HairFire: Electrolysis At It’s Hottest

What are the most common areas treated by electrolysis? The answer to this question may be different for every electrologist, so I will only speak for myself.

These are the most popular areas of the body I have treated with electrolysis on women and men:

For WOMEN:
1. Chin
2. Lip
3. Eyebrows
4. Underarms
5. Bikini Line

For MEN:
1. Eyebrows
2. Chest
3. Back
4. Back of Neck
5. Arms

I have to admit originally I did not have a desire to write a professional blog. My best friend, Paul Wilson, tried to convince me to at least try it. Of course now, I’m addicted! (By the way, if you are curious about business and fun, you should check out the interesting blogs Paul posts. His blog address is www.mymarketer.net.)

Another thing Paul convinced me to do was to add “fire” to any name I could come up with for my blog site. ( 1. He likes fire. 2. It can be catchy for a blog name.) Therefore, Hairfire was the chosen name.

Many thoughts came to mind when agreeing to this name.

First, I thought of a bully I had to deal with in grade school that would constantly threaten to set my hair on fire with a lighter. (Actually, I think he liked me. Those boys!) Hairfire!

That was not a pleasant memory. So, then I decided I needed to come up with something that could make me happy for chosing this name.

I thought more about what I do as an Electrologist. I treat hairs with heat…Heat can come from fire…Perfect! Hairfire!

One final thought I had was the fact that I live in Arizona, and boy is it hot! I think it is on fire! Therefore, I remove hair in the state of fire! Hairfire!

So, again my friend was right. Blogging is great and Hairfire couldn’t be any better! Thanks for all your help, Paul.

The name “Hairfire” is not intended to scare you off from electrolysis. Even though putting “Hair” with “Fire” sounds unpleasant and wrong, electrolysis is the right way to remove hair. It’s just supposed to be a catchy name!

After becoming a Licensed Electrologist in 2005, I have found it interesting to discover how many people are curious about hair removal. I may just mention something in passing, and the next thing you know, I’m being pulled aside to elaborate more on electrolysis.

Once I let people know more about what I do, it becomes sometimes too easy for them to share their hair woes. The interesting thing is, the stories all are very similar.

I love hearing about hair issues, even though they can be embarrassing to share. After talking with people for a short time about hair removal, I find they become more comfortable discussing the subject with me. Many times people will stop mid-sentence to say, “I can’t believe I told you all that!”

I love being an electrologist for that matter. People feel so comfortable with me, even when they don’t even know me! The fact that someone can share their private hair concerns with me is a great honor. I appreciate their trust in me. I am grateful that I can help them feel comfortable discussing their embarassing circumstances. Usually after they’ve shared hair concerns with me, people tend to feel comfortable sharing other private issues.

When talking with people about electrolysis, I tend to mention how common it is to have unwanted hair. I tell them that I’ve had unwanted hair. Most people that I know have unwanted hair.

The unfortunate thing is is that people won’t talk about it, and we all think we’re alone in this. Knowing that other people have the same problem is a huge relief. I think when people are told this, they don’t feel so bad about themselves. I definitely felt better about myself! Talking about how common it is to be hairy may not effect our ability to fix the issue, but knowing this little fact about others can help us focus our thoughts away from, “I’m the only one cursed with this problem.”

More people than you know have unwanted hair. For those of us who want to get rid of it, electrolysis is the permanent option.

Talking about unsightly hair is one thing, but actually showing it to someone (your electrologist) brings about a whole new level of confidentiality.

Just remember that we, electrologists, have seen it all. Most likely, we’ve seen worse. So, even though at first it may be one of the hardest appointments to physically drive to, it should end up being your favorite place to go.

You should be proud of yourself for doing something about it. As electrologists, we try to help you feel better about yourself. Hopefully, through electrolysis you’ll see a positive change in yourself. You’ll become more confident and live a more worry-free life. (You don’t have to worry about those unwanted hairs popping up on a daily basis!)

One of the first questions people ask about electrolysis is, “How long will it take?”This is not an easy question to answer. It really is different for everyone.

Thanks to the American Electrology Association Convention in 2005, I was able to get a clearer answer to this question.

If 1) the area is cleared at least once a month, 2) your hormones are stable, and 3) you don’t tweeze or wax between appointments…It will take about 1-2 years.

Permanent hair removal begins on the very first treatment.

