Just a question.
In the summer I like to shave my neck and a little on my upper back/chest to appear smooth and hair-free when Im wearing a t-shirt.
I was just wondering how long before the electrolysis I must stop shaving?
A day or two should be sufficient.
Oh. Thats great!
I thought the electrolysis wouldn’t be as successfull if the hairs were short.
I actually like people to shave, J, for some areas, but it is not necessary for a good treatment. As long as we can see the hair peeping forth, we have a guide as to where to insert. Some electrologists like the hair longer because they can judge the angle of growth better. Proper magnification is something important to look for in finding an electrologist. Good luck in your endeavor.
Let it grow for more than 2 days - after shaving you should let it grow for 5 days minimum.
For maximum speed and best treatments results you shouldnt shave or do anything with your hair - the longer the better. If they are short, they are hard to catch with tweezers, so you will get istead of 10-20hairs per minute maybe 5hairs per minute, maybe less…And the kill rate may allso decrease significant.
But it depends on your electrologist, her skill, prefered treatment strategy and experience. Some like to shave the hair and treat just the anagen ones, and the more experienced can kill allso catagen hairs.
The Electrolysis is equally successful, J, the problem is that you will not be able to differentiate the results. The hairs on the base of your neck are not as thick as the top near your chin. This directly affects the percentage of hairs are in growth phase. If 50% of hairs are in a resting phase and you shave two days before, your electrologist cannot work in that 50% of hairs. Consequently, you will have 50% hair regrowth false. In your eyes in the eyes of any non-professional, this will be interpreted as a complete failure of Electrolysis.
However, if you cut the hairs with a hair trimmer machine, and let the hairs 2 mm long for the next 2 or 3 months, a higher percentage of hair may be treated in the first clearance and you can have clear indications of the results of Electrolysis, because the false regrowth will be much lower.
If an electrologist does not have quality magnification, then five days would be helpful. For those of us that do have great visual aids, two days is plenty of time. Heck, I treat people that shave in the morning and by 6pm that evening, I’m working on their beard. It grows that fast. Shaving is not only for anagen hair identification and I would assume that all hairs, in all stages are treated, if the electrologist so decides to.
Some people need relief while electrolysis is being performed and whether they shave or clip is not a major impediment. When I do legs or underarms people shave in between treatments and they still finish in under 18 months. Same goes for the face.
Ah, I see Josefa.
I will take your advise. I want as much hair possible removed from the first clearing.
Would it also be ok, if I shave until 5-6 weeks before the first clearing?
I can leave the hairs on my upper chest and back grow from today, but the neck-hairs really make me uncomfortable.
(Then I would have to wear a scarf for 5-6 weeks and be a little asocial, hehe).
Hair just needs to be long enough to grasp with tweezers.
It’s best to come in when your hair is still weak and new. You can wax for example and then come in 5-6 weeks after that. If you’re shaving, it doesn’t really matter since you’re starting with hair in all different hair cycles. Waxing synchronizes the hairs.
Again, I think it is unnecessary that you have to suffer through scarf wearing. Shaving gives relief in your case and does not seriously hinder the goal of permanent hair removal in a window of 9-18 months. My bearded women present to me for the very time, shaved faces, and they need to keep shaving or else they risk exposing their secret to others… They could never clip the amount of hair they have and they could never let it grow out as they wait between treatments. Same with underarm and legs. What does your electrologist recommend?
I agree with you Dee, on some areas it would be hard without shaving - I allso trim my hairs on the neck before the treatments… The downside like Josefa said is that at the first clearance you wont treat the hairs that are in telogen if you shave it clean.
And the 1mm hairs, arent they hard for you to work with? I dont mean seeing them, but gasp them with tweezers. Isnt it hard to work like that if you have a long day (work 6-9 hours) or hard week?
Miro
Yes that is a problem. I feel very uncomfortable even by the thought of not shaving.
But I know it will all be worth it. Although it would be great to not have the scarf-period.
And like you said, I would like people to believe that I never had hairs on my back/neck.
I am hoping to visit Josefa this fall to get the first clearance 
When it comes to facial and neck clearance, when people first come to me, the vast majority are aleady shaving. Clipping just won’t do it for them. This is more so a psychological issue of embarrassment for many people as it is a physical one. They can’t bare to let the secret out that they have a beard on their face and neck. I am saying that in cases like these, it is okay to shave because they need to carry on with their personal and work lives. We need to support their psychological well being until we can get control of the problem. If shaving will help them, I am all for this. Depression is a big part of what electrologists must deal with in the initial stages as people come dressed in turtlenecks and yes, scarves to hide the hair. I see a lot of tears. If they are already shaving, it matters none to me, I still get them finished in that 9-18 window of time if they are faithful to a schedule. If they present with the natural growth that has been untouched by shaving, I still get them finished in that 9-18 month window. If they can see well enough to clip, fine with me, I still get them finished in that 9-18 month window of time.
