Full Time Girl.... WITH A BEARD?!?!?

[Julie Marie]

The awkward stages of transition!

During this time off work I have been given the opportunity to live completely full time.  As construction is a fickle industry, layoffs are part of life.  Having been through more than I can count, I planned what I'd do in case when I was laid off again.  Going completely full time was on the top of my list.  I wanted to know how it would be not falling back on Jim. 

But I also saw the time off as an opportunity to take care of some other things.  Number one on that list was electrolysis.  I figured I'd at least double up the sessions or more if I could handle it.  I also wanted to do some girly things like get my nails and hair done.

Problem is electrolysis requires a noticeable growth of hair on the face.  How can I even think of going out with a beard?  I can't.  I don't mind being read but I refuse to make a mockery of us or women in general.  I strongly believe in presenting us in the most positive light as I am physically and emotionally capable.  Going out with facial hair is totally taboo.

So in effect I can only do one or the other.  Maybe I can get things in sync so that pre-electro days will be spent at home taking care of things here.  Post-electro days will consist of shopping or socializing.  The latter is a no brainer but it's the former I have to get in sync with.

Gangly, awkward, funny looking...  I'm a teenager again!

Julie

[Ricki]

umm Ya jules... I agree you cannot go around wearing a mask around your face?
hmm or could you? you could be the Lady V for vendetta!
smiles
Ricki

[Melissa]

Well, find out the minimum amount of growth required.  Perhaps you could use the time over the weekend to grow it out.  Another option might be e2000.  You grow out your hair and then go for marathon electrolysis.  For me personally, I went fulltime about only 2 months after starting hair removal, but I went with laser, which requires no growth.  In fact, they require you to be clean shaven prior to your treatment.  Anyways, I guess I am saying there are options.

Melissa

[Julie Marie]

The problem with laser is it has no effect on light or white hairs, remember, I'm 55  .  Also laser isn't permanent so even if laser was effective, electrolysis would still be needed. 

I talked to my electrologist today and she agreed this can be a problem.  All I could think of was to schedule my times out and about around electro, doing my errands right after a session or the next day.  But with them two days apart the window is very small.

I should just quit whining.  I'm moving ahead with transition and taking care of the important things.  The beard has got to go!  I guess there will be plenty of time ahead I can live life naturally... but not if I have whiskers! 

Julie

[Melissa]

The problem with laser is it has no effect on light or white hairs, remember, I'm 55  .  Also laser isn't permanent so even if laser was effective, electrolysis would still be needed. 

Notice I didn't actually suggest laser for you?

Melissa

[brina]

Two points of contention:

1) i have found laser to be totally effective on all of the dark hair growth I use to have.

2) I don't understand the issue with white/light gray hair growth. This is pretty much all I have left and I can easily let it grow out for a day and it is virtually un-noticable to the naked eye. Granted it irritates the H*LL out of me due to its malish implications. Surely it need not be more then even a whopping 1/32nd of an inch in length for your electrolysis tech to be able to see it.

Byee,
  Brina

[Stormy Weather]

I'm moving ahead with transition and taking care of the important things.

That... is the most important thing, after all.

In the early stages, I found winter months (dark days) and being a bit drab with a baseball cap to be helpful. And yes, to be honest, you have to square your shoulders and go out there and get it done regardless of what others might think.

I would also only grow out the sections that I knew my electrologist would do. She only needed 1 mm or 2, 3-4 days worth at the time, I think. It's been a while...

[Julie Marie]

Two points of contention:

1) i have found laser to be totally effective on all of the dark hair growth I use to have.

2) I don't understand the issue with white/light gray hair growth. This is pretty much all I have left and I can easily let it grow out for a day and it is virtually un-noticable to the naked eye. Granted it irritates the H*LL out of me due to its malish implications. Surely it need not be more then even a whopping 1/32nd of an inch in length for your electrolysis tech to be able to see it.

Byee,
  Brina

From what I've read laser can last up to three years but usually one to two years is normal.  I've never been able to find anything that says the hairs that grow back are the same or less in shaft thickness but there is speculation that less is the case.  To the best of my knowledge, laser can't advertise as being permanent because it has not proven to be.

As far as white hairs, I don't care what color they are, I want them gone!  While out with some friends recently I marveled at how clear their skin looked without whiskers.  I want that!

My beard grows very slowly.  Some whiskers need several days to be long enough to treat.  Others can be treated a day or two earlier.  If I want the slow growers gone, I have to let everything grow out.  But I just hate any stubble on my face when I'm out.  That's just me.

Julie

[Kate]

From what I've read laser can last up to three years but usually one to two years is normal.

May I ask where you read this? I've read that too... on web sites of electrolysists

I know people who are 4+ years post-laser... and not a sign of regrowth. I researched it to death, and my conclusion was that the people who experience regrowth used an ineffective type of laser, had lighter hairs, or only went for a few treatments. But they experience the regrowth right away, not years later. I don't think I've ever come upon an account of a beard growing back after years... though I hear RUMOURS of it all the time.

It just doesn't make sense to me... if a hair is killed to the point where it can't grow for three years, I can't imagine how it would spontaneously regenerate and start up again after all that time? I mean, you'd think if it's dead, it's dead forever. And if it's NOT killed, it'll grow back during the next cycle in a number of weeks. I just can't imagine why laser would somehow put hairs into some otherwise never heard of special dormant phase lasting for years?

