Hi all,
I’ve been reading the forums and I’m trying to figure out how many clearances it would take to be completely hairless.
From what I’m reading, it takes about 3-4 clearances spaced a few months apart. Is that correct or am I completely off? I’m trying to do electrolysis on the back on my neck and my back.
That is correct; but only if you are seeing an electrologist that follows that specific strategy.
I suppose I was the first one to showcase this (?), and this is my primary mode of operation. You CAN “bank on it!" Actually, I now only work on cases that present me with this nice option (3-clearances +): getting this finished ASAP!
If you have not been waxing, shaving, and all the hair is in the natural state, THREE clearances will render you close to 90% clear (or better), for the rest of your life. The forth clearance is often desired to render the area about 99% clear.
Those of us that use this strategy guarantee our results (if you fall into the ideal category). There are, indeed, a host of other strategies that are universally employed, and these are equally as effective. A LOT depends on your availability, where you live vis-à-vis the therapist, your own desired program and, of course, your funds available.
Whichever strategy works for you, it will cost you about the same in the final tally. Each case is specifically designed for each individual patient. There is no “one size fits all” approach to electrolysis.
Hurrah! This should be burned into the side of a mountain.
I was recently informed of a case with these optimal conditions. This person had not touched the hairs for a year or so. She provided the necessary funds for a first full clearance. Unfortunately the electrologist not lived up to expected, and all this sacrifice (and money) was a waste of time. Of course this person could feel “plucking” in almost every hair.
Conclusion: The strategy (whatever it is) does not guarantee success if the professional is not working properly.
That said (to keep in mind if you plan to spend much money on Electrolysis), let me clarify that sometimes 3 clearances are not necessary, but two.
I’ll find some graphic examples, however, some of the guys that have passed through my hands can testify that this is a fact.
Jossie, I’m so happy to learn you will be helping this girl and will give her the realization of what superior electrolysis is all about. Yes, she wasted a ton of money (thousands!), but soon she will become a real inspiration to others. You can be certain of that!
You always talk about, and show, actual evidence in the form of real photographs … and document real time (and elapsed time too). This is what all of us should be doing to showcase electrolysis at it’s very best.
This is an imperative campaign so that consumers will have full and REAL understanding of any and all procedures to which they subject themselves.
A well-informed consumer is always the best patient! I feel a change in the weather!
Interesting read.
By “clearances”, do you mean removing all hair in one appointment? , i’m a bit fuzzy on the idea. Is it possible the pros can elaborate a little bit more :$.
Ive been to so many clinics and all the information i receive are very inconsistent. When I come on Hairtell however, its mostly a general consensus.
By “clearances”, we mean, remove all existing hairs on the surface of the skin. This can be done in one appointment, or multiple, depending on the size of the area. After a year of waiting, the percentage of hairs on the surface is very close to the total number of hairs that the person has in a particular area. It will never be 100% because some hairs are absent due to shedding phase, or a “too early” anagen stage. However, this is as close as we can be to kill as many hairs as possible with one single clearance in the area.
Before first clearing: (March 2013)
Before second clearing: (June 2013)
7 months after second clearing. Photo taken before third clearing: (January 2014)
Red line, where the advance of the second clearance was interrupted in June 2013.
An overview of the complete back: (In January 2014)
Before first clearing: (March 2013)
After 8 days of work in this back: (January 2014)
Yes, Michael. It is a miracle that this woman still wants to give a chance to the Electrolysis (TRUE ELECTROLYSIS). She’s not the only one who has suffered a HUGE disappointment. I think I will recover only when she is finally hairfree.
Just one more point. The “Wait” strategy demands great sacrifice for most people, but especially for a young woman. Also, do not succumb to the temptation to shave shows great commitment from the client. I can not imagine the frustration she must have felt when most of these hairs were plucked.
It’s sad, and it’s unfair that there are professionals out there working 11 to 12 hours daily, giving up their days off, while others do “tweezing” under the false name of electrolysis.
And with that I’ll take some time to reflect on what the hell am I doing here in Hairtell.
I do not have a stereoscope, but I have a lot of light in my waiting room. And there is almost always fresh flowers, gift from a lovely customer.
Okay Josie, thank you for clarifying! that is a really big commitment, especially on the face, however, considering the time and effort on both the electrologists part and the patient, it pays off big time.
