Turned down for electrolysis

[TragicMagic]

Heyyy! How is everyone?

I'm just writing here because I went to an electrolysist today which took me about two hours to get there, and when I got through the door, she immediately said to me, it's way to tough and the current would have to be so strong that it would scar me. So I walked out within an minute really annoyed especially because I was holding out to have it done at that place since it was the cheapest (only £25 an hour compared to £40-£100/hour at other places). I'd really like to have electrolysis because I heard it is completely permanent while laser doesnt last as long. Do you think I should start with laser? I'll put a pic of me with some facial hair so you can see

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/211/photolz.jpg/

I'm pre RLT by the way

[Jamie D]

Wow, I've never heard of such a thing as being turned down.  Sorry.

Maybe another technician can give you a second opinion.

[Hikari]

A few thoughts, laser is permanent hair reduction, it wont get them all but sufficient energy delivered to the hair will kill it permanently it doesn't really matter what medium that energy derives from.

The other thing is that facial hair is run of the mill, there is no way it is so thick that it would need something special. I would certainly get a second opinion.

Due to the incredible cost, I am doing laser then electrolysis to get those hairs that are too light for the laser, perhaps you could consider a similar approach, but ymmv of course.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

While it is in the rights to refuse service to anyone, that is total BS.  The technician is ether very new to the business, or not properly trained.

I would do laser first and then follow by with electrolysis.  You are not really that heavy in the facial hair department.

[Beverly]

... she immediately said to me, it's way to tough and the current would have to be so strong that it would scar me.

That sounds very odd. Where abouts are you (roughly). Are you anywhere near South Manchester / North Cheshire because my electrologyist charges £35 per hour.

[Carbon]

While it is in the rights to refuse service to anyone, that is total BS.  The technician is ether very new to the business, or not properly trained.

I'd guess it's probably the first, which is why they are charging less than other people. Beard removval is a less common and the hair is thicker than women's facial hair so I think it makes sense it would be a little harder and a less experienced person might not feel comfortable with it (at which point refusing is the only honest/appropriate thing to do).

To the OP, I believe laser is "permanent hair reduction" according to FDA . When I had a laser consultation (with a place that didn't use IPL, I'm not exactly sure what they used) they claimed it would be permanent and that the follicles would not even be visible. But they were going to charge 6000 dollars (9 sessions, spread  out over a year and a half) which is a lot more than I have right now. Probably still cheaper than electrolysis though and they said they would give me free touch up sessions for the rest of my life if necessary. Even if it only permanently got rid of 50% of my facial hair that would probably still be cheaper than going all electro and IPL places are cheaper than this.

This is all in $$ land instead £'s, of course.

[Beverly]

To the OP, I believe laser is "permanent hair reduction" according to FDA . When I had a laser consultation (with a place that didn't use IPL, I'm not exactly sure what they used) they claimed it would be permanent and that the follicles would not even be visible. But they were going to charge 6000 dollars (9 sessions, spread  out over a year and a half) which is a lot more than I have right now.

Laser is a lot quicker than electro as well. I have had both types of hair reduction. I had most of my dark ones zapped out and the remainder (white & a few darks that survived) are being electrolysed (well microwaved, my technician uses diathermy). Personally I preferred the laser.

The price you are quoting is outrageous. Even an expensive parlour over here is about £150 ($240) per facial & neck session so nine sessions would be $2,160.

[seanna]

The price you are quoting is outrageous. Even an expensive parlour over here is about £150 ($240) per facial & neck session so nine sessions would be $2,160.

Just another data point -- here in Virginia, USA I'm paying $150 per facial and neck session -- and after three sessions, all I have is upper lip showing shadow, about 50% of that area is totally clear. Everything else is completely gone. I'm going to do one more full session in January, then it will be $75 per upper lip session til that is done.

I'm a big believer in laser, if your skin and hair color are in the right range.

[JessicaH]

I'd sign up for the daily groupon.com and livingsocial.com daily deals. I got a full face and neck package with 6 sessions for $249 and it is a reputable place. Just be careful that it is a real laser and NOT IPL.  After two sessions, I have had dramatic clearance and I have a third session scheduled in about a week. I'm a little concerned that I may need to wait longer than 5 weeks because  I have so little hair growing right now.

Definitively get laser before going with electrolysis unless you just have light red or a white beard.

[Carbon]

Laser is a lot quicker than electro as well. I have had both types of hair reduction. I had most of my dark ones zapped out and the remainder (white & a few darks that survived) are being electrolysed (well microwaved, my technician uses diathermy). Personally I preferred the laser.

The price you are quoting is outrageous. Even an expensive parlour over here is about £150 ($240) per facial & neck session so nine sessions would be $2,160.

I dunno if it's outrageous, 240 for face and neck would be pretty cheap from what I've seen? I'm not counting groupon stuff because unless you drive or live in a major city it doesn't really work. I know there's another place in my city that uses IPL and charges about 270 for face and neck... I know this since they're one of the few places that list prices online. If I went in there I'd have to add in another 30 dollars for taxi fare so call it 300 a session, which is still less than half the other place. (Edit: It could work out to be cheaper than this based on various stuff though)

I think if you have the money to blow it might be worth it from the more expensive place just for the lifetime guarantee as a kind of insurance. I also don't know if the non IPL stuff really works better but I think it really does work on a wider variety of people, they can work on dark skinned people. The lady I talked to was even a black lady although I don't know if she's had laser. She wasn't very hairy though. 

I think if I paid the 6000 dollars it would be the equivalent of ordering a macbook pro from apple.com with as many upgrades as possible versus buying a discount/refurbished lenovo laptop off newegg. It's really nice to have a "power mac" but the lenovo will still be fine for 90% of what most people want to do. The crazy thing is that  6000 dollars was supposedly 50% off due to a holiday special. This is also counting when she offered to take another ten percent off after I said I couldn't afford it.

But yeah the moral is that laser quotes can vary widely and unless you have dark skin or are hung up on having a lifetime guarantee it's probably better to find a cheaper place.

[Adabelle]

I personally had good results using going to a professional laser place that used an Alexandrite laser on very high settings. I did experience permanent reduction in my facial hair and now am just going to an electrologist once a month to get the one or two hairs that pop up. I personally recommend doing laser first, but you really have to get the power turned way up (it hurts like crazy) to make sure you're actually destroying (burning) the hair follicles and not just stunning them.