[SusanK]

It just doesn't make sense to me... if a hair is killed to the point where it can't grow for three years, I can't imagine how it would spontaneously regenerate and start up again after all that time? I mean, you'd think if it's dead, it's dead forever. And if it's NOT killed, it'll grow back during the next cycle in a number of weeks. I just can't imagine why laser would somehow put hairs into some otherwise never heard of special dormant phase lasting for years?

Laser treatments don't kill hair roots, only inhibit it's regrowth, and with anti-androgens the hair has few triggers to grow, but it's still there, and will return, albeit light and thin. All it needs is the hormones to trigger growth. Some get good longterm results from laser treatments, but it's not entirely from the laser treatments but the hormones inhibiting regrowth. Check out Andrea James' Website for information on hair and hair removal for more information.

[Kate]

Laser treatments don't kill hair roots, only inhibit it's regrowth...

The general claim for the LightSheer says:

This laser targets the pigment located in the hair follicle and shaft. The light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and this energy is converted to heat which results in damage to the hair follicle. This damage causes delayed re-growth of the hair, and in most cases permanent destruction of many of the hair follicles.

So perhaps the ultimate truth is a bit of both... some hairs are delayed, and some are killed.
Posted on: December 16, 2006, 07:06:01 PM

but it's still there, and will return, albeit light and thin.

I actually wish this WOULD happen. I'd rather have the pretty, soft peach fuzz genetic women have instead of the flat, barren look of NO hairs.

[Julie Marie]

Besides, going by your pictures, your skin looks flawless, and it would seem that you don't have a very heavy beard, which is awesome!


tinkerbell

I wish!  The first session I had with my electrologist I went with a 3-4 day growth to give her an idea of what she'll be tackling.  She looked at my face and said, "Usually I estimate 100 hours for the averge beard but yours is pretty heavy so I'm figuring about 125 hours."  Actually I thought I had a less than average beard before I heard that.

From what I've read laser can last up to three years but usually one to two years is normal.

May I ask where you read this? I've read that too... on web sites of electrolysists

I don't remember where I've heard/read those exact words but there's a website that's pretty informative.  Here's the link.

Julie

[Hazumu]

I'll second the concentration on the lips and chin.  As for 'old growth' on my neck, we're working up from the Adam's apple.  There's a patch of blue that stands out, but now it's just the part of the neck just underneath the jaw, so it's not as noticeable.

Every other session, we go back and clear lips and chin then work out to cheeks and other high-visibility areas, the next session we tackle the old growth.  This lets me shave the area that's not going to get treated, and letting the lips and chin grow out is hardly noticeable now.

When I do go out all hairy, I act as if nothing is the matter, and STILL get ma'am'ed.

Chin DOWN...and all that--

Karen

[brina]

Electolysis and laser both work on the same principle and that is using heat to kill the follicle. Electro simply uses an electrode whereas laser uses a high energy pulsed beam of light. The advantage to laser being that more then one follicle can be killed at a time for a given pulse of light versus pulse of electricity. As to the pemanency of laser it is relatively new compared to electro and will gain the permenent label in time. The BIG down side to laser is that the follicles that ARE not killed intially are damaged and therefor produce less melinine and are lighter and therefor harder for the laser to target the next time (anyone with a dark beard growth should have little concern for this however).
As for dormant hair follicle they can jump back to life irregardless of which treatment is used. For anyone with darkish hair I would suggest going with laser first to eliminate as much as possible and then rely upon electolysis to do the final clean up.

Speaking for myself. My initial package was for 10 treatments. I have had one extra one added without cost. My 10th will be this coming tuesday. ALL of my dark hair has been gone for the last 5 treatments. I have been using Maladine at my technologists advice for the remaining treatments. This is suppose to act as a stain for the hair shaft/follicle. Given the per treatment cost of ~160.00 inclusive of the Meladine I have to say that it IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE and electrolysis is a better alternative.

Byee,
  Brina

[cindianna_jones]

Julie,

Here's how you can do it... get your face cleared with electro and keep it cleared a couple of times a week.  I did this and never had to shave again.  It requires a lot of money and time in the seat at first.  But it works and works well.  

.... ask and ye shall receive ...

From one who had to be presentable...



Cindi

[Julie Marie]

Julie,

Here's how you can do it... get your face cleared with electro and keep it cleared a couple of times a week.  I did this and never had to shave again.  It requires a lot of money and time in the seat at first.  But it works and works well.  

.... ask and ye shall receive ...

From one who had to be presentable...



Cindi

Problem is... you either have time or money, rarely both!

I had four sessions in the last two weeks with two more scheduled this week.  In the four sessions she was able to eliminate pretty much all the dark hairs above and below the lips.  That was a biggie!  Last time I shaved was Saturday morning and I went out tonight with a friend to dinner.  She couldn't tell.  So the mini crisis is over for now.

Now I've got to find some way to shed that Tiramisu we shared for dessert!

Julie

[Melissa]

For anyone with darkish hair I would suggest going with laser first to eliminate as much as possible and then rely upon electolysis to do the final clean up.

That would also be my suggestion.  Laser allows your face to initially be cleared in a relatively short period of time.  Remaining light hairs or ones that refuse to be killed by laser can be taken care of with electrolysis.  If I had just got the electrolysis only route, there would be no way I would have been passing for the last 5 months.  Right now, I can go out without makeup and pass--even up close.  Only 5 treatments so far too.  How's that for results?  I do still have to shave daily, but it only takes like 15-30 seconds. and you can't see the hairs once they're shaved.

Melissa