If you have hair on your face that you want removed, I am going to need some hair to work with so please leave a little for me!
I know it’s difficult to leave it there on your chin or cheeks. I seriously get it. I had my lush goatee removed and what a WONDERFUL thing it was.
If you have to do something, please only shave. Tweezing is the worst thing you can do. SHAVE if you really have to, but even if you have to shave, can you leave me a couple days growth, please? I need to be able to get my tweezers on your hair. If they are plucked, there is nothing all for me to work with until those hairs come back. If they shaved, they should pop through in a couple of days and that will give me something to work with. (Try not to shave the 2 or 3 days before your appointment if you want hair worked on your face. Even longer for legs and underarms. I would love 3 to 7 days growth for those areas.)
Also, I personally have had electrolysis on my eyebrows, top lip, lip corners, my underarms and my toes. I sometimes find it uncomfortable. But, to me, getting a Brazilian wax hurts way worse than electrolysis. (But, I take an 800 mg Motrin or Ibuprofen a half an hour before my monthly torture session so that likely helps, too.)
I am not a doctor, so I can never prescribe meds of any kind. You have to make any decisions about pain relievers, anti-inflammatories or numbing creams on our own. (And, some people doing gender affirming hair removal may also see their doctor before our appointment for injections for pain relief) – but those are done my doctors and this kind of hair removal is VERY sensitive since we are talking about genitals.
Like all things in life, it is VERY good to be well hydrated before and after your appointment with me. Dress comfortably so you are comfortable on my massage table. I also have eye shields and my table warms up if that will comfort you. You can also wear your earbuds to concentrate on relaxing or meditating while I work on your unwanted hair.
When you leave, please to NOT touch it with your fingers. I know it’s very exciting to touch areas that use to be covered in whiskers, but (no offense) your fingers and nails are dirty and germy.
So, try to avoid touching it for 24 hours. Please no direct sunlight on treated areas for 24 hours after. Same with not going to the gym or strenuous work outs. No hot tubs for a good 24 to 48 hours, either.
Some people like to treat their skin with witch hazel or seabreeze after their appointments.
Avoid perfume or alcohol-based products. They will dry out your skin. You can wipe the area with witch hazel, if needed. Apply Bacitracin, Polysporin, Neosporin or another antibacterial ointment or cream to the treated area the night after your treatment if you like to, but definitely not required.
Your facial skin may be red for 1 hour to 24 hours after work on your lips, eyebrows, cheeks, or lip corners. Keep that in mind if you plan to go anywhere after your appointment. Also, you should NOT put make up on after your appointment. You should wait 24 hours and make sure your make up sponges and make up are fairly sanitary.
A day or so after treatment, a scab may form in the follicle opening. A scab is nature’s band-aid and you may notice a honey colored or darker crust, consisting of lymph or blood plasma which protects the healing skin. It is common for scabs to appear on body areas after an electrolysis treatment. It is less common for scabs to appear on the face. A healing scab may be itchy, but do not pick or scratch them.
Utilize the following steps if a scab appears:
- Keep it clean. Gently wash with mild soap and water, rinse and pat dry. Avoid rubbing the area.
- Keep the scab moist. Triple antibiotic ointments can be used to prevent infection and helps keep the scab moist.
- Leave the scab alone. It may itch, so look for an antibiotic ointment with a topical analgesic. Avoid picking or scratching the scab. Healing will take longer if you remove the scab before it is ready.
An infrequent side effect of electrolysis is the appearance of a pustule a day or two after treatment. A pustule is a small, inflamed, blister-like lesion. If you are prone to developing pustules, apply a warm compress immediately after treatment to help prevent their formation.