When is cost of electrolysis "insane?"

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi there,

I have been going for about 6 months for electrolysis on coarse dark facial hair - not as dense as a man’s, but enough that I shave it every day. When I first looked into electrolysis, a tech who used thermolysis said I should definitely find someone who uses blend. The only person I found in my area who seemed to have any experience charged $150 for a half hour. For some reason, I didn’t think this was unusual or look into typical fees - I think I was just so desperate to start getting rid of this hair. At this point, I’ve been going every 2 weeks for months, and while I am seeing definite reduction, we are still working on one side of my chin/neck. Sooo. I get one of those daily deal site things the other day, advertising a place in another town near me, for $20 for first half hour, which they usually charge $40 for. I emailed the woman, and have been having converstaions over email with her. She says that she nearly fell out of her chair when she read what I was paying, and that she has never heard of a fee that high. I do not live in a big city or anything. This new woman says she charges $40 an hour and givees package discounts. And she has 23 years experience. Is what I’ve been paying really crazy? It’s gotten to be so much money, I’m considering stopping. But thought I’d run this situation by y’all here. Have I been taken for a ride?? And should I have way more progress at this point? Wish I had pictures of the areas before treatment. I’m sure that would help.

#2

$150 for a half hour is robbery!

I have 30+ years experience and charge $70 per hour (blend). I will tell you that there is not necessarily a correlation between fees and ability. Don’t be fooled by pretty offices, slick websites and all that! Some people practice in ramshackle offices and do a decent job of it. It’s not about the “decorations,” and not even about the “credentials!”

(Decades ago “electrologist to the Stars,” Danny Eastman in Beverley Hills charged $150 for 15-minutes. He was NO BETTER than any other electrologist in the area. In fact, he had not actually gone to the “blend school” in LA … he was using the (Hinkel) blend and probably not as good as others in his area.) In this case it was all “Show business!” I liked Danny! Fun guy!

#3

As far as fees are concerned, I know of people charging $300 an hour. In my city, there are folks charging $150 per hour (I really need to raise my prices) and it sometimes shocks people that I am not the most expensive practitioner in the area.

While I can not explain to you why that practitioner’s business plan calls for a $150 per hour fee, I can say that if your hair problem is anything like a teenaged boy, your best value would be thermolysis, if the person doing it can clear more hairs per hour than the blend person, and if that person is willing to do either marathon sessions, or multiple sessions in a short period of time, so you can get do First Clearance in six weeks or less, and all additional clearances in less than six weeks. Eventually, you would be able to clear the entire face in one sitting.

#4

My personal opinion is that both of you, Michael and James, should raise your fees. :slight_smile:

Another personal opinion is that the average fees of electrologists are low because this is a female-dominated profession, and quite frankly, women tend to underestimate and undersell themselves.

I think rates of $100-150 are reasonable for an electrologist who is offering genuinely permanent hair removal. That is, a regrowth rate that is very minimal. I also think that if an electrologist can give you an adequate prediction of total treatment time, they know their stuff and can charge a higher than average hourly rate.

#5

I almost fell out of my chair, $150!? Really??

No way, given the amount of hair that I’ve done would I ever pay that. That’s nearly 6x what I pay for now!

#6

I agree with what Michael Bono has said.
I was going to one franchise that was quite nice ( bigger overhead) , had great optics ,lighting etc , granted they did good work, however it cost a fortune. Seems like even when I was there for 15 minutes I would be forking out the hundreds. And then being told that I had to come every two weeks or I would not have a successful treatment even though the dark target hair was not even grown back yet to treat, well ,I was just feeling confused and running out of cash !
I began to sense that really it was mainly all about the money with this place, so I started looking elsewhere. Every other E I went to said the area of my face I would need to return only when it started to grow in ,approx every 4 weeks or so which does Validate what I was sensing , And does seem to be about the correct rate of return that hair. I’ve since found a woman with much more reasonable rates, it’s not quite as great optics,lighting wise but everything is just so much better! I can tell she cares, she is soulful and passionate, we get along like old dear pals, we have fun actually! , and her work is perfectly good. I wish I found her sooner and I could’ve given all that money to her instead! I would’ve gone a lot further on that cash with her then that joint! It’s just killing me that I finally found her, We’ve just got the rhythm going, and so soon I will be leaving back to where there is no E to continue with :frowning: …oh well, better late than never in this case…follow your gut! Work with those people that have a soul Not just dollar bills signs for eyes!

