Electrolysis

[Kathy B]

DD (age 11) has some dark hair on her upper lip that is fairly noticeable. About a year ago she talked to me about it, and we started using a depilatory cream on the area about every 3-4 weeks. This has helped, and she feels better about things.

A short time ago on the radio I heard someone mention using electrolysis for this situation. I don't know anything about electrolysis, really, but I think that would be a more permanent solution.

Can anyone tell me about electrolysis? Is it expensive? Does it hurt? How do you find a place that is reputable? Is it really permanent?

I would appreciate anything you can tell me. Thanks!

[615bride]

I've never done it but have talked with my SIL quite a bit about it and she had it done several times. She says that it is a pinching, painful feeling but the pain is quick and it isn't cheap (sorry I can't be more specific). I know it can sometimes take several treatments to finish an entire area. Maybe ask a dermatologist for a recommendation or some more info? Good luck!

[mst]

My mom used to be an eletrologist. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it does hurt. Yes, it is permanent.

I would open the phone book in your area, and call electrologists. Ask them how long they have been in practice, and if they use disposable needles. Also, my mom did "the blend" which she thought was much better.

The pain varies, depending on where she is in her cycle (yes, menstrual cycle.) Basically, they take a tiny needle and insert it into the hole where the hair grows (this does not hurt at all.) Then, the electrologist will "zap" a little current into the hair. This does hurt. Depending on your daughter's bravery will depend on how high the current is, and how long the electrologist will do it for. Electrology takes many visits, so the higher the current, and the longer in the hair follicle, the faster the hair root will die. Then, she will take the hair out with tweezers (usually the hair has already come loose, so she won't feel that at all. For me, sometime I could tolerate over an hour, and other times I couldn't even tolerate 5 minutes.

I definately recommend that your daughter does it. It is permanent, and she will feel much better once it is gone. FWIW, that's probably around the age that I started doing it. Generally appointments are at least 15 minutes, for as long as you want. In my area, they charge a little more than a dollar a minute. So, 15 minutes would be $20.

Mention this to any Italian/Jewish friends you might have (these cultures tend to have darker hair and more of it). You might be surprised at how many people you know who go to someone. Just no one talks about it.

Good luck!

[sharris315]

You might check with a dermatologist. Many of them have someone in their practice who specializes in electrolysis--or, even newer: laser hair removal.

If her hair (on her head) is not VERY dark, and there is not a lot of hair on her upper lip, bleaching may be an easier, but temporary, option.

I think you're absolutely right to deal with this--at eleven, it's easy to undermine confidence.

Shar

[blazedog]

Electrolysis is somewhat painful but not unduly so but you should be very careful of who you select as one can pick up a disease (from a dirty needle) or be scarred if the operator is less than capable.

You might consider laser which is faster and less painful in the long run. Electrolysis is done hair by hair while laser will zap the whole upper lip in one session. Contact a dermatologist as many do this as part of their practice -- I certainly wouldn't have it done by someone operating out of a salon.:)

[mst]

I agree about contacting a dermatologist.

Lasers only work if your hair is very dark, and your skin is pretty light. The hairs that aren't killed by the laser, you have to finish off with electrology.

[wallycat]

I have had it done (my sister is an electrologist...of course, that didn't save me any money...I digress, that's another whole thread :mad: ).

Yes, it hurts, Yes it is permanent.
Make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing as this can quickly scar the skin if done improperly.

I too was going to suggest the new Laser treatments. For the right hair/skin texture/color, this can be quick and painless...though still expensive :rolleyes:

[blazedog]

I believe they have improved the laser technology and it can be done a wider variety of skin colors.

At any rate, a reputable dermatologist will be able to give you a straight answer.

Other interim choices to consider

Nair makes facial bleach which works quite well especially if there are just a few hairs.

Waxing. I have my brows waxed every month. I'm glad I never had anything permanently done to those since styles change -- Lip hair hasn't been in style for awhile except possible among Sicilian widows:D

[SandyM]

Originally posted by blazedog
I believe they have improved the laser technology and it can be done a wider variety of skin colors.

