Electrolysis, when performed by a qualified electrologist, permanently eliminates unwanted hair from both the face and body. After receiving electrolysis treatments, it is common for your skin to appear reddened and slightly swollen; this should subside over time.
An area may take multiple sessions to become free from hair. Most clients will schedule regular weekly or biweekly visits until it has been successfully cleared away.
1. Drink plenty of water.
Hydrating will be key in making sure the electrolysis process goes more smoothly, and drinking plenty of water during the day and leading up to your appointment can help prevent redness or discomfort and allows your skin to absorb numbing cream faster.
Swelling and reddening of the skin after electrolysis is common; this is an indicator that hairs are being removed from their roots. This should resolve itself within hours. Some individuals also report feeling an uncomfortable burning sensation during electrolysis; should it persist, ask your electrologist about a topical anesthetic to reduce discomfort.
Some clients have described the sensation as similar to a pinch, mosquito bite, quick snap, or building warmth; this experience varies for every client depending on treatment area and method used. An over the counter pain reliever taken 30 minutes prior can also help ease discomfort during treatment sessions.
Avoid direct sunlight immediately following your appointment as this can dilate blood vessels in treated areas and increase sweat production, leading to bacteria entering open follicles and potentially leading to minor infection or breakout. For extra sensitive faces and lips, we advise applying a soothing gel containing Neosporin, Bacitracin or Arnica before your appointment and continuing its use afterwards.
2. Don’t shave the day of your appointment.
On the day of your appointment, we recommend refraining from shaving the area being treated; this allows the hairs to grow out longer for us to grab with our tweezers and zap. Also important: it is best not to bleach before your appointment as bleaching makes it difficult for electrologists to detect your hair follicles and therefore harder for us to treat them effectively.
As this process can be uncomfortable, taking an over-the-counter pain reliever a half an hour prior to your appointment may help ease discomfort. Furthermore, placing a cold compress over the treatment area may further decrease discomfort levels.
If you must shave on the day of your appointment, we advise using moisturizer and showering prior to shaving in order to protect the skin and keep it from becoming dry. It is also a good idea to avoid other short-term hair removal methods like waxing or plucking until after using a razor trimmer (approximately 1/8th of an inch long hair is best). Small scabs may appear post treatment; do not scratch them as this could result in scarring.
3. Don’t wear makeup the day of your appointment.
Makeup can make you look messy, as well as make it more difficult for an electrologist to see exactly what’s going on with your hair, leading to less efficient treatment and extended sessions. Therefore, it is wise to avoid applying makeup the day of an appointment.
Assume an anti-acne skin care routine will prepare your body for its session. Drink plenty of water during the hours leading up to it and avoid anything that might dehydrate your skin such as alcohol or caffeine.
Hydrated skin will conduct electrical currents more effectively during electrolysis. To further ensure optimal results, try not consuming salt within 24 hours before your appointment; this will protect against skin irritation.
Electrolysis offers an effective alternative to waxing, tweezing and laser hair removal; unlike those methods which temporarily or permanently destroy hair follicles (waxing, tweezing and laser), electrolysis permanently destroys them – meaning once your sessions have concluded your hair won’t ever grow back!
Electrolysis can be an amazing, life-altering process; unfortunately, its only drawbacks are its cost (you are billed per hour), and potential discomfort in treating certain areas. But if you are committed to ridding yourself of unwanted hair permanently, electrolysis will certainly be worth your while! Once all sessions are over, treat yourself – you deserve it!
4. Don’t wear deodorant the day of your appointment.
Deodorant can clog pores and leave an unwelcome scent behind, but its main damage lies within irritation to sensitive skin and an increase in pain levels. If possible, avoid wearing deodorant on the day of an electrolysis appointment to minimize unnecessary risks and irritations.
Apply a thin layer of antiperspirant on the areas prior to your appointment in order to avoid excess sweating and make treatment more comfortable while decreasing the chance of infection and inflammation. This will make the experience less likely and reduce any chance of infection or inflammation.
Be sure to wear loose, comfortable clothing; tight garments may irritate newly opened hair follicles after electrolysis treatment and lead to abnormal pigmentation of treated areas. Avoid direct sunlight as prolonged sun exposure after electrolysis sessions could result in abnormal pigmentation of treated areas and abnormal pigmentation issues.
As soon as your appointment is over, icing the treated area can help soothe inflammation or swelling and accelerate skin healing. Avoid using harsh scrubbers like steel wool; these could exacerbate and potentially spread infection further. Instead, use a clean swab or medicated greaseless cream containing Neosporin, polysporin, or, for acne-prone skin types, bacitracin.
Be sure to drink lots of water both prior and following an electrolysis appointment, for both optimal results and increased comfort. Hydrated skin provides better conductivity for electrical currents used during treatments and may reduce the chance of ingrown hairs.
5. Don’t use retinol or glycolic acid the day of your appointment.
Electrolysis offers pinpoint precision when it comes to hair removal in small areas. Electrolysis has been widely recognized for being safe, effective and permanent since 1875 – no radiation required and very low risk compared to other hair removal techniques – not to mention it being non-invasive and non-allergenic – making it the perfect treatment option for sensitive skin types.
As bleaching hair before electrolysis can make it more difficult for electrologists to observe the roots, it’s best to wait at least two weeks between sessions so any stray hairs can regrow and be ready for electrolysis.
Before your appointment, you can use a topical anesthetic cream to reduce discomfort. Simply follow the directions on the package and be sure to avoid caffeine, alcohol and chocolate 24 hours prior to your appointment.
Consume plenty of water prior to, during, and following your appointment in order to keep follicles hydrated – essential in making treatment effective.
As with any treatment, it may be common for a small pustule (like a blister) to appear at the follicle opening after your appointment; if this is bothersome please inform your electrologist immediately. A scab may form afterwards to protect healing skin – don’t pick at it; simply let your electrologist know about it on your next visit.
6. Don’t use any over-the-counter medications the day of your appointment.
Prior to any appointment, drink lots of water (again!) to hydrate your skin. This will make the procedure more comfortable and effective while speeding healing time. Also avoid caffeine and sugar on this day as these substances can heighten sensitivity to pain.
Before receiving electrolysis treatment on any area, it is recommended to wait several days and not shave, pluck, or wax it in order to allow hairs to grow long enough for the needle to follow and extract them. This allows enough growth time so the needle can effectively follow and remove them all at once.
On the day of your appointment, try not to sweat excessively as bacteria in sweat may enter open follicles and cause minor infections. If this cannot be avoided, use an effective antibacterial cream such as Bacitracin or Neosporin on any sweat-prone areas to ensure optimal hygiene.
Electrolysis treatments will vary from person to person; most will need multiple sessions in order to achieve permanent hair removal. To see optimal results, appointments should be attended each week or every other week for best results. To find out what to expect during an electrolysis treatment plan, schedule a personal and confidential consultation now; we will devise a personalized strategy tailored specifically for you!
