Electrolysis - How many hours to clear the face?

[byanyothername]

Interesting. From a pain point of view I can do 2 hours in the seat without too much discomfort.

When I talk about broken hairs, what is more likely is that the hair in question is shedding already so it's not attached to its root anymore.

My skin is recovering well post session and no scarring is occurring. I think my Electrolygist prefers to keep the current as low as possible to keep comfort levels up instead, which means slightly more resistance when removing the hairs.


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[byanyothername]

Also, wouldn't high currents be more likely to cause long term scarring than the pulling of the hair?


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[Lucie]

Also, wouldn't high currents be more likely to cause long term scarring than the pulling of the hair?

Certainly they would, but too low currents do not completely kill follicles which means possible later regrowth.

[ainawa88]

Certainly they would, but too low currents do not completely kill follicles which means possible later regrowth.

I would be concerned about this as well ... When I pluck the dead hairs, there is so little resistance that I can pluck them using just my fingers alone (and I have actually done this). There is also zero pain when plucking the dead hairs ...

[LizK]

I would be concerned about this as well ... When I pluck the dead hairs, there is so little resistance that I can pluck them using just my fingers alone (and I have actually done this). There is also zero pain when plucking the dead hairs ...

I was told that plucking does not kill the follicle but actually encourages harder and larger regrowth but I can't imagine if it's just a hair left over from being zapped that it should matter. Its plucking the live ones that cause the issues...so I am told.

As far as current goes, yes if they are too high then they will scar, but there is a big area where the current is strong enough to zap the hair follicle without damaging the skin. My understanding is that if you have any resistance then that hair is likely to regrow. The key is in the skill of the Electrologist. With a low current it will be more comfortable but you will also need more passes to clear the area. I like the idea of one hair hit one hair gone...never a chance to regrow. I have asked my Electrologist toi keep it as high as is practical because I do not want to have to do the same hair for a second time.

I have no scarring and I usually am fine by the next day...they have been working along my jaw line which is where most of my light colored beard is. I have very little on my top lip and cheeks. Mainly my chin and just along and under my jaw line...a really nice painful spot!!!

Liz

[Dena]

When I was treated, sometimes I would feel a tugging on a hair. This was a particular stubborn hair and it would get another shot before it came out without resisting. If you are treated with the blend, it's possible that you need a bit more current or a longer hold time before the hair is removed. My operator had to play with the settings a bit before she found the one that worked for my face. Most of the time I think she worked with lighter hair than what I had for a beard.

[byanyothername]

This is quite interesting so thanks for all your replies! My experience is similar to Dena, if a stubborn hair is found then is gets a second shot before falling out easily. But other hairs seem to hold on a little bit. Also my Electrolygist ups the current on certain parts of my face that are more stubborn.

Based on your feedback I would be tempted to ask her to up the current but my results are so good that I don't really see the point.

For example, first pass on my upper lip took 2 hours, second pass (after 1 1/2 months regrowth) took 1:15. Lower lip and chin area took 4 hours on first pass, and 1:45 on second pass. Regrowth is slow and hairs are fine. I'm going to need many less hours than I had thought based on the results so far!


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[ainawa88]

I was told that plucking does not kill the follicle but actually encourages harder and larger regrowth but I can't imagine if it's just a hair left over from being zapped that it should matter. Its plucking the live ones that cause the issues...so I am told.

Yes, I do not pluck the hair if there is ANY pulling sensation at all. I only pluck the ones that are ready to fall out, and I wouldn't even do that, but I get a pimple from the pore being clogged with dead hair if I don't. I can also tell which ones are dead because they feel totally different (very coarse vs my "normal" soft facial hair). It's kind of neat, actually!

[JS UK]

This is quite interesting so thanks for all your replies! My experience is similar to Dena, if a stubborn hair is found then is gets a second shot before falling out easily. But other hairs seem to hold on a little bit. Also my Electrolygist ups the current on certain parts of my face that are more stubborn.

Based on your feedback I would be tempted to ask her to up the current but my results are so good that I don't really see the point.

For example, first pass on my upper lip took 2 hours, second pass (after 1 1/2 months regrowth) took 1:15. Lower lip and chin area took 4 hours on first pass, and 1:45 on second pass. Regrowth is slow and hairs are fine. I'm going to need many less hours than I had thought based on the results so far!


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Hi there,

I saw from one of your posts that you're in the UK. Can you let me know if you're having your electrolysis on the NHS? I've got my NHS hair removal appointment in a couple of weeks and I'm not sure to expect.

