As i understand every electrolysist wants to treat hair in the early anagen stages for most the effective removal. So heres my idea
*Lets say a client wanted her upper lip hair permanently removed. Would it be a good idea to have her wax a month prior to the treatment. That way 3-4 weeks later all the hairs showing would be nearly at the same growth stages (early stages of anagen, would be my guess)is this plausible thinking? or am i way off track.
You are not way off track at all, but you should discuss this plan with your hair remover. If you were working with me, I would prefer it if you just left it alone, and came in, as I would clear out your entire upper lip in the first session, or in a combination of two sessions, spaced really close together.
If you were seeing Dee Fahey, she would prefer you wax, and use that as a starting point. If you were seeing my friend Rhonda Elmer, she would want you to shave, or clip them about 3 days prior to treatment so she can see the difference between the growing and the shedding, and treat them accordingly.
In conclusion, the practitioners have their preferences, and you can’t do what the person doing the work would like best, without discussing the plan with that person first.
Yes,indeed, James. Waxing just one time is fine before the electrologist treatment plan begins in earnest. Just to clarify a bit, I prefer waxing for body areas to prepare the way for marathon sessions, but my first choice for the upper lip is shaving three days before. It is really funny when I suggest shaving to the client. They look at me with desperate, “OH! NO!” eyes like I just handed them a death sentence. Most are really opposed to shaving, but they willingly cooperate with waxing the hair off. Many women are so turned off by the thought of shaving because the myth lives on that shaving will cause more hair to grow back thicker, deeper, darker and shaving makes them feel like a man.
On the other hand, electrolysis clients have many choices. In addition to the above pre-electrolysis preparation, I always tell them they can choose to DO NOTHING. Just show up and we will get busy. It’s up to them, I can still remove the hair just fine if nothing is done.
Dee
Yes, many electrologists actually recommend this approach. It’s not a novel idea - we discuss it here reguarly for both laser and electrolysis.
James, the problem is that often the upper lip can’t be treated for as long as necessary due to potential overtreatment to get a clearance on it in one treatment. This makes it easier (and cheaper).
Let me add this, Lagirl. It is possible to treat most upper lip hair to first, full clearance in one long session IIFFFFF… the equipment setup and skill level of the electrologist is up to high standards. The client must be warned that she will have swelling for a little longer than she would have with a shorter appointment, but there should be no lymph leakage or scabbing associated with this - just swelling that can be handled with cold aloe vera gel and short icing (5 minutes).
Most electrologists do not cross that line because that’s what they have learned in school, working with sometimes, not so great epilators. Caution is good, but I can say that I have worked longer on upper lip hairs (and so has James) and it works quite amazingly well. In the end, the skin remains in good condition and is actually in BETTER condition than when one started with all the unsightly hair. The Apilus Platinum and Silhouet-Tone VMC are two examples of epilators, that I am familiar with, where a client can handle a longer time on the her lip. The middle part under the nose, however, can be ouchy for some clients, no matter what the epilator being used. That’s where super accurate insertions, with the correct probe size and proper levels of intensity and timing can help deliver a treatment that the client can tolerate. Pressing and stretching the skin helps interfer with those nerve impulses to the brain. Icing can help. If all those strategies fail, then applying EMLA for an hour is needed.
If an electrologist is not capable or comfortable with treating an upper lip for more than 15-30 minutes, then she / he should not attempt this. I’m just saying that I (and other electrologists) do go longer and have no problem whatsoever.
Dee
Davagio, You are at a big mistake. Acting in the early anagen stages is no more effective than doing so in any other stages.
The sensation is less when early anagen hairs are treated. No???
Treating telogen hairs require puncturing the bottom of the follicle and that stirs up the sensation beast. Correct? So treating any hair in any phase has advantages and disadvantages, as I have learned. Can you help me out here, maybe I am missing something important.
Thanks,
Dee
Dee, please forgive me, but treating telogen hairs should NOT puncturing the bottom of the follicle. We just have to place the tip of the needle in the right place. The reason that is more unkind sensation, is that the free nerve ending that has the follicle, surrounds the area that we should remove the hair to disappear.
Virgin, waxed or clipped…The other option is bleaching. My preference for some (not all) is to bleach the hair so that I can treat dark hairs.
Wow with the clearance in first or second tx! My upper lip clients vary so greatly with the density and diameter of hairs that I could never make such a statement.
Clients do vary greatly, but I will attest to the fact that many upper lips can be cleared of all bothersome hair in one or two treatments, with the right set up. The area looks visibly remarkable. The middle upper lip is usually the furriest, as you know, and requires repeated treatments to thin it out, but those really noticeable hairs are taken first in the beginning session(s). The tools of the trade matter. I could have never accomplished such a thing with the set up I had 10 years ago.
I have always liked your bleaching idea, Barbara! Forgot that one!