To recap . . . I am a female, age 55, blonde facial hair . . .but a lot of it . … further stimulated by laser treatment. I’ve been going to someone who uses blend method and removes about 5 hairs per minute. At this rate, I will be long dead, and very very broke, before I see any clearance. I’ve called a couple of places and they offer free consultation (just chatting) but if I want a sample treatment I have to pay for a 15 minute treatment. No one can tell me how many hairs they remove a minute. Should I really have to pay for each person to show me what they can do? I just asked if they could give me a few minute treatment so I can gauge speed, pain, etc but it doesn’t seem to be the way it is done. This is very depressing. I honestly think I’m just going to give up. 5 hairs a minute isn’t going to make a dent in what needs to be done. Is it unusual for someone to know how many hairs per minute they can remove. Last year I paid $75 to have less than 60 hairs removed from someone who told me she was THE BEST. Everyone says they are the best but am I really supposed to spend a ton of money for them to prove this to me.
First of all, unless a person has one of a VERY few electrolysis machines, one has no clue how many hairs per minute one actually removes. Secondly, only a person who is very confident in their treatment abilities would be so bold as to offer any free time. Next up, you are in Toronto, where the rents are as sky high as the Space Shuttle, and time, in this business is money. Practically speaking, it is easier to give a sample treatment if one has someone else in the office capable of giving the speaking portion of the first consultation. Most electrologists don’t have anyone other than themselves to answer the phone, do consultations, or treat clients/patients. Most electrologists could make much more money if they could double and triple book the few popular hours everyone wants to book, but I digress.
I was once a part of a discussion between electrologists at a national meeting, and this question came up. One group was saying that their time is too valuable to give away for free, and there are many clients who “try to beat the system” by getting free treatments from everyone in town, in hopes of finishing for free. I was the most vocal person in the camp of, The free sample treatment is essential as it is the best way to prove to the client that you truely believe what you tell them, “This is THE solution and it is both effective, and can be done fast enough to effect change.” I am never insulted by someone who comes to me first, and then goes to check out the competition. Of course, enough of them end up coming back to me that I guess it is not the same issue from my point of view.
I am more than willing to give a sample treatment. Of course, most of my sample treatments end in the person asking for paid time time right away, that day. Then again, many of my clients are coming in on a wing and a prayer (airplane wings) in hopes of finding what they need, and my experience is that they leave happy they came the overwhelming majority of the time.
So you really need sample treatments to evaluate who you should be seeing, but since they are not free in your area, you may have to pay for some treatments just to find out what is available in your area. If you do this, PLEASE post your experiences here, so the next person can benefit from your research. We have had some hard times trying to find out who are decent hair removal specialists in Toronto, and enough people are coming down to see me that I guess they had a similar experience.
A skilled modern electrologist can offer you more than help than 5 hairs per minute. Find someone who has a computerized epilator that can do flash or even microfalsh. I would travel outside of Toronto to find someone that has the speed and skill factor if all else fails.
What color of hair did you have when you had your face lased? I’m assuming it was blonde,buy maybe there is more to the story?. Why would any reputable laser place do even one treatment on your blonde facial hair!!! Was it a true laser or IPL? How many treatments? Cost?
This has got to be hard for you. You are not off base asking for a sample treatment. Many include this as just part of their consult and like James, I am frequently asked if I have time to continue and do a regular treatment. I would ask the next practitioner who doesn’t include a sample treatment if they had ever bought a car without test driving it first? Consultations are not the favorite part of my day. It takes me about an hour to talk and teach then give a sample. All this not knowing if the person is going to chicken out or go full speed ahead, but it is a necessary evil that starts the hair removal relationship. I assume that some electrologists just want to get on to the business of removing hair and really have to cram their day with clients in order to pay the rent and other overhead expenses. That’s not an excuse, by the way. In the long run,they would be better off relaxing and enjoying their time explaining to you what this is all about.
There’s got to be some electrologists in a big city like Toronto that have skill, speed, good equipment and personality. How many places have you been to so far?
Dee
Dear ht,
Have you heard about the Meharg International School of Electrolysis in Toronto?
Since it has been a few years since I spoke to the folks who run the school, I am not sure what their electrolysis philosophy is these days but give them a call and find out about rates for the public. (416) 750-9001
Even though some very smart folks still prefer blend, I feel that blend is a modality that is no longer necessary so if you can find a flash - micro flash - pico flash thermologist electrologist, I think that is your best bet.
Keep us posted.
Say hi to Dr. Richards for me, if he happens to be around!
Is Meharg school still in operation? Last time I tried to call them the phone was disconnected.
Glad to know I’m not completely out to lunch with regards to my desire to have a few minutes of treatment just to se what the electrologist is like. Also, I no longer live in Toronto . . . about an hour away. I’m closer to Barrie now. That said, the number of electrologists in this area are few. I have tried two . . . the one who removed less than 1 hair a minute. The other is someone I’ve been going to but only removes 5 hairs a minute.
The first woman I called today had the attitude . … I’m busy. I’m the best. Speed should not be a determining factor. I don’t give free samples . . . I have people lined up at the door for my services. I didn’t like her on the phone and kept wondering why she advertised in the yellow pages if she didn’t need new clients.
The second person I spoke to today is about 25 minutes away from me. She said she uses blend and thermolysis but rarely uses blend. She said if my hair is blonde, then most likely blend is not needed and it is a much slower process. She said thermolysis is quicker, may not be as effective, but that I will be happier with it. I asked about her speed and she said she moves at a rapid pace. I felt comfortable with her and have booked an hour treatment with her for Thursday morning. Hopefully I will be happy with her and that she removes a ton more hairs than 5 a minute. Her rates were pretty cheap too. She charges $50 compared to $68 for the first person I spoke to. She works out of her house so perhaps that is the reason why her rates are lower. I’ll let you know how things go tomorrow.
Hi ht,
Since I just spoke to the folks at Dectro (Apilus) about a week ago, I know that they are still around, so contact the company in Canada at 418.650.0303 and ask them if they have referrals for you as I know that their graduates use the most modern electrolysis techniques.
Good Luck.
i also reckon consultations are important, if you are getting charged for sample treatment then go for a five minute one which can give you possibly some idea. However if for example you have to pay 60-70 dollars for 5 minutes then i reckon your better of looking for a different electrologist.
Hey ht2003, how far are you from Orangville?