My Progress

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#41

Thanks Susie, I’m definitely to the point of sooooooooooooo sick of going! grrr

BUT…today went well. We worked for 2 hours, cleared everything but right under the chin. I am down for 2 hours again on thursday and we are going to mainly concentrate on that area under the chin. That hurts A LOT to me so she said she will get some numbing stuff for thursday.

I picked up some polysporin at the store today and began applying that as well as my aloe and tea tree oil (at different times of course).

Things are starting to look up, a bit at least. I’m just sick of going and want it gone, gone, gone, but I know I need to stick with it, so I will!

I will try to update pics tomorrow…they are gettin good <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Good luck all,
Savannah

#42

Hi all! I am feeling a lot better today. I’m really glad I’ve been keeping the pictures because you can SEE the progress a lot more that way than just looking in the mirror, or by feeling the area (still feels like the same amount of horrible hair to me). I would highly recommend keeping pictures (maybe not as obsessive as myself <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

Anyhoo, my pics are updated: http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

I, personally, am starting to see quite a difference from one pic to the next! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Savannah

#43

Hi all. Two more hours today. Went really fast, hurt quite a bit tho because it was right under the chin and down my neck. That part is always quite painful. That’s really all that’s left with hair to work on right now tho with the exception of a few strays on the side burns! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I go back next week for 2 hours, may not need the entire 2 this time. That’d be GREAT! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Getting there, slowly but surely.
Pics are updated @ http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

#44

Updated pictures to show you how my skin looks the day after treatment with proper care. http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483 I’m getting there, even tho it sometimes feels that it’s taking F O R E V E R!

Good luck all! If you have any questions please feel free to post, I check often! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-Savannah-

#45

Well it’s been a week since my last appointment and it couldn’t get here fast enough. I’m starting to run out of money so will have to drop to once a week for two hours (maybe even an hour) but I’m to the point where I don’t really mind. I am so glad that I worked so aggresively at first and would highly recommend the same.

After a week w/o treatment we were able to clear the left side entirely (of course, there’s new growth that is short enough not to be top priority) in a 2 hour session. A feat that took almost 8 hours to accomplish the first time around. I go again next wednesday for 2 hours and we will probably clear the right side out (this initially took just about 2 hours worth of work) and probably work on the left again.

Today hurt quite a bit starting out and I’m not sure why, but after about 10 minutes it didn’t hardly hurt at all.

I was starting to get depressed thinking that there weren’t any changes and so annoyed by the regrowth but after clearing out the left side today, in just 2 hours (again, compared to about 8 the first time) I can really see a huge difference. And that’s the thing, I can SEE a differance when I look in the mirror, but it still feels like the same amount to the touch…I am determined to stick with it for at least one year, even if I have to cut back to just 1 hour a week, I will make it work!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck all, I will try to get pics updated later tonight and if I’m annoying anyone with my obsessive posting and pictures, please let me know…that’s certainly not my aim! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck all,
Savannah

#46

Sorry I’m slacking on the pics but they have been updated now! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just so everyone knows, there are 2 pages worth now…prehaps I’m going overboard? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Anyhoo, again, you may view them here: http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

#47

Hi all! It’s been a week since my last appointment and, as always, I couldn’t wait for it to get here! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Today I was down for 2 hours but I got there early so she started about 10 minutes early and went for 5 minutes afterwards and just charged me for 2 hours! That rocks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So, my total electro time is currently @ 24 hours (roughly, give or take 15 minutes here and there). I can’t say I’m close to being done but I am finally noticing a big difference. Do keep in mind that I am doing my entire “beard” area and I probably have a lot more facial hair than what some of you are going for so naturally it’s taking me longer. I feel I’m on track, but if anyone wants to offer me any advice either way, I’ll gladly except! I feel with the amount of hair I had, I’m doing well. I started out going 2 hours at a time 2 to 3 times a week. At the beginning we could just make a small dent in the 2 hour time frame. Now with 2 hours once per week we can clear new growth from the entire left side and left chin (which had a lot more hair)(getting the really obvious hairs first) and we can do probably 3/4’s of the right side…stopping just before the chin/under part of chin/neck. That, to me, is a HUGE improvement. Also, my skin is reacting much better now. Not that I had any major problems before, but now it’s even less noticeable. Please check out the pictures. I’ve updated them. I do apologize for the random order of the pics. I try to get them in order, but it doesn’t always happen <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

If anyone has any questions or comments, I’d love to hear them! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Hope you all find this helpful.

Good luck,
Savannah

#48

Hi all! Just a couple of quick things. I’ve updated the pics with a comparison @ 2 months. I can really tell the differance when looking at the pics. Please check it out!!