It's not the skin color they look at - it's the hair color. I'm having my upper legs and bikini line lasered, and while I'm fair skinned, my hair is darker. It won't work for lighter hair.

[MNGirlTX]

I've had electrolysis done on my upper lip. It hurts a little, but not too bad. I have fairly sensitive skin, so I would always leave the office with some hives. (And, an ice cube to help the swelling go down.)

I'm also in the process of having laser treatments on underarms and bikini line. I'd say the pain level is less with the laser than it is with the electrolysis.

In the long run, the laser may be less expensive. The average number of treatments for laser is 5 or 6. And I go every 8 to 10 weeks. For electrolysis, I went much more often...it's been a couple years, so I don't remember exactly, but I think I went every 2 weeks or 3.

You should be able to get free consultations from both an electrologist and a laser technician...and that could help you with your decision, too.

Good luck!

Lori

[Kathy B]

I hadn't heard about laser treatments. Are they also permanent? I guess I am a little confused as one response says they can do the entire upper lip with one laser treatment, but other responses mention going in every few weeks for treatments. :confused:

Her hair is dark brown, and while her skin is a little darker than mine, she is not really dark-skinned. I am pretty fair (burn easily, etc...).

I may need to investigate the laser option, as I am not sure she would be up for anything very painful. The depilatory works pretty well, but obviously the hair begins to grow back rather quickly, and I know she would rather just not have to deal with it.

[blazedog]

Sounds like her hair and skin would be fine for laser.

Regarding how many sessions -- a lip area is fairly small but hairs don't all cycle at the same time so you need to go back a few times to catch hairs that were especially resilient and/or hairs that were between growth cycles.

This is also true for electrolysis but electrolysis is much slower since it is a hair by hair process instead of zapping a whole area.

Laser is significantly less painful than electrolysis -- the put a numbing cream on before it's zapped.

Any of these procedures - including waxing - require some tolerance for pain but most women don't have any problems with it.

[Kathy B]

OK, that makes sense. Sounds like laser may be the way to go. I will start calling around. Thanks for all the input!

[tbb113]

Kathy:
Check out this website (http://www.consumerlaserguide.com/) its a consumer guide to laser hair removal

[jphilg]

I have been looking into all of the above for some time now, and am thinking of doing laser on my lip. I did a few sessions of electrolysis in college, but the pain and rebound time made me quit. It is different for everyone.

You, as the pocketbook, should know that either of the permanent solutions are quite expensive. Now granted, teenage self esteem is worth a million bucks, but I promise you, if it is not the lip hair, it will be something else.

I would really recommend that your daughter give waxing a try for a while. It really doesn't hurt much at all on your lip; it is nothing compared to thinner-skinned areas like brow and bikini line. I have been waxing for years (I do it at home, very easily, with no mess-love the microwavable product by Surgiwax, jsut from the drugstore) and I have found that the hair on my lip is finer, and grows back far more slowly than it did when I used a dipilitory. I can usually go almost a month between waxing, and I have a VERY low tolerance for lip hair.

Best of luck to you in finding something that works for you and your daughter.

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by Kathy B
I hadn't heard about laser treatments. Are they also permanent? I guess I am a little confused as one response says they can do the entire upper lip with one laser treatment, but other responses mention going in every few weeks for treatments. :confused:

The laser treatment must be repeated to get all the hairs - hair grown in cycles, and the hair that's in now won't be the hair that's in later. I've had my face done, and while it's not permanent (don't let anyone tell you it is), a lot of hair is gone. The pain is similar to when you're sauteeing something and oil splashes onto your arm. The laser people also said it's like a rubberband snapping on your skin. In any case, it does hurt, a bit. There's a gel that can be put on before the treatment that makes it more tolerable, and I walked around with ice packs on my face afterwards.

FWIW, I'm fair skinned, and I burn easily, and I have very dark hair.

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by jphilg
I would really recommend that your daughter give waxing a try for a while. It really doesn't hurt much at all on your lip; it is nothing compared to thinner-skinned areas like brow and bikini line.

Woman, you're crazy! Your lip hurts less than your brows? My eyes water like mad when I do my lip, and my brows are like nothing now.

