My Electrolysis Journey

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#181

Wow, I was just catching up on HairTell reading when I came across this thread…I am amazed to read that several other people have had bad experiences with Jenna Clifton – I too thought I was the only one! I’m not sure if I should write my whole experience out since I guess it would come across as a petty vendetta of some sort…but I do want to vaguely warn people to stay away from this electrologist.

Don’t believe the hype, yeah she had great equipment and she talks a brilliant game but if you want scars (real pitted ice-pick scars) and a sociopathic personality to deal with then she’s the person to go to! I saw her fortnightly for over 1 ½ years (yeah, you’re rightly wondering why I went to her for so long when things were so bad) but that’s the issue, she’s thoroughly unscrupulous and manipulating - she almost bullied me into continuing treatment with her until I finally got away by cutting off all communication.

Believe me, it was that bad, I have been so traumatised by that whole episode and embarrassed that I didn’t stand up for myself. I haven’t told anyone about this since they would say that I should have got a spine and not put up with her antics for so long…it is a great source of bitterness for me since I spent about £5000, have about 50% hair remaining and worst of all, have real ugly scars to deal with. Honestly, you would be shocked if I told you all of my tales (sadly not fictitious) but I’m scared to put my account out there in case she finds me lol.

#182

Gosh, Sojou, I’m really sorry to hear that.

Thank you for sharing your experience (it must have taken some courage) because I’m sure it will help others. It’s a real abuse of one’s position to do this to people who need genuine help.

max1970 I believe was in a similar position and the experience had almost completely put her off electrolysis. Sorry for speaking on your behalf max!

max is now seeing my electrologist and I believe she’s getting on well:

You may not want to try electrolysis again but just in case you ever reconsider it’s nice to know that there is someone who can help.

#183

Thank you for your encouraging words StopIt :slight_smile:

It was very hard to share because I try not to think about it since it gets me really sad and angry but a.) I don’t want anyone else to ever suffer at her hands and b.) by talking about it maybe I can draw a line under the experience and start my electrolysis journey again…?

I will definitely look into your Parkside recommendation, I just have a dermatology appointment next week which I need to get out of the way for my back acne - just in case I get put on Accutane, in which case I won’t be able to have electrolysis for a while.

#184

Sojou, I really think you should try and see Sharon at Parkside, she is fantastic. I’ve had experiences with many Electrologists over the years and most left my face looking like a pizza, for nearly two weeks in some cases. It totally put me off having Electrolysis, I didn’t have any treatments for a year due to that, then I finally plucked up the courage to visit Sharon after hearing Stopit&tidyup’s positive experiences.

Sharon suggested that we try blend, though slower, it seems to be kinder on my skin. since having Blend, I’ve had virtually no skin reaction other than the intial redness and very very slight swelling, all of which returns to noraml within an hour or two. The only time I had problems was when I applied makeup coz I was going out that night (Slap my hands, I knew I shouldn’t have), the next morning I had 3 or 4 white heads.

Stopit&tidyup, no problem speaking on my behalf, what you said about me having a similar experience with Jenna is totally correct. I don’t comment as often as I should, one being I can never remember my password…but I do read the posts almost everyday.

Sojou, please don’t let your bad experience with Jenna put you off Electrolysis, go try Sharon & Parkside!!!

Good luck!

#185

Sojou - We are here if you ever need to vent. I’m sure there will be people in the future that will be very grateful to you for speaking up, even if you never know of it.

I hope your appointment goes well. Finger’s crossed that you don’t need Accutane.

Max - It’s great to read your update. I’m really glad things are working out for you in regards to your treatments.

Sometimes I think that it seems so obvious what good electrolysis should be, that how can so-called electrologists who offer less really think that they are doing a good job or the reactions are “normal” and all “part of the process”.

#186

I am sorry to read about this. I’ve had it happen many times in my life where people harmed me and I didn’t stand up for myself. It’s easy to have happen when you’re young and don’t have much life experience, but I know what you mean about feeling bad about yourself afterwards.

I’m not surprised that electrolysis attracts psychos who want to harm people. They get to be in a powerful position over people who feel socially unacceptable and dependent on the electrologist to make them normal again.

