I am 50 years old, but for several years, I have had unsightly facial hair on my upper and lower lips and chin area. No one has ever noticed, not even my husband (at least so he says), because I have kept it well groomed through tweezing and trimming. However, recently I became tired of this regime and decided to look into permanent hair removal in the form of either Laser treatments or Electrolysis. Also, I used to work in a nursing home, and one of the things I felt was so embarrassing for an older woman was when her children would let me, the nurse aide know, “I think Mom needs a shave.” I never want to hear those words from my children, so I decided to have permanent hair removal done now. I thought, because I tweezed these areas, the pain associated with hair removal would not be bad. One visit proved that notion wrong.
I first started researching Laser hair removal through a Google internet search, as this seemed to be today’s most popular choice of treatment. I also did a search on YouTube, hoping to find a video of the procedure, which I did. What I learned from both these websites was that I was not a good candidate for Laser hair removal and would have to go with Electrolysis. I was not a good candidate because Laser hair removal only works on dark or red colored hair and my hair was light.
Finding a Reputable Salon for Electrolysis
I once again turned to YouTube and watched videos on Electrolysis. The people in these videos looked calm and relaxed, indicating to me that this was a simple and painless process. I then did a Yahoo search in my area for listed salons that performed Electrolysis and came up with many hits. I read some online reviews, picked three salons that were located in affluent areas, and called the Better Business Bureau to see if any of them had any outstanding issues. I then called these businesses, and asked the following questions:
How long have you been in business?
How many clients do you have?
How is the procedure performed?
How long does it take and how many treatments do I need?
Will there be any scaring?
What is the cost?
Does it hurt?
The people on the other end of the phone answered all my questions, and I chose and made an appointment for a free consultation with a salon that had been in business for 23 years and reported having hundreds of satisfied customers.
Electrolysis Hair Removal
At my appointment, the person performing the Electrolysis, the Electrologist, showed me pictures while she explained how the procedure is done. She also showed me her Electrologist certificate and license. I asked some of the same questions again, that I had asked before. I told her the areas where I wanted the procedure done and asked how long will it take and how many times I would need to have it repeated. She looked at my face and said it was hard to tell how many times, but this first time would only be about 20 minutes.
She went on to explain that the normal routine is to come once a week for four weeks, then once a month for a couple months, then about every three months, up to a year. Everything should be completed within a years’ time. The repeat visits are needed because the hair follicle is not destroyed the first time. The hair follicle has to have multiple treatments as it continues to grow back finer each time until it is completely gone. She explained that they use radio waves, not chemicals or electricity. I thought this was good, as it sounded less painful to me. She said a tiny needle is inserted next to the hair, down into the root and then it is zapped. She said the cost is $20.00 for 20 minutes and the cost goes up with the time spent doing the procedure.
I then asked my final question, “Does it hurt?” “Oh yes”, she related, “it hurts, but it’s worth it”, and then asked if I wanted to proceed. Shakily, I said ok.
I lay down on the table and the Electrologist applied some Lidocaine (numbing cream) to my chin, the area right below my lower lip and the area above my upper lip.
As I have been known to have a knee-jerk reaction to pain, I placed my hands under my back and braced myself. The Electrologist said she would start on my chin, as it was not as tender as the other areas she would be doing. I felt a mild sting, heard a click and then a sharp pain. Yep, it hurt, but it was tolerable. She did about six hairs on my chin and then moved to my lower lip. This sensitive area proved to be just that, sensitive, so the pain was intensified. After she finished on my lower lip, I asked for a short break. Tears were streaming down the sides of my face. I was not crying; it was just a natural reaction.
The Electrologist told me to try to relax and take deep breathes, which did help some. I even tried to envision myself on a sandy beach, listening to the ocean waves, which also helped, that was until she started on my upper lip. The pain, being way more intensified in this area, caused my whole body to tense up each time I felt the zap. I remarked to the Electrologist that my glutes had not had a workout like that in months, which gave her a chuckle. As bad as the pain was, I got through the procedure, tears and all.
The Electrologist showed me the area that was now clear of hair, and provided me with a small bag of ice, as there was some swelling. She then asked if I wanted to make an appointment for next week. Brave soul that I am or vain one, whichever, I scheduled an appointment for the following week.
I can only recall one other time when I paid someone to inflect pain on my body, and that was when I had to have a test for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Sources: Google, YouTube, Better Business Bureau, Yahoo
