you purchase?
ihatebodyhair, actually I am not far away from Berkowitz and I was planning on going there to “study” electrolysis. The plan is to enroll in some classes just so I can get the minimum experience that can lead me to have an idea and work on myself. I am willing to spend money on good equipment that I will need, but i want to learn how to perform electrolysis first. Hmmm, I’m thinking of going to Berkowitz for a little bit if they charge 10 dollars per half hour for the students to work on. But, I’m kinda iffy on that because those students might cause scarring because they are in “learning mode”? But then again, If I ever take classes there, I want to practice on other people as well.
This is the DYI section of the forum where many people do this and share. As long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort to learn it properly (and maybe even scar yourself a little here and there while you’re practicing), then it’s completely possible.
The only area even professional electrologists don’t treat on themselves is the face. Too hard to get the right insertions and too much potentially for scarring on a visible area if the job is not done right.
Mantaray, wow that was VERY helpful. I’m glad that you worked on yourself and the results were good. How long did it take you to grasp techniques and so forth?? Did you go to school for it or you just decided to start on your own? Exactly what type of machine did you purchase?
I went about everything very organized. First, I bought Bono’s books, both the versions of “The Blend Method” (pp 368 and pp 190 versions), and the older “Electrolysis, Thermolysis, and The Blend” by Hinkel. I read “The Blend Method” cover to cover. I was watching out on ebay for machines the whole time. I searched everyday, day in, day out, and happened on a Silhouet-Tone Sequential Blend (kind of like the 328), got that for about $450.
I tested the machine as best I could, did the eggwhite test thing, did the meat test thing, and practiced doing insertions with just a needle and handpiece with no current. I the took the big jump and did galvanic, and it was hard to get it down. Probably because my early insertions were so bad. When I could do Galvanic even marginally, after about two weeks, I started with blend. I know, I know, the pros are going ugh, but I found blend easier than pure galvanic. I did blend for about two to three months then started doing purely thermolysis. I found thermolysis much easier to do than blend or galvanic. But then again, my insertions greatly improved, and partly because i was then using better magnification.
At about that time I saw a posting on ebay for an Apilus Senior (Electropil as it’s sometimes called) got that for about $400 or so, and used that on thermolysis settings ever since. It’s a good machine, but honestly I think the machines I have are about the same.
Hope it helped
Hey! Welcome back Mantaray! I’m sure a lot of people have missed your presence here. I agree, your post to Audrey was very good.
Audrey, I did work on myself as a student and saved a lot of money. However, I did not touch my face though.
Yeah, newbies, or those curious about what they could accomplish on their own shouldn’t get the wrong impression. The face is an area one cannot DIY. Not saying it’s never been done, but one would have to be sort of “gifted” with spatial reasoning and coordination to work in a mirror’s reflection like that. I remember a pretty decent DIYer, that also was pro, talking about not being able to get it right despite numerous attempts.
As for me, despite all I’ve done, I still wouldn’t even touch a co-DIYer’s face. Not because I couldn’t, but just would want nothing to do with risking a scar on somebody’s face.