Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved method of permanent hair removal. While laser services have their place, many skin and hair types are less suited to laser treatment, and even those for whom laser is most effective often see the hair return after time. Electrolysis on the other hand can permanently deactivate the follicles by affecting the germ cells therein through the use of gentle electric current. A probe about the same size as the width of the hair is inserted almost imperceptibly alongside the hair, mild current is applied, and those cells are treated through the chemical and/or thermal action of the current.

Simply put, electrolysis can guarantee permanence, and is the only permanent hair removal treatment approved by the FDA. Most traditional hair removal methods like waxing, threading, and tweezing not only don’t destroy the germ cells that cause hair to regrow, they can actually cause increased blood (and therefore nutrient) supply to those cells via irritation to the follicle (note: shaving will not cause this deep irritation and is the preferred method of temporary hair removal between treatments).

Laser treatments are frequently limited in the skin or hair type they can treat. Even those for whom laser treatments are most effective (light skin with dark hair) often see hair regrowth a few short years after treatment. While laser treatments do have their place, please consult with an electrologist before proceeding in order to lay out a treatment plan that includes permanent results.

Similarly, some surgical procedures that require clearing the skin of hair beforehand will claim that the follicles can be removed or “scraped” from the backside of the skin during a procedure, but many patients’ lived experiences show this to not always be effective, potentially leading to complications.

The question for which every electrologist wishes they had a one-size-fits-all answer. A wide range of variables can dictate the answer of this for each individual, and due to the nature of how hair grows this may not be able to be determined until a while after treatment starts. The size of the area being treated, the coarseness of the hair, an individual’s hormonal balance and genetic predisposition to the effects of those hormones, and the client’s dedication to a steady treatment schedule all affect the time from start to completion.

The hair growth cycle can provide us with some general guidelines though. The amount of hair you see actively growing at any one time is roughly 30% of the actual hair present, depending on the area and the individual. Each hair has a growing, transition, and resting stage wherein the hair grows out, slowly detaches from its blood supply at the bottom of the follicle, then rests above the follicle until it falls out. While scalp hair can take up to two years for this to happen, most body hair goes through this cycle every 8 to 16 weeks. Therefore, a typical course of treatment involves working until the entire area you want treated is cleared fully, repeating those treatments once every week to 10 days to catch new hairs as they emerge. Once the hairs that were present for the first treatment come through their cycle, the results become quite noticeable. The hair is thinner, both in number and in coarseness as some hairs may require a second treatment during this vulnerable early-growth phase. With this thinning, appointments will be quicker, and can be scheduled further apart. By six months, many clients are able to come in once a moth or less until eventually all touchup hairs are treated. With a steady treatment schedule, most clients receive satisfactory results between 6 months and 2 years after the first full clearing, with appointments fewer and further between as that time comes. Again, keep in mind this can take longer for some people and an in-person consultation is needed in order to set realistic expectations.

But here’s the warnings.

The first is that we must work as a team. Missing appointments (or poor after-care cleanliness that can make it difficult to work some areas) can dramatically extend the time until we meet your hair-free goals. A disruption to the treatment cycle may mean waiting another 16 weeks to be able to treat those hairs when they’re most vulnerable again.

The second is that the cause of the hair growth must be addressed to prevent new hairs from growing once we treat the ones already present. If you are experiencing a new onset of unwanted hair growth, it’s paramount that we understand what is causing this. Typically this is due to something altering your hormonal balance (e.g. PCOS, menopause, diabetes, etc.). In addition to all the dark, long “terminal” hairs we see, the human body is covered in thousands of short, clear, soft “vellus” hairs that can become terminal if they receive a large enough dose of hormones. Electrolysis can treat all the terminal hairs you have, but if something is causing the vellus hairs to become terminal, and nothing is done (or can be done) to stop this, then treatment times may be greatly extended. Again, an in-person consultation is always needed in order to discuss your personal situation.

TL;DR - it really depends on the person and an in-person consultation is needed to assess your specific situation.

Similar to the answer of how long it will take, this question is determined by a wider range of variables than a single answer can provide. See the rates page for the cost for individual treatment times, then call, text, or email to set up a consultation to plot out a course for your individualized treatment plan! Active-duty military/firefighters qualify for career-related discounts (don’t let constant shaving ruin your skin, or a broken mask seal risk your lungs!).

Properly performed, electrolysis should not damage your skin. Your electrologist will carefully cater the tiny electric current to your skin type, noting hydration and oiliness or dryness in relation to the hair being treated so that the hair’s germ cells will be destroyed without damaging the surrounding skin. There is still damage being done to that small target area however, so the skin may be a bit red or puffy for a few hours to a few days due to increased blood flow. Some people may also experience minor weeping of healing lymph that can dry on the skin’s surface, again only for a day or two. Do not remove these - it’s your body healing the follicle. Keeping the healing follicle opening clean, and applying cooling packs, can lessen the duration of this. The main source of any lasting damage to skin from electrolysis is lack of cleanliness (and subsequent infection) after treatment.

Electrolysis has remained popular for over a century due to both its efficacy and its safety. During your consultation you’ll be asked to fill out a brief medical questionnaire so that we can discuss any potential risks together. Most situations are entirely safe (like during pregnancy), some may require a doctor’s okay (like moles that have changed appearance recently), and others may just need small accommodations to provide an extra layer of safety (like not holding the inactive electrode in the left hand for clients with pacemakers). Very few exceptions make electrolysis unsafe, and most of these relate to infection risks.

Yes! Unlike laser, electrolysis can be used on any skin color or tone and any type of hair. Furthermore, Meadowlark Electrolysis specializes in the blend and galvanic methods (with modern technology that improves speeds to those comparable to thermolysis). These modalities use chemical action rather than heat alone, filling the whole follicle with gentle lye from the current to dissolve the germ cells that line the follicle. This means even curly hair with roots that may bend away from flash treatments aren’t able to escape proper treatment.

Electrolysis can be used on nearly any hair on the human body. The exception is for hairs that simply cannot be safely reached or seen, such as deep in the ears or inside the nose. From the face, chin, and eyebrows, to underarms, chests, and leg hair, to sensitive areas like breasts or bikini/pubic areas, electrolysis can permanently remove that unwanted hair!

Since electrolysis is damaging cells in the follicle wall and the tiny blood vessels that provide nutrients to the hair as it grows, some mild discomfort is inherent in the process. Since pain tolerance varies greatly from person-to-person, it’s difficult to tell quite how it will feel for each client, but the one factor across the board is that it is always for repeated quick durations of only a few seconds for each hair. Some describe it as a mild sting, others as a mild burn - in my personal experience I’ve often described it as a mosquito times 2 or 3. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, such as right above or below the nose, or on the breasts. As such, some clients choose to take OTC pain relievers before an appointment, but many others find themselves almost dozing off during longer appointments. During your consultation you’ll receive a 15-minute treatment to help you know what to expect for longer treatments. Keep in mind that you as the client are in control in that the intensity of treatment can be lowered if need be, but doing so will take longer to treat each hair.

Electrolysis in the context of hair removal started in 1875 when an ophthalmologist discovered he could remove chronic ingrown eyelashes with it. Since then, technology has consistently advanced such that electrologists can work with greater precision, and more fine-tuned electronics mean less discomfort with greater speed. Meadowlark Electrolysis uses the current top of the line models from Clareblend in combination with modern training and understanding of best practices to deliver the same permanence electrolysis is known for with the absolute minimum possible discomfort.