For the last part of your question, I do have many long days that drift into long evenings. No, my eyes are not tired and I can see the the 1mm hairs just fine. This is due to my my particular choice of vision aid and lighting. Without these tools, I’d be useless to myself or my clients.
This thread shows how electrologists are all different in the way we get to the goal of permanent hair removal. I love and respect Jossie and she isn’t wrong with her advice. I tilt the other way for the psychological support of the client , knowing that it will not affect the time it takes to complete the goal. I believe it is not a set back or a big deal and weigh the extreme anxiety that the client feels by NOT shaving. Not having the recourse to disguise their problem until the electrologist can catch up and conquer the hair, furthers their anxiety.
Yes that is a problem. I feel very uncomfortable even by the thought of not shaving.
But I know it will all be worth it. Although it would be great to not have the scarf-period.
And like you said, I would like people to believe that I never had hairs on my back/neck.
I am hoping to visit Josefa this fall to get the first clearance [/quote]
You will be in the most capable hands and loving hands with Jossie and of course, you should follow her preferences for not shaving. I already elaborated my thoughts about supporting my clients who feel the need to shave in the above post to Miro and I hope I explained that well enough.
I wish you the best, boy!
Yes that is a problem. I feel very uncomfortable even by the thought of not shaving.
But I know it will all be worth it. Although it would be great to not have the scarf-period.
And like you said, I would like people to believe that I never had hairs on my back/neck.
I am hoping to visit Josefa this fall to get the first clearance [/quote]
You will be in the most capable hands, with Jossie and of course, you should follow her preferences for not shaving. I already elaborated my thoughts about supporting my clients who feel the need to shave in the above post to Miro and I hope I explained that well enough.
I wish you the best, boy! [/quote]
Thank you Dee
Yes I will follow Josefa’s advice.
Its very interesting to see the different opinions of the electrologists. I love to read the arguments, and get a deeper understanding of electrology.
When it comes to facial and neck clearance, when people first come to me, the vast majority are aleady shaving. Clipping just won’t do it for them. This is more so a psychological issue of embarrassment for many people as it is a physical one. They can’t bare to let the secret out that they have a beard on their face and neck. I am saying that in cases like these, it is okay to shave because they need to carry on with their personal and work lives. We need to support their psychological well being until we can get control of the problem. If shaving will help them, I am all for this. Depression is a big part of what electrologists must deal with in the initial stages as people come dressed in turtlenecks and yes, scarves to hide the hair. I see a lot of tears. If they are already shaving, it matters none to me, I still get them finished in that 9-18 window of time if they are faithful to a schedule. If they present with the natural growth that has been untouched by shaving, I still get them finished in that 9-18 month window. If they can see well enough to clip, fine with me, I still get them finished in that 9-18 month window of time.
For the last part of your question, I do have many long days that drift into long evenings. No, my eyes are not tired and I can see the the 1mm hairs just fine. This is due to my my particular choice of vision aid and lighting. Without these tools, I’d be useless to myself or my clients.
This thread shows how electrologists are all different in the way we get to the goal of permanent hair removal. I love and respect Jossie and she isn’t wrong with her advice. I tilt the other way for the psychological support of the client , knowing that it will not affect the time it takes to complete the goal. I believe it is not a set back or a big deal and weigh the extreme anxiety that the client feels by NOT shaving. Not having the recourse to disguise their problem until the electrologist can catch up and conquer the hair, furthers their anxiety. [/quote]
I know what youre speaking about, had/have exactly the same problems. You made me allmost cry… 
Must be great to have you as an electrologist - psychological help on the beginning is allso wery important. But allso it has to be exhausting to handle that many desperate people comming every day…
Miro
Well, actually, seeing depressed clients is not an everyday occurrence, thankfully! For the ones that fit that picture, it still isn’t so bad. After we roll up our sleeves and get down to business, hope sets in.
Dee, you are absolutely right, psychological well-being of the client is one of the most important aspects for an electrologist who loves his work.
Keep hidden the secret is very important for the client, but it is also important to keep his hopes up and it’s not easy when he has already suffered one or more disappointments. Whether the frustration comes from a bad laser treatment or from bad treatment Electrolysis, regain client confidence is a real feat. And this is my goal.
Boy is determined to travel to Malaga to be treated by Electrolysis, therefore he can not have the perception of failure with Electrolysis because this is the only option he have. I am aware of the responsibility I have assumed, the future psychological well-being in this guy’s life depends on the results he obtained in his first contact with Electrolysis.
This afternoon I had the opportunity to treat a guy who has traveled 8 hours by road to come here. We have discussed the case of Boy and I asked him what he thought. The answer was clear, he has preferred to hide his neck a few months to reduce the number of visits to his electrologist.
Note: I have never met a guy more interested in keeping his secret hidden.