FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Electrolysis?

Electrolysis is the process of permanently removing hair through the use of low-voltage electrical current. The current is provided by an epilator (the machine your electrologist uses) by way of a hand-held filament. The filament is inserted into the hair follicle. Once inserted, the electrologist then applies the low-level current which destroys the hair at the root.

Why Electrolysis?

Electrolysis is the only FDA approved method of permanent hair removal. Other methods such as laser, tweezing, threading, or waxing can provide short-term results but do not provide a permanent solution. Electrolysis can also be applied to a wide variety of hair removal applications that provide excellent results for a wide range of hair and skin colors!

How Long Will It Take?

There is no single answer to this question. The number of treatments necessary and length of those treatments vary from client to client. Personal factors including hereditary considerations, hair growth cycles, and hormone levels will impact the length of the process. A single treatment session can be as quick as 15 minutes and in excess of 1 hour. The length and frequency of your treatments will be part of your consultation and ongoing hair removal partnership with your electrologist.

Does it Hurt?

There is some level of discomfort experienced by most clients, which varies due to individual pain tolerances. The truth is that sensations ranging that of pinching, to the sensation of heat, to minor stinging can be experience.

Good news! This is to be expected through this FDA approved process. Electrolysis has been being conducted in the United States of well over 100 years and the process has been improving that entire time providing the most comfortable experience possible.
More good news! We have a client list of hundreds of customers that have gone through electrolysis, the majority of whom return on a regular basis. Your electrologist can adjust settings on the epilator (machine they use to apply the low voltage current) to best accommodate your tolerance, while maximizing the processes effectiveness. You will have input into the process from beginning to end!

Where Can Electrolysis Be Used on the Body?

Electrolysis can be effectively employed on most of the body, all other factors being equal. Those areas include the jaw, eyebrows, chin, vicinity of the lips, sides of the face, neck, legs, arms, bikini line, breast, underarms, and genitals. Electrolysis is extremely effective when utilized to address hormonally driven hair growth, such as facial hair.

During your consultation, your electrologist will discuss your specific requests and determine how to meet your permanent hair removal needs safely and effectively.

How is Electrolysis Different from Laser?

Electrolysis and laser hair removal are both methods of hair removal; however, there are key differences. The FDA defines electrolysis as the only fully permanent hair removal procedure whereas laser can be defined as a long-term hair reduction procedure.

Larger areas of skin may be treated more quickly with laser hair removal but will require constant follow-up treatments to maintain the progress because the hairs will continually grow back. Sometimes laser hair removal is preferred for some customers either as an alternative treatment or a preparatory treatment prior to electrolysis.

During your consultation with an Ober Yahr Electrolysis electrologist, different methods of hair removal will be discussed, and recommendations made based on what service is best for you and NOT on what services we provide! Our goal is to ensure everyone receives the type of treatment that is best for them!

How Should I Prepare Prior to Treatment?

Prior to your session it is advisable to:

Protect skin being treated from being burned, scarred, or chemically treated. We want the skin to be in its natural state with no recent irritation.
Allow hair to grow for at least 48 hours prior to your treatment session. Your electrologist will need to be able to see the hairs to identify where treatment is needed!
Avoid waxing, threading, and other hair removal application to the areas to be treated for a month prior to your initial session. These methods must be avoided entirely once treatment begins.
Do not apply makeup or other topical products to the areas that are to be treated prior to arriving. The skin in areas to be treated should be clean and free of topical products of any kind.

What Can I Expect After Treatment?

After your session is complete, the skin may be irritated, during this time you should avoid:

Picking, rubbing, or scratching the affected area
Application of heavy topical creams, exfoliants, or make up, until any irritation subsides

You may:

Use an ice pack if necessary to address irritation
Return to your normal skin care or make up routine once the skin returns to feeling and looking normal – for most clients this is within 24 hours of treatment!

Should I Tip My Electrologist?

You may tip your electrologist if you feel that you were provided excellent service and want to provide an additional tip via credit card, cash app, or cash; however, tips are never expected and will never be solicited. Should you decide to provide a tip, rest assured that the entire tip is given to your electrologist!