Sorry, but I just have to vent.
I am sooo tired of having to shave my face each and every day. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I have looked into electrolysis. There are no electrologists in my town, Flagstaff, AZ and the closest one is over an hour's drive away on the Interstate, making an expensive and time consuming process even more so.
I looked into laser but my blond hair and fair skin pretty much rule that out.
Waxing works fine around my eyebrows but the hair on the rest of my face is too dense and it really, really hurts. The last time I tried to wax my upper lip, it left me a bloody mess and most of the hair was still there.
Today, I tried yet another name brand facial hair remover. My beard just laughed. Not a single follicle even budged.

Time for a little Serenity Prayer before I start crying.

Thanks for being there to read my rant.

I hear you.  I hate my facial hair.  I tried laser to at least get the dark hairs, but I don't have that many.  Most of mine are white.  So electrolysis is my only option.

I hear people talk about the merits of thermal vs. galvanic vs. blend.  Nice to have a choice I guess.  There is one (count her: one) electrologist anywhere near here.  She uses the only machine she has, whatever it is.  I guess I can consider myself lucky to have her.

It would almost be worth moving to be nearer to an electrologist.  I know some people do four hours in one day, but one hour a day, once a week is all I can stand.  At that rate, she is estimating two years to clear my face.

I went through the same nonsense with home remedies... futile waste of time/money.

I know 1 hour is a long time... is there a way to schedule a marathon 3 hour electrolysis session once per week (or several weeks)... at least then you get 3 hours of hair removal for 2 hours of travel... if they allow longer sessions, maybe you can do so... not sure what the limit is... I've gone to 3 hours. Maybe there are other things you can do on that day to make the trip worthwhile.

I eventually started with laser (Lightsheer Duet) at a clinic. Worked great for body, failed on facial because I had whitish whiskers intermixed with darkish ones.

I hear some folks have great results with laser on the face but I think it depends on various factors including hair color (mine being incompatible).

For the areas on me where laser worked... it has been, relatively speaking, "permanent" ... though there's fine white or light hair stragglers more so than with electrolysis since electrolysis has a person individually/physically target each follicle ... so with elec there's no such thing as missing the follicle as with laser. Electrolysis was what I used for full facial hair removal. It's the only way I know of.

I believe electrolysis is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal. Technically, I think the FDA allows laser to be marketed as permanent hair reduction instead of removal.

https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emittingproducts/resourcesforyouradiationemittingproducts/ucm252757.htm

QuoteSeveral manufacturers received FDA permission to claim, "permanent reduction," NOT "permanent removal" for their lasers. This means that although laser treatments with these devices will permanently reduce the total number of body hairs, they will not result in a permanent removal of all hair.

https://www.electrology.com/faqs-about-permanent-hair-removal/

QuoteDoes electrolysis work? Absolutely. Electrolysis is the only method approved by the FDA for permanent removal of unwanted hair. As the hair is treated, regrowth is prevented rather than just removed temporarily. Only electrolysis provides both hair removal and hair elimination.

The electrology.com site has a directory...  you might search there vs your local directory... also this site has a directory of providers and stuff... electrolysis offices can exist in home/office clinics so I'm wondering if there's someone closer than you have so far discovered. My guess is you've looked exhaustively but fwiw.

They do make depilatory cream specifically for beards. One is called Magic razorless shave cream. One of the guys I work with uses it. I think it's made for African American men but he uses it and it works fine on him. I'm sure amazon would have it.

I have been doing electrolysis for 2 years 2 hours a week. I must have about 180 hours in electrolysis plus 3 laser treatments. It was costing $125/hour or $250/week and insurance was paying for 50%. I found a transwoman that does electrolysis for $50/hr and insurance covers $45/hr. I am very happy.

You may ask around at the various trans groups and see what others do. That is what I did and it will save me a lot of money and I would rather go to a trans woman.

Quote from: Thea on September 08, 2017, 04:52:57 PM
Sorry, but I just have to vent.
I am sooo tired of having to shave my face each and every day. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I have looked into electrolysis. There are no electrologists in my town, Flagstaff, AZ and the closest one is over an hour's drive away on the Interstate, making an expensive and time consuming process even more so.
I looked into laser but my blond hair and fair skin pretty much rule that out.
Waxing works fine around my eyebrows but the hair on the rest of my face is too dense and it really, really hurts. The last time I tried to wax my upper lip, it left me a bloody mess and most of the hair was still there.
Today, I tried yet another name brand facial hair remover. My beard just laughed. Not a single follicle even budged.

Time for a little Serenity Prayer before I start crying.

Thanks for being there to read my rant.

