It can be an embarrassing problem: beards and mustaches belong on the faces of men, not women. Yet, thousands of women struggle with unwanted facial hair—nearly 30-40% of adult women have noticeable facial hair. But what causes this?

There are three main life cycles in a woman’s life that cause hormonal changes, which can encourage hair growth: puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Unfortunately, many women make the common mistake of tweezing, waxing, or shaving, which can lead to fine, lighter hair becoming coarser and darker.

For some, facial hair is a family trait; genetics often pass this characteristic down through generations. If your mother or grandmother had facial hair, there’s a good chance you may have it too.

In other cases, unwanted facial hair can be a symptom of hormonal imbalances. This does not refer to the dramatic mood swings associated with hormones, but rather to hormonal fluctuations that can occur. Women produce a certain amount of male hormones, but an overproduction can result in excessive hair growth. For those who notice this problem later in life, menopause can often be a trigger. As estrogen production declines during menopause, the balance between male and female hormones can shift unfavorably.

Another cause of increased facial hair growth can be a condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Facial hair is usually just one symptom of PCOS; other symptoms may include irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, obesity, and insulin resistance.

In rare cases, tumors can contribute to facial hair issues. These tumors are usually found in the ovaries or adrenal glands, and there are often other significant symptoms indicating a problem.

During your first visit to an electrologist, they will ask a series of questions to analyze your hair growth patterns. They may also recommend that you see your doctor for simple blood tests to rule out or address any hormonal issues while you undergo electrolysis treatments.

That’s why it’s essential to ensure your appointment is with an electrolysis professional dedicated to helping you achieve long-term success in your treatment.

We will begin by discussing electrolysis as a treatment. I will explain how it works and what a typical session entails. Next, we will cover pre- and post-treatment care. I’ll also review your health history, previous hair removal experiences, medications, and any concerns you may have during our consultation.

Following that, we will conduct a trial session lasting approximately 5 minutes. During this time, you can choose which area you would like to have treated and experience the sensation of the treatment before committing to a full treatment schedule.

Appointment lengths vary based on the area treated and the amount of hair growth. Some individuals may have minimal hair, while others may have a significant amount due to natural growth, tweezing, waxing, or shaving.

It’s important to avoid tweezing or waxing between electrolysis appointments, as doing so can prolong the hair growth process. When clients attempt to manage hair removal on their own, it hinders the technician’s ability to effectively reduce hair regrowth. Cutting and shaving are acceptable between treatments since they only remove hair at the skin’s surface and do not damage the actual hair root.

The temptation for immediate results can be overwhelming. Many women struggle to resist the urge to tweeze, thread, pluck, or wax at the first sign of unwanted hair growth, especially in areas like the lip, chin, neck, chest, or stomach. However, while these methods may provide an “instant fix,” they often exacerbate the issue. This can lead to faster regrowth and a change in hair texture from fine to coarse, resulting in more noticeable hair.

Tweezing can actually increase blood supply to the area and contribute to accelerated hair growth. Additionally, tweezing is often less effective than expected because breakage can occur during the process, leaving part of the hair follicle intact. This can cause the hair to grow back thicker and darker, making it even more conspicuous.

Plucking also carries a risk of infection, which can lead to deep pustules, scars, pits, or ingrown hairs. Repeatedly lifting and removing distorted hair follicles can make the hair papilla more difficult to reach as they become embedded within the skin.

Fortunately, electrolysis can address these issues effectively. Book your consultation today!

Electrolysis is effective for all skin and hair types. It can be used on all areas of the face and body, including the eyebrows, chin, upper and lower lips, jawline, and sides of the face, as well as the breast/areola, underarms, abdomen, bikini line, legs, and back. After a personal and confidential consultation, your electrologist will create a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific hair removal needs.

If you’re considering electrolysis hair removal, you may be concerned about potential pain during the treatment. However, this is one of the biggest misconceptions about electrolysis. When performed carefully, electrolysis is not a painful experience, even for the most sensitive individuals. While clients might initially feel a slight sting, this sensation typically fades as the body adjusts to the ongoing treatment. Most people describe the experience as uncomfortable rather than painful.

Sensitivity can vary from person to person. If you know you tend to be sensitive,

you should feel confident that your electrologist will listen to you if you experience discomfort at any point during the treatment. It’s essential that you do not feel intimidated or embarrassed to express any feelings of discomfort during the process.

