How do you deal with stubble when getting electrolysis

[Sunnynight]

I'm currently getting laser treatments done, and I'm wondering how I will go from laser to electrolysis when electrolysis is needed for anything the laser misses. I know that you have to grow out the hair a little bit when getting electrolysis, but how do you do this if you are full-time?

[cynthialee]

Suck it up and avoid contact like the plague durring those days it has to be grown out.

[Sunnynight]

Suck it up and avoid contact like the plague durring those days it has to be grown out.

I'm gonna pray to the great follicle in the sky that laser gets rid of everything then.

[Padma]

It's a sometimes painful phase to go through - I'm not going to a women's group tonight because I feel ashamed of my stubble - but then I'm getting a little more of it permanently electrolysed tomorrow.

[JungianZoe]

Being out of a job, I'm not getting electrolysis done right now since I can't afford it.  That said, I think I'm close to finding work and will be resuming hair removal shortly.  I'm totally full time, name change and everything.  What terrifies me is having to grow out the stubble and go to work!

[Padma]

I'm kind of inured to it anyway, as I can only shave once very 3-4 days in any case, so until I get rid of all the hair (or until HRT happens and it slows down/gets finer) I'm a stubbly gal part of the time whether I like it or not. At least the stubble is less noticeable because it's all white (the black stuff has been or is being lasered, and I can shave my dark upper lip more often than the rest without bloody horror and rashes while I'm waiting for the lasering to do its thing).

[Diane Elizabeth]

I waited too long and had to go strictly with electrolysis.  It pains me to have to let it grow ouot a dday ahead of elec session (which is usually Mondays).   I feel ugly with the stubble.  But then I get the shaving bump within a couple of hours of shaving.  This too, makes me feel as if everyone sees it.

[Annah]

I'm currently getting laser treatments done, and I'm wondering how I will go from laser to electrolysis when electrolysis is needed for anything the laser misses. I know that you have to grow out the hair a little bit when getting electrolysis, but how do you do this if you are full-time?

This is exactly why I never had electrolysis done and I always heavily encourage those who are getting electrolysis to do it before going fulltime. Because if you go fulltime and then get electrolysis...things can get interesting as they want 4 days of growth in order to perform the electrolysis.

[Padma]

It'd be nice to have the choice, but some of us a greybeards, and don't want to wait until all the electrolysis is over and done - I'm not getting any younger, deario .

[Annah]

It'd be nice to have the choice, but some of us a greybeards, and don't want to wait until all the electrolysis is over and done - I'm not getting any younger, deario .

would it have been possible to not go fulltime until the electro was done? Just curious

[SandraJane]

The Laser will get the thick dark hairs, but if you have any gray, white, or blond hairs it will not. And if by chance you Google and find a substance called Melamine, a follicle coloring agent for just such a situation, no one except IMAJ Institute will use it. An Electrolysis Pro told me recently that the hair has to be just long enough to be grabbed with a tweezer. Light hair stubble is hard to see, so do it on a weekend.

Here's some more tips, the Laser will remove the dark hairs permanently if...1)Most important is to prep the skin by cleaning it well. So  shave as close as possible  several hours before the treatment. I also use a Clarsonic after I shave to remove any debris, because debris on the skin will attenuate the Laser energy away from the hair. (2) The Tech is using the correct settings for your skin based on the Fitzpatrick Scale for Skin Type. (3) At least 4 - 6 treatments, try for at least 5....then just suck up the rest!

[Francis Ann Burgett]

Sandra Jane,

I'm trying to laser all I can. This Melamine??? can you expound more on it. Can it actually darken hair folicles so a laser will work better on gray hairs. If so that is the best news I've read in a long time.

[SandraJane]

 Frances,  it is actually called MELADINE! According to IMAJ Institute in Scottsdale, AZ, yes it works! Every other Dermatologist, Plastic Surgeon, etc, claims it doesn't and won't use it. IMAJ claims it has to be patted onto the skin, burp the hair folicles so to speak to allow the the MELADINE to stain the hair folicle below the skin. Apply to skin twice a day one week prior to Laser treatment. Just as a reminder, is used only on gray, white, blond and possible red hairs. The Laser heats up the hair follicle in order to destroy the blood supply to it, and remember that dark objects absorb heat and lighter colored objects reflect heat, the method of action.

Here's the catch, will the supervising MD for the Laser treatment allow you to use it? Where I get mine done the MD won't allow its use. I'd say IMAJ is correct, they are one of the leading groups in Aesthetic Laser use and training.

Now where do you get MELADINE and how much does it cost? That I don't know except to say I would call IMAJ Institute of Scottsdale, AZ and speak to or e-mail Jason or Gary Bagley;  http://www.imajschool.org/contactus.htm If they ask...you got it off of the web!

[Francis Ann Burgett]

Sandra Jane, Thanks for all the detail. If this product works it would sure help a lot of us girls improve our lives. I will try & find out some.

[Francis Ann Burgett]

Meladine, on google, lots of beauty supply places sell it, cost minimum. It's designed specifically to help laser treatments for light or gray hair.

I will be trying it since I want to use laser system if possible.

Thank you for mentioning!!!!

[SandraJane]

Your welcome! Word of caution Francis...you need to check with whomever is doing the Laser treatment first! If God Forbid you have an Adverse Reaction to Meladine either before or during the Laser treatment, you could suffer permanent scaring or worse...burns! The Tech doing the treatment needs to know because it could affect the power settings and Laser type they will use. Proceed with caution,...

[Francis Ann Burgett]

Sandra Jane, Thanks, I'm OK. I've had several before. I just bought a Tria Laser for home use. It works identical to any laser. Most of my hair is dark but some gray. Meladine, from reviews by dermatologist it really does not work much but I'll try it anyway I guess. All it does is darken the shaft so the laser heat can transfer to the shaft/root.


No new miracle cure I guess, we girls always have to work hard to be pretty, it seems.

Please have a very nice day.

[SandraJane]

A Tria eh? Do a test spot first. Even though the Tria's power settings are less than a clinical laser please be safe and try a test spot on a light hair patch using the Meladine first.

Better safe than scared.

[AbraCadabra]

Tried MELADINE it does not really work, sorry.
And it is, as snake-oil goes, quite expensive as well.

You have to apply it over and over and over and over... OK. 6 applications a time for 4 to 6 weeks in a row before it's supposed to work. You'll probably have given up at this stage in any case.

I got it with some home IPL, which does not work either BTW.

Some more learning as it goes,

Axelle