Hi Thea,

Have you looked into this place?

http://www.electrolysisbyrandi.com/

Hugs,
   Laurie

Hi Lauri,
I spoke to Randi a few months ago. Her main office is one of those an hour away. She is no longer taking new clients at her Flagstaff office due to the long commute. There is one other electrologist listed here but they haven't been returning my calls or emails. 

Ashley,
Thank you for the link to electrology.com. I checked it out but all the electrologists listed are halfway across Arizona from me. I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and budget in some travel.

Thank you all,
Thea

Wow! Sometimes the Universe hears you when you put it out there.
I just heard from the electrologist who I had been having trouble contacting. I have an appointment Tuesday afternoon.
I'm so excited!

     Thea I'm so happy for you I have been doing electralisis for a couple of months and found it doesnt hurt as bad as I expected YMMV good luck


    bobbisue

I wouldn't put my faith in the only electrologist in an isolated town of 70k like Flagstaff to be capable of handling a marathon session - that requires anathestics.  The electro3k place in Dallas have a steady clientel, some of their patients are here.  It's something like $1100 per session plus airfare/lodging but compare that to what you'll pay in a year like me to my electrologist, or "zapper" as I like to call her - 52 x $45 (half hour) = $2340. 

Glad you finally heard back from your electrologist!  Ask them lots of pertinent questions about training, licensing, methods.

I think E3000 is $125/hr per person and usually 2 persons are needed. Depending on the amount of hair 2 days may be  needed for the first few times. On their web site they say 5 or 6 sessions are needed with I think 6 weeks between sessions.

I am glad you found someone local. I use a topical numbing agent called Super Numb I get on Amazon.

I am in the phoenix metro area. I've been going to Senza Pelo med spa here in Phoenix ( https://senzapelo.com )

I know it's about 2.5 hours away, but they are amazing. Electrolysis (and laser) are there main business, and they specifically cater to the transgender community. They are also extremely experienced, treat you like family, have recently started working with insurance, and do marathon sessions. They even have some trans clients who fly in from out of state for a weekend marathon session with two techs.

Just remember that electrolysis is hourly, and therefore if you can find experienced techs, you can still come out ahead, even after travel expenses and the cost of a hotel.

I have done my entire face, am about 1/3 the way through my surgical site, and two thirds the way through my chest and tummy.

Three ladies are some of the best in the business with tons of experience, great equipment, and wonderful support.

If Tuesday doesn't go well, certainly consider getting a consult with them.

If you have any questions about my experience please feel free to message me.

Good luck!


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Thanks Brooke,
I've heard of Senza Pelo before. If I decide not to go with the local tech, I'll certainly consider them.

Update:
I'm absolutely thrilled that I found an electrologist in my town. I had my fist electrolysis session today. It was an hour long and went really well. I was so nervous and had some fears about whether I could handle it or not.
I would describe it as being uncomfortable rather than painful. Really the worst part for me was being still for that long. I like my electrologist, she's really nice and good at what she does. She cleared a large patch on my neck. I'm going back tomorrow for another hour.

Yay! So glad to hear it! This is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Keep that in mind and you'll do great! Congrats again and I hope everything continues to go well!


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Quote from: Thea on September 12, 2017, 11:10:33 PM
Update:
I'm absolutely thrilled that I found an electrologist in my town. I had my fist electrolysis session today. It was an hour long and went really well. I was so nervous and had some fears about whether I could handle it or not.
I would describe it as being uncomfortable rather than painful. Really the worst part for me was being still for that long. I like my electrologist, she's really nice and good at what she does. She cleared a large patch on my neck. I'm going back tomorrow for another hour.

Well done Thea...really good to hear you found the treatment tolerable. Some areas can be a bit more sensitive than others to treat and the neck is no exception. As Brooke suggested this is s Marathon...I hope yours is a good one

Happy for you Thea and one in your town that you like even!

Hugs,
  Laurie

Death by a million zaps. Going again tomorrow. Glutton for punishment. Half way done. I have learned not drinking coffee and drinking lots of water beforehand. Hope everything goes smoothly. Feel your pain.
https://www.groupon.com/deals/radiant-skin-scottsdale
https://www.groupon.com/deals/radiant-skin-glendale-1

I found these two on Groupon in Scottsdale and Glendale.

Ugh, I would kill for some Little Thai Kitchen right about now.

I'm absolutely no help but I really miss living in Flag.

An hour drive is a small price to pay for hairless facial nirvana. If you do decide to bite the bullet I would suggest being very precise with the electrologist in the areas you need work the most. Because if you leave it up to them they will do the back of your head if they can. Anything to double or triple the treatment time.