I have been looking into electrolysis and the lady in my area uses the silhouette? Not sure if I’m spelling that right, but she trained in America and has been practising for 18 years, which sounds good, and she’s going on holidays next week, so she’s actually booked solid until she comes back, which means her clients obviously rely on her…
Am I wasting my time with a machine like that though?
She said that the machine doesn’t matter because it all depends on her ability to use it…
HELP.
If you are concerned with the brand name of the machine, you might have been reading too many online forums. Or not enough maybe. 
Silhouet-Tone is a Canadian company that produces all type of spa equipment, including epilators. They have a number of epilators from mid-price to high-end and of course they are effective if they are used properly.
Technique is paramount, the machine is secondary.
Thanks for replying!
Oh ok, I was trying to figure out if there was any need for me to go according to brand. I’ve found a few other places in my area which use sterex and blend and diathermy but I should just ignore that and concentrate on the technician itself? Sorry, I’m trying to cram as much knowledge as possible into my head before I make a decision. Everyone I’ve talked to about this has been really aggressive when I start asking them questions regarding the machine and their training. SCARY!
My confusion also comes from reading posts such as LAgirl’s in which she talks about having to swap from one to the other if the hairs are different. I need to get my upper lip and chin treated for a few hairs, as well as my nipples and stomach and I have been an avid plucker, as well as a few moles, so I was trying to see which machine would suit my situation best?
There are people here with decades of experience who might have a different opinion that mine, but here is mine from experience as a client and now a new electrologist.
Technique, technique, technique.
I can understand why practitioners get defensive when asked about equipment because as a potential client these are not the things you need to base your decisions on. I’d be peeved too is someone expected an Apilus and I was using Hinkel, or they wanted Sil-Tone and I was using an Apilus. I’d be losing business based on an ill-informed opinion (sorry, please don’t be offended).
I’ve said it in several other threads: After years of getting “electrolysis” (more like expensive plucking) I finally received effective treatment from a woman who said “95 out of 100 hairs will not grow back.” No excuses or explanations needed about regrowth because there was none.
She used an old analog machine, described as a toaster by the guy who sells the high-end computerized machines. But this toaster lady has the best electrolysis business in my city because of her technique, not her machine.
I don’t want to be critical of anyone else’s technique, but the idea of switching machines sounds like an unnecessary hassle.
So I would look for someone who stands behind their work. I’m a new electrologist but I intend to offer a guarantee of the total treatment time for a job(once i practice long enough to have those stats! :))
Don’t worry about the machine, just grill them on the effectiveness of their technique. Hope that helps.
Well, I can’t add to that “pink.”
I can only say: BRAVO!
I am now getting a few clients that demand a Laurier needle! Good needles, but not for my technique: full manual-blend with progressive epilation and a tapered needle. So, am I supposed to allow a client to dictate treatment parameters with my 35 years of experience? Not happening!
I guarantee my work, what more do they want?
Then just order the uninsulated ones.
If you want a tapered two-piece needle, its the ony one on the market 
Ok thanks guys, that definitely helps! I was worried that if she was using an older model then she would be more likely to scar, etc, but she was trained in the US and brought her business back here and 18 years is a lot more reassuring sounding than the other lady who has only been doing it for three, and in a beauty salon. The other lady seems to run her own electrolysis station entirely on her own, so I’m also guaranteed hands on and personal approach. There aren’t that many options in my location so I just wanted to be sure! Thanks very much!!
Mike … wow, talk about “missing the point!”
What part of Ireland are you living in ? There are some excellent electrologists in some parts of the country. Please let us know your location and we may be ableto help ?
Maybe not sir. Nobody likes a needle. If they have to have one used on them, they want the best to be used. Most don’t know the difference between thermolysis and blend. With ether the Probe or the bare needle we’re still the best on the market no matter what modality you use.
I live in Limerick Therese! Any recommendations for there? And for Laser Hair Removal there too, if you know any! I won’t do that on my face, obviously, but on coarse leg hair and bikini.