I've had three sessions of laser and it appears to have removed a lot of my dark hair but it looks like I have a lot of white hair in its place, unfortunately.

Juliex

[byanyothername]

Hi Julie,

I'm not having mine done on the NHS as I'm not that far through the process yet.

Bad news is that the NHS only give you 8 hours of electrolysis according to my Electrolygist :-(


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[alex82]

Hi Julie,

I'm not having mine done on the NHS as I'm not that far through the process yet.

Bad news is that the NHS only give you 8 hours of electrolysis according to my Electrolygist :-(


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But will they pay for eight sessions regardless of the cost? Or do you have to go to the nearest and the cheapest?

I don't really like my electrolygist. I don't know how to say this without sounding horrible, so I just will - she's a bit common.

Which would be fine, but she's also mentioned two transsexuals By Name and where they work as part of her "I do this all the time" routine.

It's makes me feel really uncomfortable - if someone is talking behind others backs, they're obviously talking behind yours too.

[cymoril]

I began with 20 1 hour treatments.  I have another hour and half to go, but that won't totally clean my face.  I think I'll probably need another 20 1 hour treatments.  I am 47y/o but I really don't have a lot of facial hair, nor does it grow back quickly.  But I want to make sure my face is completely hairless.  So, I think a minimum of 60 hours might do the trick.  But I don't know.  It really is a person to person thing, ya know?  I hope that helped.  Cheers:)

[JS UK]

Hi Julie,

I'm not having mine done on the NHS as I'm not that far through the process yet.

Bad news is that the NHS only give you 8 hours of electrolysis according to my Electrolygist :-(


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Hi,

Up here in Scotland I understand that it's dependent on which health board you fall under. Also, it's being done in an NHS hospital - I don't know if that makes any difference.

8 hours is absolutely useless. It's like someone requesting a motability car and being provided with a steering wheel and a couple of seats.

Jx

[byanyothername]

But will they pay for eight sessions regardless of the cost? Or do you have to go to the nearest and the cheapest?

I don't really like my electrolygist. I don't know how to say this without sounding horrible, so I just will - she's a bit common.

Which would be fine, but she's also mentioned two transsexuals By Name and where they work as part of her "I do this all the time" routine.

It's makes me feel really uncomfortable - if someone is talking behind others backs, they're obviously talking behind yours too.

As far as my GIC goes you get a list of NHS approved electrolygists. Mine has just got approved. I don't know where in the country you are but I use Beauty Lodge in Bedford and I can't recommend her enough. She is also getting a brand new machine in a week or two! Exciting!


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[alex82]

As far as my GIC goes you get a list of NHS approved electrolygists. Mine has just got approved. I don't know where in the country you are but I use Beauty Lodge in Bedford and I can't recommend her enough. She is also getting a brand new machine in a week or two! Exciting!


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Oh that's ok if they work from a list - I trust that. I wasn't sure if it was a case of here's the budget, find someone yourself.

Thank you for your answer.

[Kaley Goode]

well reading this thread today is discouraging, I don't have that kind of money

plus I tan quite a bit and maybe laser won't even work, I never thought I'd want to get away from the sun

I wonder about the 5 o'clock shadow... my face hair has always been fairly less hairy than other men around, still it's impossible to shave so that there is no shadow, there is not much difference before and after I shave my upper lip, what makes the shadow is actually the darkness of the not yet out hairs.

I stopped pulling them last few weeks. Since I was pulling them, the shadow was more manageable, but...

200 hours  that's what, 25,000$?

Of the several operations that I'm likely to choose to undergo, electrolysis is the most expensive but spread over three years.
I hunted round beautician's, trying lots out saying I wanted my ears tidying or something so they didn't see me as a meal ticket. I found those used to transgendered could be very formal, so I continued looking until I found someone who I could spend hundreds of hours chatting with! A motherly lady who was a beautician on cruise liners and had stories of the world to entertain me with. We became friends and now go to shows together and meals out with other client-friends of hers. So that gets me out more and she charges me a friend's charge because we enjoy each other's company.
So put effort in at the start and be patient... And it's who you know that matters ;-)

The cost is a lot of money, time and discomfort. Leaving the beautician's looking like you've been attacked by bees makes you feel much more confident about how you look next time you enter the place! And ultimately, the results are wonderful. I'm fifty and my face feels like it did when I was a child. It was worth eveything :-)

So just start looking and wait until the stars align, then just do what you can afford and make a friend. :-) it's worth it in the end.