[aggie94]

Originally posted by MKSquared
Woman, you're crazy! Your lip hurts less than your brows? My eyes water like mad when I do my lip, and my brows are like nothing now.

Ditto here. My lip hurts much worse than my eyebrows, especially the closer it gets to the lip line. Ouch! :eek:

FWIW, I researched various so-called "permanent" hair removal methods awhile back and ultimately decided to stick with regular waxing. For starters, they're not truly permanent. Also, I don't have a high tolerance for pain. Electrolysis, therefore, did not sound at all appealing to me. I considered laser removal until I read many comments that it was not terribly effective on other than light-skinned people.

I agree with Jen (jphilg) - have her give waxing a try first. I go to an aesthetician about once every 3-4 weeks to have my lip and eyebrows waxed. The longer I've been going, the less noticeable the hair has become in between visits. And each visit only costs me around $25, including tip.

[RobinC]

I feel for your daughter. I started bleaching my upper lip when I was around 14 or 15. When I was 20, I started waxing (I'm now 24). In the past 10 years or so I was waxing my lip and brow every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. The hair on my lip did eventually become finer and less noticable. For me, brows hurt more than having the lip waxed. The aesthetician I go to is EXCELLENT. Once she discovered a new wax for facial waxing, I had verly little redness and no breakouts after waxing.

Recently I started laser hair removal for my upper lip, underarms, and bikini. I use the topical anesthetic 'cause I am a pain wimp. I got a really good deal on having the 3 areas done and figured is was worth the gamble on being hair-free for at least a while. :D

[Paula H]

I got teased mercilessly in high school about my moustache (pale skin, brown hair), so had electrolysis when I was 20. I wish my mother had suggested something, anything, earlier, to save my self-esteem a little.

I definitely recommend finding someone who uses the blend method - much much more effective. Check if electrolysis is their speciality; all (good) beauty therapists have specialities - for some facials, for some waxing, for some electrolysis.

No sure I agree with starting her with waxing - much more painful than electrolysis, for me at least! If I've just gotten my period, I know that electrolysis will be more painful and my tolerance will be lower, so I try to avoid appointments then.

It worked really well for me. Some hair grew again when I went on steroids, so had I some "touch up" work done, but I'm always really happy with the results.

[AD]

Interesting. Most electrolysists do give free consultations. You can go to www.electrology.com for more information on finding certified electrolysists and more information on the procedure.

I know it's a bit off-topic, but as a male myself, I wondered why more males don't get electrolysis on the face to keep from having to shave every day. There is one place here in Dallas that advertises as electrolysis for men. I would get it in an instant if I needed it. Fortunately, I am 22 and have no visible facial hair yet.

[blazedog]

Originally posted by AD
Interesting. Most electrolysists do give free consultations. You can go to www.electrology.com for more information on finding certified electrolysists and more information on the procedure.

I know it's a bit off-topic, but as a male myself, I wondered why more males don't get electrolysis on the face to keep from having to shave every day. There is one place here in Dallas that advertises as electrolysis for men. I would get it in an instant if I needed it. Fortunately, I am 22 and have no visible facial hair yet.

Because they would be in electrolysis for the rest of their life. They also might look a little weird without ANY stubble ever.

FWIW, many men opt for laser for overgrown backs and chests.

[oceanjasper]

I did electrolysis in the bikini area regularly for over a year. Ask my esthetician (the one who now waxes my bikini area) whether or not it was permanent. :) Nope, you probably wouldn't know the difference.

I do think that there is a difference between doing an area like the bikini line and the lip. For one thing, there should be fewer hairs to get on the lip and so it wouldn't be so time consuming to complete the entire area, even if she did need to go back a few times to get the new hairs.

I have a high pain tolerance and there were times when the electrolysis treatments were pretty intense. I would describe it as a quick, burning sensation. The woman doing the electrolysis mentioned using a topical anesthetic that reduces the intensity of the shocks, but I never tried it. It seemed like an awkward place to put a cream like that. :)

I personally find that waxing is less painful than electrolysis. I also think that the more you do it, the less painful it becomes and the longer it seems to take for the hair to come back in.

Anyway, I hope you find something that works well for your daughter. She is lucky to have a caring and compassionate mom like you.