Hey, I’m 24 and just this year have I been getting a ton of hair on my jawline and chin/neck. I’m thinking about starting electrolysis for a small area to see if it will work for me. The only question I have is, if my main problem is only about one square inch of a mixture of super long blonde hair as well as a few darker coarse hairs. Will this small area have to be treated over a 9-12 month period, or can this 1’’ area be done in a short amount of time?
Whether it be a small area or a large area, yes,you still need to go through 3 hair growth cycles which is approximately 9-12 months. This is not an exclusive concept for electrolysis - it pertains to laser hair reduction as well. Just thoought I’d throw that in.
A skilled electrologist matters and a cooperative client on a good schedule matters. You can only be successful when certain behaviors and skills are in play.
Dee
You will see vast improvement before then though, and the treatments will be spaced further apart than someone with a full male pattern beard. I think the bigger question is why are you seeing this extra hair growth? If you don’t figure that out, new extra hair may continue to grow.
Your treatments will be shorter, but you will still need to go in over the course of 9-12 months due to hair growth cycles. You only see at most 30% of the hair you actually have at any given time.
I agree with jes. Have you considered the reasons why you’re getting this growth? It may be a good time to visit an endocrinologist and gyno and discuss with them tests for possible underlying hormonal imbalances that can be controlled with specific birth control pills and/or medication.
I saw my endo and was put on spiro back in april. I have noticed some new terminal hairs since starting spiro but its only been close to 4 months now. I have a ton of fine blonde hair on my cheeks, but they don’t bother me as much as the 1’’ section of my under chin! My main concern is ingrown hairs, I’m 100% willing to dedicate 9-12 months to the process but how many ingrown hairs will I get during that time? I’m totally OCD about scarring on my face.
Will the blonde fine hairs eventually turn into nasty dark one’s? Or will they usually stay vellous?
If the ingrown hairs are pretty deep below the skin, you need to gently exfoliate daily to bring them closer to the surface so they can then be gently released and lifted. Then,at this time, the electrologist can deliver proper levels of energy to the hair and if it is still growing it can be permanently eliminated. If the hair is just laying under the skin trapped, it may or may not be a growing hair. Sometimes it takes a long time for deep ingrowns to come closer to the surface and sometimes they are right there for the pickin’s.
So it is not a question of how many ingrowns will be treated, but rather a question of how soon will they be available so they can be properly treated.
Blond hair that is there now may never turn into nasty dark ones, but,yes, there is also the chance they can accelerate with time. If they do, that’s why you need to find a good electrologist now and keep her number handy in the Rolodex.
Dee
electrologist can remove the ingrowns and once the hair is killed, you won’t be getting them anymore. it’s impossible to tell if your body will start produce more hair etc, but spiro takes up to 6 months to kick in, and it should regulate your hormones enough not to produce any more new hairs and not to turn the current hairs into terminal hairs. i think you need to find a good electrologist liek Dee said, and you will be on your way, minus the ingrowns.
I scheduled an appointment for the 18th to have a consultation. So we will see!
what method does this electrologist use? what machine? what’s their experience?
http://www.althealthassociates.com/PageHairRemoval.asp
Not sure of the specifics, but I’ll find out this afternoon!
I like this website. It is one of the most honest I’ve seen in a long while. Hopefully, we can add another new business to our growing list of skilled practitioners for laser and electrolysis care. Come back if you have someting positive to say about your experience.
Thanks,
Dee
So I had my consultation and the electrologist was super nice and has 14 years of experience. She showed me her machine and looked at my face. She said I’d only need 10 minutes every two weeks then maybe just once a month after that. She didn’t give me a time range, she just said that we will see how it goes. I like that, she didn’t promise anything like most. She said she almost never has people end up with ingrown hairs after treatments…this is my number one concern. I’m all for dedicating the time to do it, but would rather not have to hide for the year I’m having it done due to nasty skin.
The place was very classy and clean (I knew from the location being in Old Town Alexandria).
So I made my first appointment for Sunday the 26th and we will see how it goes!
PS they are open 7 days a week with super early and super late hours which I LOVE
We so appreciate you taking your time to keep this thread going by telling about your experience. I’m happy for you. This all sounds good. So,onward!
Now that’s real convenience - Sunday hours. I do Sundays as well and actually enjoy it. Three hours is all I worked today, Sunday, and I still had plenty of time left over for God and family.
Keep an eye on the healing and do communicate your goal of not having to hide due to “nasty skin” after effects. It is not the intention of a skilled electrologist to send her/his clients out into the big world looking like a pizza face for the duration of treatments. It just isn’t necessary and can be avoided. Some skin manifestations need to be realized and expected, but all should be back to normal anywhere from a couple hours to seven days or so. You shouldn’t feel the need to hide away. Keep those face to face talks with your electrologist going strong (and polite) if have any concerns. She can see your problem.
All the best to you for your first appointment next week.
Dee
Be sure to use proper aftercare (witch hazel and pure clear aloe vera) and let us know how things go. Also, do let us know which method of electrolysis she chooses to use on you.
I will keep up with this thread to let you guys know how things are going. Have any of you had this done on the lower chin/upper neck area? She said that it is one of the most sensitive. Will I be able to dab on concealer for work if there is still redness the next day?
Thankfully, I have never had a problem on these areas. All I can tell you is, as a practicing electrologist, I work on these areas daily and treatments can be made very tolerable. I haven’t had one woman jump off the table and say, “I’m out of here!”
Along the jawline can be ouchy, so this is an area where I tweak my enery and timing to make it as tolerable as possible. Just go get it done and see how you react. Talk to your electrologist if it hurts too much. Take pain medication that is suitable for you 1.5 hours before a treatment. Use ice to fool the pain receptors.
Concealer is okay IFFFFF it is clean and is applied with a clean applicater. I ask my clients to avoid makeup 24-48 hours after a treatment. The ones that don’t listen are usually okay, but I still need to give them the best aftercare advice I know.
Dee
there are many women on this board treating the exact same area. upper lip tends to be more sensitive.
i’ve always used concealer within a couple hours and it’s been fine. but yes, it’s probably a good idea to avoid it for a day or two after the treatment, or only use with clean applicator on clean skin.
I tell all my clients to keep the area clean and dry for 24 to 72 hours… as they are putting on their make-up while still in my office giving me the “Talk To The Hand” and saying, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
I have actually only had one or two situations where the ignoring of my advice has lead to anything requiring medical attention. (In both cases, it was bacteria from the make-up that was to blame.)
I’m wondering if I should reschedule the treatment for the following Saturday(I work every other Saturday) that way I have that day and Sunday to have my face relax whereas if I do Sunday morning I will HAVE to conceal redness for work!
You could do that if it makes you feel better, but how do you know what your skin reaction will be since you haven’t had the first treatment yet?
Depending on the skill of the electrologist and yes, the equipment she/he uses, many clients experience hardly any skin reaction a couple hours after the treatment. Many of my ladies revert back to normal as they pay and we talk a little. Many go off shopping or back to work after a treatment and no one in their environment are even aware that they had an electrolysis treatment an hour ago. You may be one that has no “down time” after a treatment as well???
What seems to help the most immediately after treatment is witch hazel, cold (from the fridge) aloe vera gel and a small ice pack for 5-10 minutes.
The first sessions are the roughest since there is more hair closer together. It is usually thick hair, too, so more energy needs to be used. You will just have to go through a couple sessions to see how things go and above all, express your feelings and concerns to your new best friend - your electrologist. She’ll know what to do.
Concealer is not out of the question if this is what you need, but try these other things first. Keep things clean and follow the advice given above.
Dee