Hi there, just seeking some professional advice on electrolysis. I’m 18 years old with fairly dark skin (Iranian origin) and very dark coarse hairs pretty much everywhere. I don’t actually mind in most areas, I generally don’t spare much time for my appearance (not enough to bother with make-up or anything like that), but the hairs on my upper lip were quite excessive and so I decided to try laser hair removal.
I have had 7 sessions now, I know that on darker skin it can be less effective, but I’m pretty sure I have noticed considerable improvement. However, there is still some hair growing back (some of which is thin and I don’t mind), and most irritably some very thick dark hairs just above the lip at the sides seem to be more prominent than they were before I started getting the treatment.
I really hate having to remove the hairs still and dread never being in a position where I can just leave it without worrying about these ridiculously dark hairs growing back. If the lasers don’t manage to clear this up, would electrolysis be the way to go? Also, how compatable are electrolysis and laser removal? Would I need to wait a while after stopping with laser before I could have electrolysis?
I never see the need to do laser on a womans face. I personally can handle any hair problem on a woman’s face and I know other electrologists can too. I have cleaned up the induced hair growth left behind in some cases and have taken over when the client has become depressed because laser wasn’t working. Electrolysis, when performed well, is light years ahead of laser for what it can accomplish. Electrolysis can affect any hair color, on any skin color, for any hair structure from the very small blonde hair to the very coarse hair on a manly man’s beard.
The two modalities are compatible. As long as the skin is healed from either modality, you can start one or the other. Many laser specialists who are electrologists as well, will take their client from the laser table to the electrolysis table to knock off any gray hairs or red hairs left behind.
Check out an electrologist for facial areas and be done with this for good. Read the electrolysis forum and learn more about it.
Thanks for your reply, I have read tonnes of the threads here and have found it very helpful. The laser has definitely improved the area (and has the advantage for me that it leaves no marks or soreness whatsoever), but if it can’t get all the dark hairs, I will surely move to electrolysis. It really doesn’t make a difference how many hairs grow back, even if there are just one or two, I still have to remove them when they come through, because they are that prominent.
One more question. Can you give any estimate of how long it might take overall, considering there are far less hairs that would need treating? The centre, and the higher areas don’t seem to be producing any hair that I’m bothered by, so it could be less than 10 hairs at a time that would even be visible. Sometimes nothing has even grown back within a week, so I’m certainly better off already! Thanks a lot,
Carmen, years of experience in the field of laser hair removal have shown that after a time without laser sessions, the hair will be thicker. Many hairs that you think are gone, will emerge again. So my advice is to wait some time to submit to treatment with electrolysis.
Note: You have a beautiful name and very Spanish.
I have read and was told by the laser therapist that the remaining hairs should be finer after the treatments are finished, is that not right? Also, you say that many hairs that I think are gone will emerge again- does that mean you think there is little chance the treatment will be successful?
Carmen (that sounds good)
What you must understand is that if you start electrolysis treatment early, you believe that the hair is shown by a
failure of the electrolysis. When in reality is a failure of the laser. The electrolysis never fails if it is done by a competent professional. Each follicle is treated has a high percentage of elimination from the first time. Sessions may be more durable lasting but the total time you spend on removing his hair is much shorter.
For many people it is unsatisfactory that the hairs become thin because aesthetically demanding more. Are only acceptable type peach hairs not visible to the human eye.
Well thanks, I will complete the laser sessions, and then move onto electrolysis for remaining hairs a while afterwards. Slightly nervous as to how to find a very good electrologist (in the UK), but I guess I can always have consultations over the next few months so I’m prepared.
The British equivilent of the US CPE is either BAE or DRE and if you search the website of The British Institute and Association of Electrolysis you will find the members located closest to you and that will be a good starting point.