This may be a stupid question, but since treatment targets each follicle would i be able to bleach the hairs and still have effective treatments? I know it would be difficult for the electrologist to see the hairs being treated, even if i have really thick growth, but would it compromise the equipments ability to rid the hair out of the follicle?
I may not try this method on my face but i will for sure consider other areas, especially since they haven’t been touched anyway for a period of time. Thank you for the OP for bringing this topic to light, I’m really happy i saw this.
Lilly
It does not effect the machine’s ability to treat the hairs, but it may make it more difficult to see the hairs. You should not do this for another reason; bleached hairs expand, and therefore actually get fatter in the follicle, and can make some hairs lose color, but become more noticeable.
Jossie it is so awesome what you are doing for that poor girl who was plucked and totally ripped off. To bad there is not a way for her to get her money, so sad. It makes me wonder how any electrologist could live with themselves after preforming such a crime. I guess there’s always a bad apple somewhere.
I’ve posted this here before but I’ve got to say it again ,that this form gives a very unrealistic take on what’s out there for most of us in the world of E. I have met with I would say over 30 various E s across the country and anytime I asked about “the clearances method” I got a total blank stare.Not one of them knew anything about it.
Especially when it comes to women’s faces, do not get your hopes raised based on this forum, because unless you find an E like the several posting here, expect a very very long, expensive journey with a slight possibility of success. That has been my experience.
I would say Danika that you’ve taken the wrong thing from the forum. Every time I have seen clearance method talked about it’s been by one of the FEW electrologists who work this way and they have made clear that it is not your average electrologist who works this way and can dedicate that amount of time to a single client.
Even in my very LIMITED amount of work I do I couldn’t do so because unless it was scheduled weeks in advance and other clients made aware I am unavailable during that time I usually have commitments to regular treatments for existing clients.
The average electrolysis experience starts with an hour or two a week and you dont get a full clearance for weeks (If at all until the job is done) . Working progressively does work just as well, and it’s how more electrolysis is done.
So if you have taken that most or even a small portion of electrologists work to do full clearances in a single session or short period of time, unfortunately you will find that isnt the case. They are a select few and we are lucky to count a couple of them as contributing professionals here.
Seana
What these guys do is different to what most electrolysis do, my electrolysis likes you to come in no more than 6 weeks after hairs have grown, she recommended I go every 2-3 weeks to begin with and now every 5-6 weeks. This is so I only ever go 5 days at most with hairs on my face and this is just to make sure no more come through from calling until appointment date. These guys expect there clients to live with the hair and come in 2-3 times over 1 year to 18 months. Hopefully I should be done in the same time and I wont have had to put up with the hairs on my face so much the cost should work out the same since I am only going in for 10 minute sessions but a lot more often oppose to someone going in less often but for marathon several hour sessions. As said though the latter is best for people that haven’t plucked or touch the hairs and unfortunately most us have before discovering electrolysis, my understand this means we have more cycles to go through and the hairs are more stubborn and my need more than 1 treatment, according to my electrolysis. What you think is only 6 hairs is most probably 25 taking turns to pop up with a plucker.
I treated someone today who presented with severe ingrown hairs hyperpigmentation and deformed roots because they had treated with an epilator and a remington home laser. Please dont pluck, use an epilator or even wax. It makes things so much harder for you.
Seana
I have never taken a blade to my face but I do wonder why these electrolysis say not to shave or use dipilator cream our UK official electrolysis website states its OK to do this between treatments as long as you leave a few days before treatment for growth. At present I snip any hairs with nail scissors but I have been told shaving or dipilator creams according to the website do nothing to the hair growth only taking from the route waxing epilor threading plucking etc… is a no no because blood flows to the area stimilating more growth and making the route possibly stronger next time. Why do these electrolysis insist on no shaving or creams if they make no different to the hairs?
no creams because it can affect the follicle would be my presumption. Some hairs grow very fast but some others do not or may be out of phase. The idea behind letting the hair grow, is to have as much of it visible to treat as possible.
Seana
Your skin is sensitive after treatment. Taking a sharp blade to your face is a little risky because the skin is already weak, when you rub a razor blade across your face you run the risk of cutting in deeper. Depilatory creams that contain chemicals should be self explanatory… Those things burn on sensitive or irratated skin. Shave your face a couple of times and put on an alcohol based after shave and you’ll get the idea.