#7

I have several clients who have large areas that are pretty dense or really dense areas that are not large in regard to surface area. They will need anywhere from 125 hours to 200 hours spread out over 12-24 months.

At $150 per hour that would cost between $18,750 to $30,000.

At $100 per hour it would cost $12,500 to $20,000.

At $90 per hour it would cost $11,250 to $18,000.

At $80 per hour it would cost $10,000 to $16,000.

At $70 per hour it would cost $8,750 to $14,000.

I have read plenty of consumer posts here on Hairtell and other websites where people have spent $10,000 to $20,000 for continued laser treatments over the years and still don’t have results. There have been a few posts where the consumer says the same about electrolysis. When I hear this about electrolysis, there is no doubt in my mind that the reason for not reaching the end game can be pin pointed and corrected. For laser reduction, it cannot be corrected because thin hair structures or the wrong color of skin or hair prohibits a good end result.

People spend several thousands of dollars on cars, houses, vacations, precious metals and stones, gambling, plastic surgeries, scams to get rich fast, collectables… why not electrolysis to get rid of hair. After all, it is permanent and within a year or two, the investment pays off and the problem is solved. You don’t have to deal with it, see it, be depressed about it making you feel unlovable.

Sticker shock is not sticker shock if you understand the enormity of doing large areas and thus, commit yourself, body, soul, mind and wallet to an end goal.

These electrologists that charge these prices may be pricing themselves out of business. They may not like what they are doing and figure, “someone needs to really pay me good for me to like this a little better”.

#8

I begin to think that women are guilty of all the world’s ills. Who was it who said that the incorporation of women into the workplace was the cause of the housing bubble? ah yes was JohnSheff. No the politicians, land speculators, developers, and builders. We, women incapable of running a “productive business”. I wonder what he would think of this , Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize, father of microcredit, who has helped many millions of people leaving from POVERTY in Asia, Africa, America and Middle East. Curious , 96% of his loans were granted to women. Not because we are prettier, or more generous, but because obviously there is a better guarantee to grow and thus repay the loan.
From my point of view, Electrology, like Medicine, Education, and Policy should be something access only by true vocation. It is not about becoming an NGO, it is only charge a fair price in exchange for a guaranteed permanent hair removal.

#9

It’s true total cost can get a bit stiff but I think most clients are just fine with that as long they get effective treatment for the money.

I cannot stress the word enough. If a client feels they are getting the most effective treatment for their money, they’ll do their utmost to pay/endure/travel as much as they can. Anything less becomes completely demoralizing.

#10

EXACTLY! If only I could get back the cash spent on the pluckers and those whose machines were not even working :wink: I would HAPPILY spent every cent and more on the skillful Electrologists that regularly post on this board and who actually DO what it is you are paying for !!

#11

I pay $50 for 15 minutes, blech, but my goodness every hair she touches is gone for good, so it’s worth it to me. Personally i think finding a great electrologist is HARD. But i think anything over the price i’m paying is a bit much. But if a person lives in a town where their options are very limited, i guess above that wouldn’t be insane.

#12

I’m working with someone now who’s very fast, does good work, and I’m paying $60/hr (buying a 10-hour package… otherwise it’s $70/hour.) At least down here in southern California, and experience different electrologists and techniques, I wouldn’t pay more than $75/hour. As soon as I see someone charging more than that, I need to be very convinced before I go with them, but most likely, I’m going to find someone else cheaper. I have found several I like for $75/hr and less, so that’s my limit on what I’m willing to pay.

#13

Im sure there were other contributing factors Josefa, but women working certainly contributed to the housing bubble.

Its nice to be remembered for something I said 18 months ago. :slight_smile: I remember you as I enjoyed checking out the photos of your successful treatments.