If you have a high level of sensitivity, I recommend taking a pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil, or applying an over-the-counter topical anesthetic or prescribed topical numbing cream before the treatment. However, I want to emphasize that with the right electrolysis professional, there is no reason to fear that electrolysis will be painful!

The number of electrolysis sessions needed varies based on several factors, including the treatment area size, hair density, hair thickness, the presence of ingrown hairs, and the condition of hair follicles, which may be affected by repeated tweezing or waxing. Additionally, individual factors such as age, pain tolerance, and medical history (including any medications that might contribute to excess hair growth) play a role.

During the first six months, clients typically experience a significant reduction in hair growth. However, some may require up to two years of treatment to achieve complete hair removal. As time goes on, the treatments will become less frequent and shorter in duration due to the decrease in hair needing treatment.

Hair grows in cycles, and many of these cycles are not visible on the skin’s surface at the same time. Hair follicles produce hair using nutrients from the blood supply and eventually shed the hair. This process of growth, rest, and replacement is referred to as the hair growth cycle. This sequence of events repeats continuously until hair production stops.

Excessive hair growth, known as hirsutism, can range from fine, vellus hair to dark, coarse hair on the face and body. Each hair strand has a unique growth cycle, and not all hairs are visible on the skin’s surface at the same time. Hair typically grows according to its natural cycle, after which it sheds and is replaced. Following the active growth phase, most hair follicles enter a dormant stage. This dormancy can last for an indefinite period; however, replacement hairs usually begin to appear within 6 weeks to 3 months on the face, and 3 to 12 months on the body. It is important to note that the appearance of these coarse replacement hairs from dormant follicles should not be confused with regrowth from previously treated follicles.

After a personal and confidential consultation, your electrologist will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific hair removal needs.

Hair growth occurs at different times. Depending on whether, and which other hair removal methods have been used previously, it may take weeks to months for the individual hair to recover fully. However, this does not mean hair will emerge from every active hair follicle. Some hair follicles may only produce small, fine hairs even months after the last shave.

The cost of electrolysis can vary due to several factors, including the amount of hair to be removed, the size of the treatment area, and the location of the service provider.

For the best results, it’s crucial to follow your electrologist’s recommendations regarding appointment scheduling. Treatments will need to be more frequent for areas that have been waxed or tweezed compared to those that have only been shaved.

You will receive a cost estimate during your initial consultation. I charge an hourly rate that is listed on my booking site, Square Appointments. Additionally, I offer prepaid discounted packages for 10 or 20 hours of treatment.

For Electrolysis on the face:

My main focus regarding facial hair is to provide a skin-friendly and effective treatment.

While laser hair removal or IPL might not have hit the mark for everyone, it can still work wonders by significantly slowing down hair growth. The regeneration of damaged stem cells in hair follicles typically takes between six to 18 months, depending on the hair’s structure. Finer hair often requires a longer recovery period. In several cases, hair may even begin to grow back up to three years after the last treatment. It’s important to note that an accurate assessment of the hair’s condition can only be made six months following the last laser hair removal or IPL session.

For a gentle and effective treatment, it’s essential to have a bit of hair growth—specifically, at least 3 to 4 mm. Given that hair tends to grow at a rate of about 0.32 mm to 0.38 mm each day (see Richard Meharg Table) we recommend waiting at least 10 days since your last shave for the best results. I understand that this might feel like a bit of a wait, but please keep in mind that hair on the upper lip grows more slowly, so it’s best to avoid shaving it for at least 14 days. Your skin will thank you for allowing it the time it needs to prepare for treatment!

For the face, neck, and nape of the neck, a minimum interval from other hair removal methods is required before the initial appointment to assess the hair situation and promptly begin electrolysis.

• Shaving or trimming with scissors ⇒ at least 10 days
• Hair removal cream ⇒ at least 4 weeks
• Plucking, waxing, sugaring, etc. ⇒ at least 3 months
• laser hair removal or IPL ⇒ at least 6 months
• Dense hair (full beard) can be shaved between treatments. Isolated or spotty hairs can be trimmed with scissors to avoid unnecessary redness and inflammation caused by shaving. This only applies to terminal hair not peach fuzz.

