HairFire: Electrolysis At It’s Hottest

Q: How do I need to prepare for my laser hair removal appointment?

A: You must shave the area. You must also avoid the sun, tanning beds, and creams for 3 weeks prior to appointment.

I asked my friend, and laser hair technician, where she would go if she wanted to get her hair removed. She replied by saying, “the National Laser Institute med spa.”

I asked her why, and she told me it’s much cheaper when students perform the treatment. I’m all about saving money. But, my main concern was, “Could I trust these new students?”

I ask this because when I went to school, I really didn’t have the confidence and ability to know if I was treating properly. I found out later that we never had the current high enough, so a lot of our work was glorified tweezing! I feel bad about it, but I never knew how to really treat until I left school and worked on my own.

Anyway, she told me she trusts them because the instructor is there the whole time.

I decided to call them up. I found out that this student rate is available only 1 week a month. The rate for is $50 for the first area and $45 for the second area, if interested. I should have clarified, but it sounds like this is the going rate for all areas, not only underarms.

Then I asked my next question, “Would I be able to only have 1 underarm done at half the rate?” Of course I got the response, “Why would you want to do that!?”

I told her I am an Electrologist, and I would like to test one underarm with electrolysis and the other with laser.

She said that I could do 1 underarm, but it would be at the same rate.

Now I have some thinking to do. I never would have thought I’d have to pay full price for half the work. What should I do? Well, all I can think of at this time is to ask other laser clinics/med spas what they are willing to do for me. I’m all about comparison shopping!

It’s official! I have an appointment for my first laser hair removal consulation. It’s next week! I’ll let you know how it goes.

To begin my research on laser hair removal, I asked a laser hair technician to answer some general questions I have about this type of treatment.

These will be posted periodically.

Q: Where is a good place to get laser hair removal done? Who has the best reputation?

A: A Med Spa is the best. Second choice would be a dermatologist, if they offer it there.

How does electrolysis measure up to laser hair removal?

I’d like an answer to this question, too.

To get the information I want about these two methods of hair removal, I am going to conduct my own hair removal research project.

I believe the best way to get an answer is to actually experiment upon myself.

The thesis of my research project is, “Electrolysis is the better method of permanent hair removal.”

I will treat my left underarm with electrolysis and my right underarm with laser hair removal.   

As I go along, I will plan to blog expenses, time spent, pain levels, and display before and after photos of each session of electrolysis and laser hair removal. I will also record any other issues that may arise as I pursue to have hairless underarms.

The research starts this week!

In order for a hair to be permanently removed, it must be in the growth stage of the hair cycle.How do we know what stage it’s in? Is this something we can see before treating the hair? Can we only know after the hair has been properly treated and removed?

When hairs are treated by electrolysis, there isn’t any way of knowing which stage each individual hair may be in until after the hair has been removed with the aid of tweezers.

Some hairs could be in the dormant stage, some are in the growing stage, and the rest may be in transition.

The best way of knowing if the hair is an anagen hair, or in the growing stage, is by seeing a clear sheath around the base of the hair.

This clear sheath is the tissue that makes up the hair follicle. When this has been completely removed after being treated with electrolysis properly, the hair is considered to be permanently removed.

It makes my day when I treat anagen hairs! My clients are happy, too!

Good question!

I believe the best length of hair to treat with electrolysis is when the hair just breaks through the skin and is long enough for tweezers to grab.

There is a good chance these hairs are in the right stage of the hair cycle…the growing stage. Electrolysis is permanent when treating hairs in the growing stage.

Your appointments will be more efficient and effective if you schedule appointments when your hairs barely come in.

If the hair is too long, it can be hard to follow the hair to the pore where it’s coming from. Your hairs may need to be trimmed at your appointment. Also, when they are longer, more likely than not, the growing stage may be missed, and the hair follicle may not be permanently damaged.

Just think, longer hair…longer appointment. (It takes time to search for follicles and trim hair.)

If the hair is too short, it may be impossible to treat, and you should plan to schedule another appointment when those hairs are visibly breaking through the skin.

One of the most popular questions I’ve been asked is, “Are most of your clients men or women?”

I have two responses for that question:

In Utah, I treated more WOMEN.

In Arizona, I would have to say…MEN!

Who would have ever thought I would have more male clients than female at any one time?

Hopefully by posting this simple fact, hesitant men out there may be more inclined to experience electrolysis because it really isn’t just a girl thing!

The best way to find a good electrologist is by word of mouth.This may not be an easy method for you to find an electrologist because it can be uncomfortable talking about your unwanted hair with someone else. If you do get the urge to ask someone…hopefully they can help you out! Maybe that person knows an electrologist or knows someone who is getting their hair removed and is happy about experience.

The next place I would visit is the internet. Check out www.electrology.com. This is the American Electrology Association (AEA) website. It has a directory of all the members of the AEA throughout the nation. This is a great source to find well qualified electrologists in your area. These electrologists pay a fee to become member of the Association each year. If they become nationally certified, they are considered a Certified Professional Electrologist (CPE). CPE’s are required to get continuing education. (I would say this is a plus!)

If the internet doesn’t work for you, you could always check your yellow pages. Many electrologists are not part of the AEA and are still considered exceptional electrologists.

Be aware that many states do not require a license to practice electrolysis. I would find out more information about these electrologists if I were you.

In all my experience with electrolysis, these have been the typical prices:

15 min = $15

30 min = $30

45 min = $40

1 hr = $50

On average, it’s a dollar a minute.

I have lived in Missouri, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. I personally have never paid more than what I have listed. I have paid less a couple of times. When I had my appointments, I found out those electrologists were using the blend method instead of thermolysis. They charged less because it takes longer to treat each hair using the blend.

Some electrologists may be a little cheaper, perhaps because they have less experience or use slower modalities. Others are more expensive, especially if they work in salon or spa, or live in an area where the cost of living is high.

In a survey I took a while ago, I found out that most electrologists charge more than $75 per hour. Only a handful of electrologists charge the amount I charge. I would say I’m spoiling my clients!

I charge a little differently than most, too, because I only charge for treatment time. I don’t include the time to set up and clean up; This is typical for most electrologists. Also, many electrologists will charge for the time scheduled, even if the client isn’t there on time for their appointment.

Maybe this is the type of information you should find out before choosing your electrologist?