#14

I would add that there might not be any economy at all, were it not for WOMEN! Entire “industries” would not exist.

There would be no fashion industry, no make-up and cosmetics and no hair removal of any kind. There would probably be few colors, except the most basic (grey and white.) And furniture? I would be happy using barrels and no furniture at all (man cave).

We could eliminate 80% of lawyers too (no divorces … he he he). And fancy restaurants? Forget it … just give me the food and “get lost.” I can think of a hundred businesses and industries that would evaporate were it not for women. Oh yeah, like MY profession.

Women causing the “housing bubble?” I have to think about that one. I don’t see the correlation, but will consider the notion. (I’m a skeptic and agnostic about everything.) However,I’m definitely not misogynistic. I have not read the comments, but might assume that “two incomes caused more money in the market and thus higher prices?” (Now, that would be “misogynistic.”)

#15

I agree with josefa…but what is a fair price. I mean most people dont earn in a day what electrologists request a hour…select few maybe…which leaves more avenues for the dodgy electrologist to exploit. I still consider myself so blessed to have visited josefa and paid the amount I did for what I would consider quiteaas lot of hair removal…small areas sure but when your in for the long haul the electrologist should reflect that in the amount asked for. Maybe its just because I do not earn much I feel this way. If I was a millionaire im sure it would not matter.

#16

I have curious to know what you consider a fair price and a reasonable time (in terms of months) for a truly permanent hair removal. I do not care if it is laser or electrolysis.
Please, specify price/area. For example:

Underarms- ?
Lower legs- ?
Hands- ?

(I am particularly interested in consumer reviews here.)

#17

long story short: I’m thinking of what the value is to me (which is pretty high, b/c i had shave 2x a day but never smooth type of hair), and what seems reasonable to pay (although close to the same thing in some ways but the latter is a function of what’s available). Time generally not an issue, it takes what it takes.

$1,000-1,250 lower legs (easy to get 95+% via laser)
$500 is what i would value undie arms at, which is prolly fair, and pretty much what it costs i think. I think up to $700 might be fair, but it can be done cheaper.
$1,000-$1,500 for full brazilian.
$800-$1000 would be my value for bikini line seems fair, which is prolly what it costs these days for laser with elec follow up. Never in a zillion years would i pay more than that.

As for time, i would not do electrolysis on legs, wayyyy too much time. And laser is almost fun comparatively. (actually i did find it quite fun, but anyway, lol)

I spent $800 ish i think on my bikini line 15 years ago because of the hellish ingrowns and hyperpigmentation, time would never be an issue, i would have done it no matter how long it took. If it had taken 3 years, 3 years, obviously it took less than a year.

Finding a good electrologist? priceless.

#18

Thank you Prettysure.

Any other opinion?

#19

Three clearances with yourself Josefa is enough. Ultimately…the customer would have to appreciate the work the electrologist does and in return a gurantee for permanent hair removal. In terms of price cost…again unltimately it is in hands of electrologist. The difference is that laser technically can cover a total area regardless of time. Whereas electrolysis if chewbacca walked in total time would go up some amount. I agree with legs and use of laser if sparse due to large area and agree £1500 max. Upper arms and back in man…max 3000-4000. Underarms total 500 quid due to size of area. I cant possibly give anymore prices as I am not familiar with other areas. Again these prices are going on josefas speed. Expect them to be twice as much for the slower yet as effective electrologists.

#20

Just so you know, you don’t need to go every 2 weeks. You really should be buying a bunch of hours up front and getting a clearance as soon as possible, even if it requires 6 hours in one sitting or several back to back days. Then you can go once every month to clear any new growth that comes in (shave in between). This will be a lot more cost-effective.

You also don’t need blend. You can find an electrologist using thermolysis which will be a lot faster. It’s just as good if they know what they’re doing.

Basically, sample a couple more electrologists and get a clearance asap!

p.s. Electrologists in Manhattan are a lot more expensive than anywhere else I’ve looked. It’s pretty much impossible to find rates under $100/hour. But property values here are crazy too and they need to pay rent.