Fine vellus hair (peach fuzz) grows considerably slower, so please do not shave or trim it. However, dark, fine hairs can be lightened with a commercially available bleaching cream up to 7 days before a treatment appointment.

Electrolysis on the body:

When removing hairs on the body, I like the most time- and cost-effective approach. The longer the hair hasn’t been removed, the better!

When removing “virgin” hair,  meaning hair that has never been trimmed or removed, hair density is reduced by up to two-thirds after the first treatment.

Unfortunately, hair doesn’t grow evenly. This can be clearly seen in the varying hair lengths just 2 to 3 weeks after the last shave. Especially on the body, “stragglers” are often only visible as dark spots for many weeks and therefore cannot be treated. However, this increases the risk of ingrown and infected hairs in the treatment area. Body hair should therefore be unshaven for several weeks before the initial appointment, also to assess the treatment process time.

If you have had other hair removal methods in the past, please observe the following minimum intervals from your initial appointment:

Armpits, bikini line, and intimate area

Shaving or trimming with scissors ⇒ at least 6 weeks (ideal: 12 weeks)

Hair removal cream ⇒ at least 6 weeks

Waxing, sugaring, etc. ⇒ at least 4 months

Laser hair or IPL removal ⇒ at least 9 months

Chest, stomach, back, and buttocks

Shaving or trimming with scissors ⇒ at least 8 weeks (ideal: 16 weeks)

Hair removal cream ⇒ at least 8 weeks

Waxing, sugaring, etc. ⇒ at least 6 months

Light or laser hair removal ⇒ at least 12 months

Arms, legs, hands, and feet

Shaving or trimming with scissors ⇒ at least 12 weeks (Optimal: 24 weeks)

Hair removal cream ⇒ at least 12 weeks

Waxing, sugaring, etc. ⇒ at least 6 months

Light or laser hair removal ⇒ at least 18 months

Clients may experience some redness or swelling following the procedure. Minor scabbing can develop 24 to 48 hours later and may take anywhere from 2 to 14 days to heal. In some cases, sensitive areas may not scab at all, but healing could take longer. However, these areas will heal without leaving any permanent marks. Tiny scabs can be easily covered with makeup and will fall away naturally without causing lasting effects. It’s also important to note that pigmentation may occur, especially in individuals with darker skin tones, but this typically resolves on its own over time.

It is normal to experience some redness and welting (bumps) in the treated area, which typically fades within a few hours after treatment. Some individuals with sensitive skin may notice mild irritation in the form of red spots in the treated area. Minor bruising, localized swelling, tenderness, and occasional hyperpigmentation may also occur, but these side effects are rare and temporary. After treatment, applying ice can help soothe the skin and reduce any swelling.

If skin irritation persists, using polysporin heal-fast two to three times a day may provide relief. However, most individuals will not need it after treatment.

Thanks to the latest technology, electrolysis is now more comfortable and effective than ever. Your electrologist will provide you with post-treatment instructions and the personal attention you need, ensuring you receive the best care from a skilled hair removal professional.

As a professional, I strictly adhere to the Health Standards and Guidelines for Electrolysis established by Alberta Health and Wellness. You can find more information on these standards here. I use single-use, sterile disposable needles, which are discarded after each use. All my instruments are pre-sterilized, and I ensure that my equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between clients.

For a hair follicle to be treated effectively, new hair must grow long enough to push the old trimmed hairs out of the follicle. Therefore, multiple treatments are necessary for a specific area until even the last active hair follicle produces visible hair that can be treated.

Although electrology has never been proven harmful to pregnant women, we recommend consulting your physician before starting any treatment during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, you can still undergo electrolysis treatment, but it must be limited to “thermolysis,” which uses heat treatment without electrical current. This method is still effective. However, the blend treatment, which involves a galvanic current, is not recommended for pregnant women.

It is safe to remove unwanted hair from a healthy mole, but written approval from your physician or dermatologist is required.

Electrolysis is a safe hair removal method for tattoos. It treats the hair follicle without fading or damaging the tattoo.

Many men, teenage boys, and teenage girls opt for treatments on their eyebrows or other areas with unwanted hair. Hair removal is quite common among men.

My studio is a professional environment where everyone is equally respected and receives high-quality service.