Hi James, I have type 4 skin and was wondering if you had any pictures of darker skinned people on your website?
I had thermolysis from a highly reputable electrologist leave some scarring that took a few years to go away, so I started believing that one infamous lady electrologist who says that thermolysis causes scarring and should be banned (do you know who I am talking about?).
Also, congratulations on the baby (I assume that is your baby in the picture?).
Also, who does your web designing if you don’t mind my asking? I might want to hire a web designer in the future.
Thanks and glad to finally see more pics besides Tina Marie!!
Yes, that baby is me. My skin got darker with the decades.
Unfortunately, no dark skinned individuals have given permission for their pictures to be used. There is, however a hairtell user who did post his pictures here. If I find them, I will let you know. Additionally, I have done some interviews with clients, and one of them is with a dark skinned woman who is happily forgetting about all the hair, and is making great progress.
I’m sure you know the song Sweet Baby James by James Taylor?
Actually your baby photo looks a lot like my sisters baby photo.
I think as far as electrolysis and scarring goes that it’s important that the electrologist doesn’t use an unnecessarily high a setting and should take note of how the clients skin reacts to whatever settings they used. It is also important for the client to give some feedback to the electrologist on how their skin reacted afterwards.
Dear, Tembo, It is unfortunate that we were not close enough for you to consider doing your work with me, as I know I could have done it without the negative results you experienced. I found the post string with the pictures of my darker skinned client who posted pictures on HairTell. Thanks for asking me about it, as I may be able to get him to allow me to put these on my web page. If he is ok with them being here, why not there, right?
In response to your query about my web designer, My vision was brilliantly translated to the page by the wonderful Mr. Randy Smith of www.RandySmith.ca, and I know that he has a pretty fast turn around. Do mention that I referred you.
Many people have commented on how my site is easy to navigate, has a good amount of information, and doesn’t make you sit through animated flash pages just to get to where you can click on a menu.
AliciaDarling, it is one of the things that I rail against in this industry, that so many people have been taught, and continue to blindly follow the protocol that says you find a treatment setting by going to the client’s pain tolerance limit, and then move it up a tick more. This has nothing to do with what treatment energy the hair requires, and especially with the new machines, is downright nuclear on the skin. People should be looking to find the treatment energy that removes the hair, and nothing higher. That’s why we work in layers, doing the thickest hairs first, and then come back for the thinner lighter ones. The treatment energies are different (If you don’t want to leave the person looking like someone threw hot darts at their face, anyway)
Finally, I would like to say, “Thank you for your kind words Tembo.”
Most of us are not good at guessing games. Who is this infamous lady electrologist you are referring to? If she has said it, then I’m sure she stands by her words and wouldn’t be afraid if you revealed her name. So do you want to be up front here?
We have discussed that web site here many times, and I think Tembo was correct in NOT opening up the door to yet another discussion of the errors of that particular web site. If Tembo would like to shoot a link to the former conversation thread (which you contributed to then my dear Dee) then that is fine.
I forgot the name of that infamous lady, but she had a major discussion about the dangers of thermolysis on her website. I suppose James knows who I was talking about.
Thanks for the pictures James. First time I have seen a post electrolysis picture of a dark skinned person!
A good number of my clients are dark skinned women. I will have to take more pictures, if they will allow me to do so, and then post. I find people of color no different to work on than people with no color. It just isn’t a big deal from my perspective.
On the one hand, darker people have more melanin, and melanin is a part of the immune system response. This means that darker skinned people are more likely to have pigmentation as a part of their restorative process. The trick in electrolysis is always to limit the amount of tissue injury that reaches the surface and upper layers of the skin. In a perfect situation, one has an inverted scar, with all the damage limited deep below the surface in the lowest layers of the dermis, while the upper layers are left undisturbed, and only have temporary redness and temporary swelling as side effects. Any pigmentation that may occur, one would want to limit to short term stuff with a life span of less than 3 months.
When I get my video uploaded, you will see a woman whose electrolysis work with me resulted in LESS skin trauma than just her natural hair growing or her shaving her face.
The women of color I start electrolysis work on usually present with high levels of splotchy hyperpigmentation because they have damaged their skin with temporary methods that has taken place over many months or years of tweezing, shaving and chemical burns. I work through the damaged skin carefully over the months. After electrolysis permanently eliminates the unwanted hair and ingrowns are lifted out and treated, the skin will then have a chance to heal and even out. So, rarely do we get perfect skin BEFORE we start that first session in most cases, but the skin does improve once the hair is gone for good and time passes with the good healing powers of the client. You wouldn’t believe how awful some clients skin looks along with the hair that brings them to the electrologist before treatements even get started.
Ok, If anyone is still paying attention to this, I have a little video that has one of my darker skinned clients who came to me as a woman with large fat banana sheathed hairs ingrown and filling her face with pus filled angry hyperpigmented bumps. Although she won’t give permission for the before shot that shows her having a full beard of patchy, splotchy skin and curly hairs, she does show the reduced situation under her chin now that the cheeks are now under control. When you see Ileah lift her chin to reveal the bumps under her chin and on her neck, keep in mind that her entire face looked 4 times worst than what you are seeing in this video.
I just watched the video “for fun”. Sounds like you have some very happy customers James, and you come across as very intelligent and trustworthy. This video serves as a good “advertisement” for you!
The first time I’ve seen the video this afternoon, I’ve only “picked up” two words: “ELECTROLYSIS” and “HAPPY”.
The fifth time, and I understand more than a dozen.
James, you’re just as I imagined. It is a pleasure to see you in “action”. Congratulations to Gina for filming, too.
What a wonderful video! I’m a lurking newbie finally joined and I’m seriously considering seeing you James. Quick question, can your technique be used without using a numbing cream? I’m very sensitive to what’s put on my face, and I’m worried about having a reaction. Thanks a bunch for this!
What has made me rail and rant for a decade is the fact that in most cases, given the correct situation, an electrolysis practitioner and client can create a comfortable treatment experience. It does require an investment in equipment, and training, but it is possible. My average client doesn’t use topical for anything other than the upper lip, and some don’t use it for that. Of those who do use topical for the upper lip, they frequently stop using it after the first or second clearance.
