If E3K can clear a face in 14 hours, why can't a local electrologist do it?

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

So I had three total clearings at Electrology 3000 in Dallas. The last time, my entire face was cleared by one tech in 7 hours. Since then, I have been trying to get some areas in my neck finished and have undergone about twenty hours of treatments and still have at least half of what I had when I started. I am in the Bay Area so you think there would be someone here who is competent and fast but I guess I have not found him or her.

I contact e3k in May and at that time they were booked through June so I decided to keep trying locally and I think I made a mistake.

[JennX]

Because they can't. Hair grows in cycles and not all follicles are in the active growing cycle all at the same time. Yes, they may clear your face in X amount of hours in one visit. But hair will start growing back when the dormant follicles become active. I've had 2 years of laser on my face (which cleared about 70% of the hair) and I'm just now closing in on 1 year of electro on my face to clean up the left overs. Hair removal takes time, money, and is a pain (figuratively and literally).

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

My question was "Why can't a local electrologist clear my face (actually neck) of existing hairs in seven hours if the techs in Dallas can do it?" I know all about the growing cycles, (Having had my face entirely cleared three times, how could I not know?) I guess I just don't know how to find fast and reliable local electrologist.

BTW I did laser for several years before I realized I finally decided that I needed electrolysis.

[SandraJane]

E3K does something most Electrologists don't do...they numb your face with Lidocane SubQ, as you know. With one's face numbed up like that they can work longer because you are comfortable. Also the type of machine they are using can make a difference. Right now the Apilus Platinum is touted as the top machine. And as JennX pointed out, hair grows in cycles, 3 in fact, and it will take several "clearings" (5-7?) to permanently eradicate the hair. Even E3K's FAQ's state that is takes 70-90 hrs to clear a beard. http://www.electrology2000.com/e3000.html

I've had 5 Laser treatments with the Luminus Lightshear- Duet, and to date 23 hours of Electrolysis, and I still have some dark hairs growing back. After the first Laser treatment I was able to see how much light/white hairs I had, so I knew I would have to have Electrolysis. The Electrologist I'm going to uses an Apilus Senior II, and has over 15 yrs experience, which counts because I have little to none "bumps" on my face after each session. Plus, I haven't noted any orange-ish discoloration like I had with the first couple of Laser treatments, and what I've heard some gals report with Electrolysis. It takes time, consistency counts to, so don't be discouraged, I know it seems like there's no end to the hairs at times.

And E3K isn't the only Electrologists in the DFW area, there are several very good ones, I've been to 2 of them. So look for one that can schedule you on a regular basis, and has lots of  experience.

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

"Even E3K's FAQ's state that is takes 70-90 hrs to clear a beard."

Then I should be done by now.

[SandraJane]

"Even E3K's FAQ's state that is takes 70-90 hrs to clear a beard."

Then I should be done by now.

Some take longer than others hon.

I was talking with my Electrologist the other day about E3K, and something I didn't know, maybe you can shed some light on, is that they often use 2 Electrologist at once, one on each side side of your face. Did they do this in your case?

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

Yes, that is how I came up with the 14 hour equation. (2 techs X 7 hours) The first two clearings were two techs for me. The third was one tech. I have had sessions locally in which i booked three hours and I hoped for at least a third of my face and neck being cleared but it wasn't anywhere near that. I think i just have to find someone who is faster although I emailed e3k to see if I could book something in August before I go back to school.

BTW my beard was always less dense than most genetic males so it should have taken me less time.

[MadelineB]

Also the type of machine they are using can make a difference. Right now the Apilus Platinum is touted as the top machine. And as JennX pointed out, hair grows in cycles, 3 in fact, and it will take several "clearings" (5-7?) to permanently eradicate the hair. Even E3K's FAQ's state that is takes 70-90 hrs to clear a beard.

I see the fastest electrologist in Portland, 30 years experience, and on my face she can do about 1000 hairs an our with her Apilus Platinum, which is going every week to 10 days. Denser beards can go faster in number of hairs per hour because they are closer together, so you might get higher numbers. Count up the number of hairs removed for one full clearance, and divide by the number of hours spent and you'll get your hairs per hour. If your tech is slow, and you find someone with double the speed, all things being equal you'll clear in half the time. If you can grow out your hairs to at least a quarter inch, it really helps with the speed.

You will find that with a good tech, over time the number of hairs needed for a full clearance will be less and less, because not every spot of your face has a full 7 cycles worth of hair.

I prefer to see my tech weekly or every 10 days, because I am already full time and can't stand to go longer.

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

1000 hairs per hour is way faster than my local tech.  I may just have to schedule a trip to Portland..or does anyone know someone in the SF bay area who is this fast?

[MadelineB]

1000 hairs per hour is way faster than my local tech.  I may just have to schedule a trip to Portland..or does anyone know someone in the SF bay area who is this fast?

If anybody does come up to Portland, Jaimee Bloom is amazing. She is a Jewish grandmother and grand champion dog shower, proud mother of a married lesbian daughter, and keeps working because she loves doing it. She has helped many women through their transitions:
http://www.pdxelectrolysis.com/about.html If you call, choose the option to ask for Jaimee directly; she has an associate who is also competent, but Jaimee is the one you want.