#187

I couldnt believe it when i read this, I visited Jenna for a while and totally agree with you Sojou, she was manipulative and to be honest I was slightly scared by her.

I didnt see her for to long thank god so my skin has mostly recovered. I have a couple of tiny pits but I ignore them! Im so sorry to hear you have permenant damage from her. The only way I got away from her was ignoring her calls and texts, she didnt have my house number so I just ignored her on my mobile. Once she actually text saying she had booked me an appointment and would pick me up from the train station even though I had been avioding her for weeks! I just wanted you to know you arent alone.

Bec xx

#188

Do you think Jenna might read these boards?

#189

I would say that I can’t believe what I am reading, but since I already know of some pretty bizarre and obsessive behavior from some people in this industry, I can’t be surprised. The closest I come to that is trying to get some feedback on post treatment healing from someone I don’t see soon after their work. I know that no news is usually good news, but I like to make contact and hear it from them personally.

#190

Hi Dee, I dont know if Jenna does read these threads, I doubt it as Im sure she would have something to say if she saw these posts. I cant believe there are so many of us from different locations in the UK who have all had bad experiences and skin damage from her. When I see my electro now, my skin is normal after about an hour. When I saw Jenna I couldn’t go out for a week and after 2 weeks it still hadnt healed. Im lucky I stopped seeing her when I did.

#191

I guess there is a crazy electrologist in every country :wink:

#192

Except in France. Not crazy or sane, that is, none.

It is unfortunate for unwanted hair from the French.

#193

Licensing killed the French Electrolysis Stars (my apologies to The Buggles)

Aux Francaise, one can only work publicly as an electrologist if one works in a doctor’s office. Gaining licensure is only possible if one already has a doctor as one’s sponsor. At least that is how it was explained to me when I was there in the 90’s. Things may have changed since them, but the lack of electrolysis providers suggests that things have only gotten worse, if not stayed the same.

#194

I hope this will never happen anywhere else.

#195

America is working in that direction. In the majority of states the licensing systems in place are drifting in that direction. Just ask those working in Ohio and New Jersey.

#196

Here in Germany there are first signs of such a development - starting with the problem of coverage of electrolysis for hirsutism and in the treatment of transsexual people by the insurance system (which is per se established and not put in question): meanwhile this more or less excludes kosmeticians and electrologists in favour of physicians (regardless of the quality of results…)

Of course it is almost impossible to establish cooperations, although reasonable models can be imagined.

#197

Starting humming this : “Oh, Freedom! Oh, Freedom! Before I’ll be a slave I’ll be buried in my grave…” Love that song and it applies to the world as we see it today (big brother government interference).

#198

I also prefer to die rather than live kneeling. But in case of this happening in my country, I will devote the rest of my life to teach as many people as I possibly can to make the electrolysis themselves, their friends, their brothers and then their children and grandchildren. I’ll leave my apple seed in as many homes as my health permits. No law can prohibit self-treat.

The U.S. and Canadian electrologists have an advantage over other countries. They have powerful associations that would face such laws, such as AEA or COPE. What we have in Europe? restrictive laws that prevent manufacturers to design a machine with an output of 27 MHz because this frequency is for medical use. And now I wonder how many of the French dermatologists have bought a Apilus Platinum? Honestly, I do not know, but it is time to find out. A French forum clarify me this doubt. By the way James, you’re right, there are still some electrologists who are not dermatologists in France. The session price is 90 euros a dermatologist that translated to dollars are about $ 109. The price of a specialist electrologist is 60 euros, about $ 73.

#199

I only know that I was shocked to find how hard it was to find any in Paris while I was there, and the ones I did find were not what I would call well paid (because they were employees in doctor’s offices) and I was told that I had zero chance of gaining permission to work in that country.

As for AEA and COPE, they are usually the ones doing the foot work on the licensing laws that get passed. :o

#200

And that’s why? Afraid of competition? I can not believe it, reallyyyy? :cry:

James, I may ask, why did you choose Paris? if you had chosen Madrid I’m sure you’d never left us. :wink: