Thinking of electrolysis- Help?

Hello,

I’m looking for advice on electrolysis. I am a 22 year old female looking to treat facial hair stimulated by laser. I am fair skinned with a mixture of fine and thick dark brown hair all around the sideburn area,chin and neck which is quite dense. I also have acne prone easily hyperpigmented skin.

I found a reputable electrologist in my area and went in for a consultation. She seemed really nice and knowledgeable and gave me and a sample of both blend and thermolysis. I never felt plucking throughout both types. My problem is my skin reaction to thermolysis - after 3 days of the consult my skin is still red and does not seem to be improving ( I have being applying aloe vera and rose water). On the other hand, where blend was done it is not as bad. I was initially inclined to thermolysis since its faster but now im inclined to blend because my skin liked it better. However, when the practioner was doing the blend sample she mentioned that my skin wasnt hydrated enough when she examined the hairs she removed and said that it would be better if i drank more water to moisten the sheath (I think) around the hair. The problem is I naturally have dry skin and even if i drank 2 litres of water before my appointment my skin wouldnt be hydrated. Btw I already moisturize my skin.

So i guess what my real question is: Should i go with blend or thermolysis on my face? Would blend be less effective if my hair root/skin wasnt moist/hydrated enough? I was thinking to maybe do blend closer to my cheek area but thermolysis on my jawline and neck.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Tina,

From my experience, you need to be well hydrated for both. It’s just as important for thermolysis. And you may think it won’t make a difference but try it and see. Before you’re appointment be well rested, make sure you have eaten your meals properly, no caffeine that day and lots of water. Let me know if it doesn’t make a difference!

It really doesn’t matter which you go with, they will both do the job and well. My electrologist chose to perform blend on me because with her equipment/technique I reacted a lot better to it. Because I was having short, weekly treatments, neither of us wanted me to be scabby all the time. And also because for her, she found her blend treatments to be more effective in permanently removing hair. So even though thermolysis was faster, she told me I’d see more regrowth (true regrowth i.e. the same hairs coming back again).

You can do both if it suits you.

Thanks stoppit!

I actually went in for an hour yesterday and did thermolysis starting in the chin area. I did not feel any plucking at all YAY. She cleared a lot of it and my skin isnt looking too bad today- a couple white heads but no scabbing thus far which I’m happy about ! :slight_smile: I’ll be going back in a couple days to get my side burns cleared.

I just have a quick question for any experienced electrologists out there. When she was treating my under-chin area she mentioned that I had some distorted follicles where the hair shaft was “wiggly” - Does anyone have experience with treating those types of hairs and how troublesome can they be?

I treated 1,174 of those kinds of follicles last night. They are more challenging to treat, but if one keeps true to regular appointments, it becomes easier for the electrologist to insert on these wiggly hair follicles. Clearance, followed by catching new groups of hairs that come upwards in early anagen result in straighter hair follicles. Stay close to your electrologist and keep regular appointments. You will be fine.