Now if location is no object, the fastest clearer by reputation in the US is a former pro wrestler by the name of James Walker. He lives in Buffalo NY, lives for electrolysis, and travels regularly around the country to do full clearance marathon sessions for trans women:
http://www.executiveclearance.com/beforeandafter.html

I grew up in the bay area but don't know any techs there.

[MadelineB]

You might check the (electrolysis focused) forums at hairtell.com.

I found this member recommendation from two years ago:

Nora Sherwood CPE
422 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
415 753-5851

Nora writes: "I have been practicing electrolysis in San Francisco since 1978."
A reader writes today:

"I noticed that you've added Nora Sherwood to your listing of electrolysists and I thought I'd let you know that I've been going to her for a long time and she's wonderful!! She works incredibly fast and I've had no problems at all. She's incredibly loving, friendly, ethical, and a great conversationalist (super important in someone you're about to spend hundreds of hours with!). Anything you can do to help promote her tg-friendly business will be a boon for our community."
http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/24378.html#Post24378

[lilacwoman]

"Even E3K's FAQ's state that is takes 70-90 hrs to clear a beard."

Then I should be done by now.

3 x 7 = 21
3 x 7 = 21
21 + 21 = 42
70-90 - 42 = 30 - 50

do the arithmetic and realise you have a long way to go yet.

I know people who have had the long sessions with anaesthetic but they still get a good regrowth.

It's a nuisance but all part of human variation.

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

3 x 7 = 21
3 x 7 = 21
21 + 21 = 42
70-90 - 42 = 30 - 50

I did the math in my head,  there is an unknown which is the years of laser I had but let's throw that out. I had a few sessions with a tech who was very slow before E3K ...did about ten hours with her. 35 hours with E3K and another 20 hours locally. 10+35+20=65 so yes, I should be close to done especially when you consider all the laser I had.

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

If anybody does come up to Portland, Jaimee Bloom is amazing. She is a Jewish grandmother and grand champion dog shower, proud mother of a married lesbian daughter, and keeps working because she loves doing it. She has helped many women through their transitions:
http://www.pdxelectrolysis.com/about.html If you call, choose the option to ask for Jaimee directly; she has an associate who is also competent, but Jaimee is the one you want.

Now if location is no object, the fastest clearer by reputation in the US is a former pro wrestler by the name of James Walker. He lives in Buffalo NY, lives for electrolysis, and travels regularly around the country to do full clearance marathon sessions for trans women:
http://www.executiveclearance.com/beforeandafter.html

I grew up in the bay area but don't know any techs there.

This very helpful, Madeline. Have you thought about becoming an electrolysis consultant? 

[Rising_Angel]

E3K does something most Electrologists don't do...they numb your face with Lidocane SubQ, as you know. With one's face numbed up like that they can work longer because you are comfortable. Also the type of machine they are using can make a difference. Right now the Apilus Platinum is touted as the top machine. And as JennX pointed out, hair grows in cycles, 3 in fact, and it will take several "clearings" (5-7?) to permanently eradicate the hair. Even E3K's FAQ's state that is takes 70-90 hrs to clear a beard. http://www.electrology2000.com/e3000.html

And E3K isn't the only Electrologists in the DFW area, there are several very good ones, I've been to 2 of them. So look for one that can schedule you on a regular basis, and has lots of  experience.

I would really love advice on who/where to go ... I'm gearing up for my very first electrolysis and have ~no~ clue where to go.  I'm in Grapevine, so anywhere in DFW would be coolies with me.

Help!

[MadelineB]

This very helpful, Madeline. Have you thought about becoming an electrolysis consultant? 

Thanks Angel. I tend to cringe when I post things because I feel like I'm talking too much. Getting over it.

"I'd like to be a typographer; then I would be able to make money with my font of useless knowledge!"
-Maddie

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

Thanks again Madeline! With the information you provided I found the person I needed in Fremont of all places. (Vineyard Electrolysis) I am finally getting my second appointment with her Wednesday and my neck (my face is already cleared) should be 99% cleared in a few more appointments. What really tipped me off was that, despite being out in the sticks, she was booked up for months! Her fee is the same as my other technician but she is about five to ten times faster!

[MadelineB]

Thanks again Madeline! With the information you provided I found the person I needed in Fremont of all places. (Vineyard Electrolysis) I am finally getting my second appointment with her Wednesday and my neck (my face is already cleared) should be 99% cleared in a few more appointments. What really tipped me off was that, despite being out in the sticks, she was booked up for months! Her fee is the same as my other technician but she is about five to ten times faster!

That's awesome! You might want to think about sharing her information with the Links and Wiki departments - at least after you have your recurring appointments booked. Its hard for people to know who the good ones are, so we should all do what we can to keep highly skilled, trans friendly professionals in business.

[cindianna_jones]

I went for nearly three years, two sessions a week after I had my face cleared. It sucked.