I noticed the other day that, even tho I’m still shaving, it takes me about 1/4 of the time that it used to. I don’t have a noticeable shadow even after shaving any more, and, it doesn’t grow in as fast. Example: I normally shower and shave around 10 am. By 9 pm there was always a noticeable amount of stubble to be felt. Today, however, I shaved at the usual 10 am and as I type this it is 11:30 pm and my face still feels totally smooth. By morning there will be stubble to shave, but, it’s a least a lot less! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Any comments welcome!
Thanks all and good luck,
Savannah

P.S. Thanks to whomever rated me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#49

Hi all! It’s been one week since treatment and things are going well. I’ve finally noticed a HUGE improvement in amount of growth. It still feels like the same amount but visually there is a lot less. Shaving time is about 1/4 of what it used to be and after today I think it may be even less than that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I had a 2 hour session today and we have just one TINY little patch left under the chin. This puts me at about 26 hours of electro time. She was able to clear both left and right sides including side burns. I had some strays on my cheeks for the first time in a few weeks. Of course I noticed them last week the day AFTER my appointment and I about went nuts trying not to pluck them out! I’m an absent minded plucker so I just kind of go at it with my nails and don’t even realize it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I’m sure I’m not the only one tho!?

I have another appointment set for Monday and we have 2 hours scheduled. I am confident I will not need that much time and so am hoping to start on my upper lip at that time. Please check out the photos @ http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483 I think you’ll see a very dramatic improvement! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck all! As always, comments and questions welcomed! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Savannah

#50

A couple of random things I’ve been meaning to add but keep forgetting to! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

  1. It seems to be more painful now that I have a lot less hair, why is this? Prehaps she doesn’t need the settings as high as she has them anymore?

  2. I’ve found a wonderful moisturizer from Bath and Body Works. It’s in their C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries line. It’s a Deluxe Facial Moisturizer. It is pricey at about $20 (I got one free or I would not have tried it) but it is wonderful. Even tho it is $20 I would buy it again because it works so well and you need just a TINY bit so the bottle is going to last a good 6 months to a year I believe. I started using it about 2-3 weeks ago and have seen a very dramatic improvement in my skin. It is much clearer (it even cleared up blackheads I had on and near my nose <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> ). I usually wait 1 day after electrolysis before using it (even tho it’s mild, I like to keep the area clean except for tea tree oil and polysporin) but it seems to really help speed the healing. I’m assuming it has something to do with the chamomile in it. Anyhoo, can take a look @ it here: http://www.cobigelow.com/site/collection…ial_moisturizer

Just wanted to pass that along because I think it’s a truly GREAT product! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good luck all,
Savannah

#51

Once you are past first clearance, it is typical to have the treatment settings fall, because the thickest hairs were targeted first.

Remaining hairs would be more thinner and weaker ones.

At the very least, you would have fewer hairs that require the old setting, and you could do them first, lower the setting and do the rest.

#52

I’ve been reading this whole story and I can’t help but compare it to my own.

I’ve been doing electrolysis once a week for 8 months, and that makes roughly 36 hours. It was months before we “cleared” (there is always something left since I’m one of those people with downy hairs as well as the hard ones), and I was never given the option of going 2 hours at a time, several times a week. I had no idea that a push to get to clearance would result in a shorter time overall. That bums me out.

I am also confused about regrowth rates. I read that it takes months for any given hair to come back and that any hair I have this week is different hair, but I have to say that I shaved for a long time before coming to electrolysis and I didn’t get a doubling of the amount of hair week to week! But now, she can clear the area under my chin and in just a few days its all back. Where is that hair coming from if it is different hairs? Is there something about removing a hair that stimulates another to take its place? People seem to explain it as a coincidence, that those hairs were just going to come in at that time anyway, but every few days, a full beard?! It wouldn’t have grown like that if I hadn’t removed hair…

When I was plucking, I had to do my whole face every maybe 2 days. It took hours. It always seemed to me to be the same hairs just growing back, but people assert that this isn’t true and I’m trying to make that work with my experience. I mean, I believe it, but if its true, then I cant explain how my hair is working in my real life.

So now, 8 months into it, I can see that the hairs are lighter a bit and softer maybe. Its still nowhere near where I could skip a week or too much would have grown back in that time to get a clearing again in one appointment.

So how does this really work? Help me understand how regrowth happens (cuz I’m not getting this “many months” thing). How will I know when this is really working? Will it take more days until there is full regrowth of my areas? What is the tapering like?

I’m trying to understand. I’ve read everything I can find, and I’ve asked and asked my electrologist. She just says they are different hairs, but that just isn’t enough of an explanation for me since I didn’t have all those different hairs coming in when I shaved.

Do my questions even make sense? I don’t even know how to verbalize all this yet <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

amy

#53

maybe thermolysis stimulates new hair growth. i have read somewhere that this is not scientifically proven, but it can still happen.

#54

Anything that causes more blood flow will lead to the possibility of thicker, or more hairs growing in an area. If you don’t have overtreatment leading to long term healing issues, this is not a problem.

A good electrology program clears you out in a short time (2 months or less) and you can move into a program where you are not treating the same area all the often, or for all that long. The speed of thermolysis would allow a person to catch any new growth as it came in anyway.