The length of time it takes to permanently remove hair depends on whether the hair is in the correct stage of the hair cycle. We (Electrologists) want to treat the hair when it is in the “growing” stage. This is the time when the capillaries meet up with the hair follicle. If we catch the hair then, the most damage will occur, and the hair will be permanently removed.

Hair follicles are damaged every time they are treated, but if the hair is in another stage (”resting” or “transition”) , the hair will typically go through a “breaking down process.”

Instead of being permanently removed the first time, the hair may actually come back, but will be thinner/lighter than the time before. It may take 2-3 months for this hair to return after it’s been treated with electrolysis. Over a period of time, the hair will not be able to grow again.

We never know how many hairs will actually be in the “growing” stage before we work on the hair. Most hairs are typically in the “resting” stage. Therefore, it takes time/patience to permanently treat every hair. It is worth it…don’t give up!

Does electrolysis hurt?I’m not going to lie, it isn’t pain-free. It is tolerable, though.

The pain you feel is the sensation of heat released inside the hair follicle for a short period of time, usually less than a second.

Some areas of the body are definitely more sensitive than others, when it comes to pain.

We were taught in school that the closer we (electrologists) worked toward the mid-line (center) of the body, the more uncomfortable electrolysis became. When I say “mid-line,” I mean the vertical imaginary line that runs down between your eyebrows and through your belly-button. For example, the upper lip, right under the nose, is a very sensitive area. Also, around the belly-button and bikini-line can be uncomfortable.

Areas close to bone are more sensitive than areas with more cushion. Fingers, toes, and shins can be more painful than calves and upper thighes.

The more sensitive areas of the body tend to be where more nerves reside. These areas typically have a greater number of pain receptors present in the skin. The pain receptors send signals to the brain informing it about pain. When your brain receives these messages more often, it causes the experience to be less pleasant.

Even though electrolysis is not pain-free, your experience does not have to be pain-full. Most electrologists try to do their best to help you feel comfortable during the appointment. We tend to play relaxing music in the background and/or keep conversation going, so thoughts of pain won’t arise as often.

If the pain is too much to bear, there are other options. Numbing creams can be applied prior to the appointment to help decrease the sensitivity of the pain receptors. I have heard of some people taking pain medication before the appointment. Getting adequate sleep, decreasing your caffiene intake, and reducing the amount of stress in your life can also help reduce the amount of pain you feel while undergoing electrolysis. I also have found that repeated electrolysis visits are more tolerable than the first exposures of electrolysis in most areas.

Hopefully this explanation doesn’t scare you off from experiencing electrolysis for yourself.

Electrolysis is really the only way to remove hair permanently. Sure, it may not be the most comfortable minutes of your day, but once you see results…it’s all worth it.

One of the greatest feelings is to know you don’t have to be concerned about unwanted hair ever again! Electrolysis has the potential to lead you to your more confident and happy self.

Since this is a blog about electrolysis, I should probably start out with answering the obvious question, “What is electrolysis?”

First of all, electrolysis is the only method of permanent hair removal. That’s right…permanent!

Here’s a basic explanation of the process:

One hair is treated at a time. A tiny probe is inserted into the hair follicle. Once it reaches the papilla, or base of the hair follicle, a current is applied to damage the follicle.

This damage blocks capillaries/blood from reaching the hair. Blood is important because it provides the necessary nutrients for each hair. Without this nourishment, the hair is unable to grow, become strong, and survive. After the damage has been done, the hair can easily slide out of the follicle.

Electrolysis not only damages the hair that was presently in the follicle, but it also stops the development of new hairs. Without blood, there is no growth.

Makes sense. Electrolysis is permanent hair removal.

This blog is written to inform the public about anything and everything there is to know about hair removal. I want this site to be your #1 source for answers to unanswered questions about the mysteries and secret life of electrolysis.

Not only am I a Licensed Electrologist and a member of the American Electrology Association, I also have degrees in Biology (the study of life) and Physiology (the study of how the body works).

My plan is to reveal embarrassing and private aspects of electrolysis to create a more enticing and comfortable experience for your first session, and your next. Along with interesting stories, I plan to educate the public about what electrolysis is…for real.

I want you to feel comfortable asking questions that you may have been too reserved to ask in the past. This is your chance to be open and to learn.

Discussing hair removal shouldn’t be an uncommon topic. Everyone has hair, and the majority of people in this society have unwanted hair. Why is this topic so secretive? Why does it have to continue to be secretive?