Our top tips for effective permanent facial hair removal with electrolysis

Did you know that electrolysis is still the number one choice for permanent facial hair removal at Sensoria? 

Facial hair is one of the many challenges that clients face, and choosing a safe and permanent method is usually the top priority. 

Angela Bartlett invests a large proportion of her working hours in the clinic on electrolysis hair removal and the reason why most clients still prefer this method over other methods of removal is because of its permanency. 

There are many methods of hair removal to choose from but most only provide temporary hair removal and at best ‘permanent hair reduction’ which is not the same as ‘permanent hair removal’. 

Why does ‘permanent’ hair removal mean?

The term ‘permanent’ means that once the hair follicle has been fully treated it is no longer able to produce hair in the future. 

However, permanent doesn’t mean ‘instant’ and regular treatment is needed to achieve the best results. 

A course of treatment will be planned for you depending on your hair growth, skin type and other considerations including time and budget. 

It also doesn’t mean that hair won’t eventually grow back in the same treated area as new hair follicles can be activated and produce more hairs.

There are many factors which can affect hair growth and, in particular, changes in hormone levels.

Electrolysis is the only medically approved method of permanent hair removal and in the majority of cases electrolysis provides a permanent hair removal solution.

Expertly Trained Electrologists in Cheshire

Electrolysis is a precise and expert treatment so choose your electrologist carefully. 

What should I look for when choosing an electrologist? 

1. Always check your practitioners qualifications and insurance. Electrologists must be properly trained and fully insured for your safety

1. Additional qualifications and affiliations. Electrologists who are passionate about their work and want to carry out treatments of the highest quality have usually undertaken additional qualifications and tests. Angela is a member of the BIAE (British Institute and Association of Electrolysis) which has stringent written and practical testing so that only the best pass. You can find out more about the BIAE here

1. Location. As you will need to attend for regular treatment accessibility is an important factor. If you let treatments lapse due to being unable to travel to your appointments you will not get the results that you may be expecting.
2. Experience. As a general rule of thumb, due to the nature of the work, experienced electrologists are usually more confident and faster giving you better value for money. This is not always the case, but tends to be true.

It may be permanent but will it hurt?

There is a certain amount of discomfort with electrolysis, but the level of sensation will often depend on where the hairs are situated. For example, clients will often comment that there is more sensation on the upper lip than on the chin. And more sensation in the middle of the upper lip than at the sides. 

The sensation is best described as a small, sharp ‘pinch’ at worst. Some clients report that they are pleasantly surprised at how little it hurts. 

What you should be looking for is:

1. A painless insertion of the small disposable probe, followed by

1. The sensation of the electrolysis application, and finally 

1. A sensation-free removal of the treated hair. 

If you are experiencing discomfort in stage one or three of the permanent hair removal process then the procedure may not be being carried out correctly. 

Incorrect application will mean that at best you won’t achieve the permanent hair removal that you are looking for and at worst adverse skin reactions can occur.

If you are in doubt always ask your electrologist questions about the procedure and seek guidance from a reputable organisation such as the BIAE. 

Take a look at an electrolysis session here

How long will it take?

Individual session treatment times can take anywhere between ten minutes and forty five minutes depending on the size of the treatment area. With an average treatment session scheduled for around 20 or 30 minutes. 

For example, treating a few hairs at the sides of the upper lip will take less time than clearing hairs on the chin, neck and sides of the face.  

The quantity and density of hairs will also determine the treatment time, as will the sensitivity of your skin and how long you feel comfortable laying still for. 

How long the whole treatment plan will take will vary widely and depends on a variety of considerations including:

1. Underlying hormonal factors, 

1. How the hairs have been treated prior to electrolysis. Have temporary methods of hair removal been used such as waxing or plucking?

1. Size of the area to be cleared.

1. How frequently you are able to attend for treatments. Infrequent sessions will prolong the overall length of being able to achieve a hair-free result. 

1. How quickly your skin settles down in between treatments. Clients with sensitive skins sometimes need a little longer in between treatments for the skin to fully calm.

1. Other factors which your electrologist will discuss with you such as medications. 

Why can’t I just book an extra long treatment time and remove all the hairs at once?

It would be great wouldn’t it if you could just lie still for a few hours and have every hair removed. If only life was that simple! So why can’t this be done?

Electrolysis is only effective when hair is in it’s actively growing stage. 

Each hair follows a growth cycle where it grows, rests and then is naturally discarded making way for a new hair to emerge from the same hair follicle. 

Every hair on your face, head and body right now is in any one of those stages, so at any given time you are not going to catch all the hairs in the correct stage of growth for effective removal. 

In addition, a high concentration of treatment in an area would adversely affect your skin condition. 

During treatment approximately every other hair is removed to limit the likelihood of skin reaction occurring. 

The more dense your hair growth and the more sensitive your skin, the slower the treatment. 

Although electrolysis is generally fairly comfortable, long treatment lengths create the opportunity for your pain threshold to diminish. 

Choose electrolysis for white, grey or fair hairs

Unlike laser or IPL (intense pulsed light), electrolysis is usually completely successful on unpigmented and light coloured hair. 

This is because the process is not dependant on hair pigment but relies on either short wave diathermy and/or galvanic current creating permanent hair removal without the need to target hair pigment. 

Electrolysis is therefore the natural permanent hair removal method for blondes, and clients with grey or white hair. 

Electrolysis is often best for darker skins

We mentioned above that laser and IPL is dependent on pigment in the hair for effective hair reduction. This is because the light source targets pigment and heats it to a high temperature to achieve this result. 

If the skin has a lot of pigment in it either from sun exposure or genetic factors, the laser or IPL strength has to be set at a lower strength that will not affect the skin pigment or risk leaving areas of hyper or hypo pigmentation. 

However, a reduced strength could also mean that is is not effective at removing the hair either. This is why electrolysis is the number one choice for darker skinned clients and people who have a lifestyle which includes sun exposure. 

Target unwanted hairs with electrolysis

Electrolysis is usually the permanent hair removal of choice when you need to target individual hairs.

A few hairs on the chin or a stray hair on the sides of the face is an example of when electrolysis is a cost-effective method for permanent hair removal. 

It can also be used to target stray eyebrow hairs to create a defined shape. As it is a method of permanent hair removal that removes hair one by one there is little risk of affecting the main bulk and body of the brow. 

Electrolysis for guaranteed results 

If you are concerned about safety and effectiveness, electrolysis delivers on both counts. 

Electrolysis has been in use and scientifically tested for over one hundred years, so you can be assured that this treatment is not only safe but effective as well. 

Other ‘permanent’ methods of hair removal have not been around very long so long term health implications and permanency cannot be guaranteed. 

As with most treatments and procedures choose your practitioner carefully so that their expertise match the proven results of the equipment and process. 

Permanent hair removal in Cheshire

If you are seeking a permanent method of hair removal come in to see us to discuss your needs, book a consultation and a patch test. 

You can  contact us here.

Also, remember you can easily book all your beauty, health & skin care treatments online – just click here.

Originally published September 25, 2020 11:28am, updated March 14, 2021