So I just had my first treatments done. I already described them in another post but for anyone that didn’t read that post; It was on my upper arms, one arm took 3 hours. So I did one arm the one day and then the other the next. Well, I didn’t quite get full clearence on either arm, there were some small patches that I failed to see on each arm when she was done. (They were on the back, so I didn’t notice until I got home and inspected more closely.) Anyway, I had those treatments done and now I’m in sort of a bind. I head back to college in a week and I was lucky enough to find an electrolygist there to pick up where the person that did the first treatments left off. Only problem is that the first two treatments I had were on August 3rd and 4th, and this new person I’m going to see is booked until the 25th. Is this too long to wait? I really don’t have much of a choice really I guess, I just want to know if this will screw up my treatment process a lot or just a little. I could go in on Wenesday (August 8th) but I’m going to be floating a river this Friday (Had it planned for a while now so I can’t back out.) and I figured that the risk of infection wouldn’t be worth it. Unless someone could tell me that I would be alright I don’t think I’ll be going in. Anyway, anyone’s help would be appreciated.
Nate, don’t sweat the treatment windows that much. Hairs stay active and treatable for weeks and weeks. It’s not like shooting prairie dogs. I have hairs on the back-burner that I haven’t got to in a month, but they are still growing strong. And besides, you’re going to probably need another two clears on the done arm anyway. One whole arm is fantastic. That’s pretty good clearin’.
Consider the infection possibility more. Now that’s a real concern. Skip the 8th with no regrets. First, because yes you should avoid natural water exposer inside that that timeframe, most very definitely, for infection reasons and sun-exposer reasons as well. And second, it’s not a race, the patches can wait. Chances are, she didn’t miss them, but was trying to get the bulk of it out of the way. She’s already doing a tremendous job, don’t make her feel rushed.
Glad you’re happy with your work. Keep us posted!
Mantaray
Wow thanks so much. That is such a huge relief. As far as going in on the 8th I’ll go ahead and skip that, like you said, I dont want to risk it. A while after I made that last post I thought of another question I wanted to ask also. Would it hurt that much if I shaved the area like a week before my treatment? My hair grows quite fast and would be out of the skin in a week I’m almost certain, but I’m not sure how shaving affects electrolysis. I’ve heard mixed answers.
No doubt on shaving at all. Shaving and electrolysis are like, best friends. Shaving as close in as four or five days before the electrolysis day is optimal as a matter of fact. It allows active hairs to be the only ones present, and becuase of the short hair length, it allows for the true angle of the hair follicle to be easily ‘read’ by the electrologist. The shorter the hair, the more it is perfectly aligned with the hair path underneath the skin, the better it is to make insertions with accuracy. Inside of four days, and there is still some hairs that haven’t broke the surface yet, so those could miss out on the session. outside of four days pretty much close to everything possible is going to make itself present.
The type of magnification the electrologist uses plays a role in this as well, but pretty much any type of decent magnification can get good sight of a four-day-growth hair.
Just FYI, I start working on hairs with three days growth, but I give my pro electrologist, ahem who is the best in San Diego (shameless plug), five days growth. My hairs in progress never go longer that ten days of growth, that’s a rarity.
Mantaray
You have been a huge help. Thanks much!
don’t forget to use witch hazel now for a few days twice a day to speed up the healing. and yes, shaving is good since the electrologist will be able to see which hairs are in the active phase best that way. and hairs are active for at least 3-4 weeks on that area, so waiting until the 25th is not an issue. hopefully, both of the electrologists you found are good.
I hope they are good too. I don’t have much of a choice with the one up at school though, she is the only person within like an hours driving distance. I suppose I could drive an hour everytime, but I want to avoid that if I can. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. What are some of the ways I can tell if the person is “bad?”
- Lack of good lighting and magnification
- Unclean conditions and/or lack of sterile equipment
- Doesn’t seem to be too interested in you, and the areas you want treated
Other things like that. I know my electrologist wears gloves and washes her hands before treating me, and she puts in a new probe when I’m in the room. She uses magnification and lighting, and asks me if the settings are tolerable (and makes adjustments if necessary). Also, she is friendly and honest - she doesn’t come off as wanting to make a quick buck, etc.
the most important thing is that you’re not feeling the hairs being plucked. they should be sliding out without resistance after they’re zapped.