Starting pro electrolysis - what can I expect?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
1

Hi everyone,

I am starting electrolysis in February of 2012 - next month (due to work schedule) on my chin area (mostly underneath and a few on the tip of my chin, I believe I have found a very good electrolysis (Teresa Adams of Sandra’s electrolysis) but I have a few questions. What is the best method of electrolysis for darker skin people (I am black - but lighter skin tone). I was told by someone that galvanic is the best and I should ask for that, but I was told by Teresa (the electrolysis) that she creates a blend that is tailored to her client. I am not sure exactly what she meant by that. I just want to make sure that I do not get any scarring or bad results. I know there will likely be scabbing that of course goes away and swelling, but what else can I expect? What steps should I take after my treatments to keep my skin healthy and to prevent scarring? I have been shaving the area were I am going to get my treatments is this OK? I am very anxious about this, because I am so sick of this hair. My grandmother had the same issue, my aunt, and my mother (but only on in the upper lip region). I feel so ashamed of how I look due to the stubble from shaving (I have waxed before which of course didn’t leave stubble). Please if anyone can help or give me pointers please do. Also can you give me an estimate of how long this process might take. I have what I believe are roughly 150 hairs on my chin that I want to remove (yes I counted them - ha!). I also know because I am black the hair is coarser so that can play in to the process, please someone help me to subside my anxiety. Thank you so much in advance.

2

I have used ALL modalities of electrolysis on black skin and have never had issues with any of them. I usually start all new cases with picoflash, but if I see a good number of curvy follicles, I switch to MultiPlex. It is a lovely fuer optáis modality. The skin reacts beautifully. Hyperpigmentation is not an inevitable outcome, as some will caution. Ms. Adams has these modalities and she also has four blend modalities to choose from. She will know what is best to use on you. You are in good hands.

An estimate is best left to the practitioner who can see you. I bet she will say something general about the time part, like, it will take up to 18 months to complete, give or take. Follow her advice. Stay loyal to the process. Do some yoga to shush all that anxiety. You will be fine.

Everybody feels nervous as they begin in seriousness to get this hair problem behind them. Take a good quality before picture so you remember fully what you had. All too many clients get frustrated along the way and think this is not working. Be ready for those days and refer to the before picture as needed. You might consider keeping a diary here, complete with a before picture. It would help others to come who are apprehensive.

In your signature, put your start date, type of electrolysis being done, areas being treated, epilator choice… whatever detail you want. This helps us answer any questions you might have along the way.

Good luck to you!

3

Hi Cha4ya,

Hopefully I can give you some reassurance! Terry is my electrologist. I’ve been going to her since last autumn. I know I still have a long road ahead of me, just because I have a lot of areas I want done, but I’m delighted with the work she’s done so far. She is an experienced technician on an excellent machine (Apilus Platinum) and you will be in good hands with her, so don’t worry about that part of it. Just commit to the process, and follow a good pre- & after-care routine faithfully, and I think you’ll be really pleased with the results.

By a blend tailored per client, she means just that. As many of the pros on here will tell you, it’s hard to answer a general query by stating “average” times or “usual” levels because really there isn’t such a thing – every person is unique and therefore needs a game plan suited just for them, taking into account so many factors: e.g. which body area to be worked on (some are more sensitive than others), the size of that area, how many hairs there are in that space, how densely they’re packed together, the smoothness or coarseness of the hairs (which may be a mixture), what percentage of those hairs is at optimal growth stage at the time of your treatment, your personal pain tolerance, and so on. A good electrologist will take all these factors and more into account, so that the machine settings she uses will be tailored specifically to you.

For prepping yourself: If you haven’t already, stop plucking immediately! Leave off waxing as well, to let the follicles begin growing the hairs back in. If the hair embarrasses you, you could keep shaving until the appointment day nears, but I would absolutely say leave off shaving at least 3-4 days before the first treatment, more if you can stand it. You may have some slight stubble (depending on how fast your hair grows), but it really helps the technician to identify which hairs are growing/in what phases. I realize it’s harder to live with stubble on the face vs. the arms or legs where it’s easier to conceal, so I won’t say it isn’t a nuisance, but try to focus on the big picture: it’s a pretty small, and only temporary, sacrifice in exchange for getting rid of the hair FOR GOOD.

As to “how long will it take” – again, this will vary because every individual is different, and too many factors play into it. Before you’ve even had one treatment, it’s really difficult if not impossible to estimate a true time frame. That’s not really an “answer” in the sense that you want one, so hearing it is frustrating – believe me, I’m going through it, too, so I completely understand – but it is quite true. As Dee said above, estimates are best left to your own practitioner. For an accurate approximation of how long you should expect, I’d suggest this: Go to those first couple of treatments. Let her get some experience working on YOU, to learn YOUR individual characteristics (hair coarseness & density, skin recovery rate, follicle resilience, growth cycle speed & frequency, and so on). After she has some first-hand observation of these things, then she’ll be better able to give you an approximation that is specific to you personally & therefore more realistic/accurate.