Hi Hairmeout,
I’ve gone to an electrologist who uses a brand new “modern” computerized machine such as the Apilus but after a few sessions, ended up much happier with an electrologist using instantron or something like that. Point being, the not so high tech machine but better electrologist wins for me! I’m so much happier with my results. I also find that an electrologist should be able to give you approximate hours not years! It’s so cool to hear, I’m not guaranteeing this but the first time it will be 40 min to clear and then should be another 2 hours til done. I won’t hold him to it but it feels so much better than hearing well about 2 years! Go with technique and electrologist not machine!
Nice. Yes, of course.
The funny thing about the “non-Apilus” machines is that they too are microprocessor controlled (the definition of State of the Art, these days). Even though my 2-year old machine appears (and works like) an analog unit, in reality it is not.
But then, I’m so sick of hearing about BRAND NAMES (machines and needles) I could throw up. I wonder how many patients that go in for plastic surgery DEMAND that the surgeon use a particular brand of suture, or implants, or syringes … or whatever.
Does anybody out there “get this” except me? Just having fun here!
Michael, you are 100% correct. I mentioned something along the lines of your post a few months ago and got blasted by sales jargon from the Apilus crowd (see thread: selling services or epilators). I am not aware of any other profession that sells services based on equipment name brands. It is crazy, unfortunate and divisive that Hairtell is turning into a “my machine is better than yours” battleground. I have heard the same issues (and others) are ramping up within the AEA … but they are known for “cat-fights” so I am not surprised. The profession is facing enough problems without the formation of a cult that will confuse consumers and further divide electrologists.
This might be my favorite thread of all time!!!
Silhouette-tone epilator: Loved it and hated it.
Laurier needles: Love them and don’t like the price.
While I love my current epilator, I know that there are many other good ones out there and I do believe that consumers should not be telling their electrologist WHAT to do or use. However, feedback (i.e., sensation during treatment and/or skin reactions) IS very important as it enables the electrologist to better self evaluate their techniques.
It really is all about technique. There are a thousand techniques out there, and sometimes it is a crap-shoot in finding the one that works for YOU.
In my 32 years of practice I have owned many epilators. My first one in 1980 was a vacuum-tube Hinkel Electro-Blend Model-D. Back then few electrologists outside of the west coast owned one or knew how to use it. The results were superb, but by today’s standards the Model-D was crude: it had an unshielded needle cord (leaked RF), unreliable vacuum-tubes that weakened with age (before they failed), and was the size of a microwave oven. New equipment is more comfortable, reliable and precise. As Barbara pointed out, technique is far more important than the brand of epilator.
Greetings HairMeOut!
While the electrologists sort out their opinions about epilator and probe choices, why don’t you take it upon yourself to get as many short treatment consultations as you can. See how it feels, go home and see how it heals. Take written notes about each experience. Write down the name of the epilator. Ask what kind of probe is being used, observe your skin reaction. Make your decision based on what you experienced, what your instincts tell you and all should settle nicely from there. Good luck to you as you do your consumer research.
This is not the impression I have when I read the AEA page on Facebook. I admit that there may be members, sorry I mean, how do you call? ah yes, cats (female), who enjoy competing to see who knows more or has more experience. But, this is not the rule, in fact they do not represent even 1%. You can not condemn the whole community for a few with desire for notoriety. Many “kittens” we get sharp nails only when someone is lying or simply ignores the only foolproof system to get rid of unwanted hair, ie electrolysis. Moreover, there is a struggle since Dr. Charles Michel (or was Dr. Carron Du Villards? or perhaps was Dr. Julius Althaus?) used the electric current to remove hair follicles. You see, dear hairadicator, there are not rabid cats (female) but hungry male tigers of recognition and notoriety ;-). An evidence:
In Dr. Althaus´ words:
The fights have their positive side when you play fair. Recently, our colleague Beate revealed her opinion on two brands of machines. She prefers the Flash from a manufacturer, and Blend from another one. Well, maybe both manufacturers have taken note, and feel the need to modify the devices to make them perfect.
If there were electrology Olympics, this is the image that I would like to see.
lol, josefa if your eyes and hands wear out you can always find work as a writer or a mediator. Great post. You communicate so beautifully in your second (or third or fourth?) language that I wish I could read your thoughts in your mother tongue. You’re amazing!