In general, electrolysis doesn’t cause more growth because the tissue injury is minor, and the body seals it off in 24 hours or less in many cases.

#55

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My electro appt went GREAT today! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Started out a little rocky cuz I was late because I managed to lock my keys in my car…go me (first time EVER tho! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) Anyhoo…so I got there 15 minutes late (but did call her and she was understanding) and she planned to work on me 15 minutes later anyway because she had enough time between clients but we were able to totally clear, left, right, chin, neck, cheeks, and side burns in 1 hr, 50 mins! ROCK ON!!! HUGE differance considering when I FIRST started we could barely make a DENT in 2 hours! Also, irritation is almost minimal. The real test? Today I left with no hair and next to no redness…so minimal I went shopping right AFTER my appt (literally 5 mins after). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> How GREAT is that? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

She commented on how great it’s looking and she thinks I’m doing VERY well! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We didn’t make an appt until next wednesday this time. She did pencil me in for 2 hours but is pretty sure it won’t take that long to “clean up” but I’ll just start my upper lip then cringe. I have to say it’s taken longer than I had anticipated but I think with the amount of hair that I had, it’s a fair amount of time and I plan to stick with it for at least 1 year. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t. All I can say is that electrolysis has totally changed my life so far and I’ve only just begun really. Just knowing that each week it’s getting better and that soon I will be out of my hell has brought out self confidence I didn’t know I coud have. Now, just gotta get started back on the weight loss and by summertime I’ll be sexyfied! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> (Made up word my friends and I have).

Good luck everyone!
Savannah (VERY happy today <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )

Pics updated. Please check them out @ http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483 Sure hope this helps people! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#56

Thank You again for keeping up your posts.

There is nothing that good electrologists try to explain more than how one has to hit it hard at first, and can cruise the rest of the way. The trouble is clients often don’t want to hit it hard, but will complain about how they are not getting as far as they want in the time they are putting in. Worse is the person who does the full first clearance in aggressive mode, and then does the “What will happen if I don’t go back in like they told me?” and gets dejected 12 weeks later when the fully untreated hairs come out and we take the blame. They don’t come back a year later when they see a strange unaccounted for lessening of the hair in the treated area a year later though.

I am sure you will be a very happy camper. It is the first time through that is the worst, and it only gets better from there.

#57

Sav, On your face what did you do before electrolysis for hair removal? Did you pluck, wax, or only shave? I have been working on eyebrows, upper lip, and chin but I am about to start on the rest of my face which is COVERED with hair. I know it will take a while because I am starting with one hour per week on it (Flash Thermolysis). I have been reading your posts and following your info and mostly was interested in the rate of growth and what not so I wanted to know if yours was faster than average because the area had been plucked or waxed, or if yours was average. By the way, I think it’s great that you post your progress, especially the pictures. Good luck!

#58

Hi Jessie, glad to post the progress and pics as long as it’s helping people! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Maybe one day when I get all finished I’ll reveal my whole face! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> As far as hair removal goes, I shaved. Many years ago I used nair when the hair was very fine and I do believe that is partly why it became so course and dark as I had many severe skin burns and rashes from the nair. I used that from age 12ish to about 15 and then at 15 I began shaving everyday. I’m 21 now and finally said enough is enough. It has taken me longer than I would have liked to get to where I am but I expected it. I just wanted it to happen faster, which I think everyone does! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Now I can get cleared in a 2 hour session which intially took about 22/24 hours to do the first time! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I do have some hair growing back since the other day (my first 2 hour clearing) but it’s minimal, I could literally count the hairs and if I were brave enough I could probably go every other day without shaving, but, uh, I am still doing it every day cuz I’m paranoid of the shadow, even tho I really don’t have one anymore! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> My shaving time has also gone from 10-15 minutes or more to about 2 mins and if I slap on some moisturizer and some make up you can’t tell I have any hair whatsoever whereas before there was redness, bumps, and a shadow! Also, I could shave at 10 am and by 8 or 9 pm I had stubble and now I shave at 10 am and I still don’t feel/see anything when I go to bed at 2 or 3, it’s just starting to pop thru again the next morning at 10! I can see the light! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck to you on your journey…hope I answered your question with my small book! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Hey, maybe I should try to get this published some day for all the Negative Nancy’s in the world!:wink: LOL

Savannah

Just wanted to add, now that I think about it, I did pluck my chin randomly from time to time but stopped that well over a year ago as I began saving for electrolysis. I do notice the chin seems to take more juice to kill tho.

#59

thanks for anwering, sav. nair sucks, i tried it on my face a couple of times in the late 90s. just burns the hair off but you still see it, i hate it.

#60

I agree with you 100% I still use it on parts of my arms and I get burns every freakin time (not as bad as on my face)and yet I go back again and again. I haven’t used it on my upper lip for 3 months now as I just keep clipping the hair until we have enough time to attack that in my 2 hr electrology appts! My upper lip has never been so relieved! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I plan on getting electrolysis on my arms too so I can banish Nair FOREVER! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />