Of all the methods of permanent hair removal, electrolysis is the oldest
and most widely available. In essence, what happens when you get electrolysis
is a slow, steady one by one descruction of your hair folicles. Sound
painful? It can be, but it can also be very effective.
An electrolysist will clean your skin and then, using a magnifying glass,
will insert a small needle into a hair folicle. Electricity is then sent
down the needle into the root of the hair, zapping it to prevent
further growth. The hair is then removed and the electrolysist moves
to then next folicle.
Each hair is treated individually which means that an hour of treatment
still covers only a relatively small area
Having had a hair folicle treated is not a guarantee of permanent
removal of the hair. It will need to be caught in a growth phase for
the treatment to be effective and the needle needs to be skillfully
placed at the right depth for the electric charge to hit the hair root
Electrolysis is moderately painful as you are receiving a shot of
electricity into your skin and certain areas, like the moustache,
are especially sensitive and eye watering
There is a risk of scarring if an area is treated too aggressively
and you may get small cuts if the needle is inserted improperly
On the flip side of that, there are some clear advantages to chosing
electrolysis as your method of permanent hair removal:
Of all the permanent methods of hair removal, electrolysis has the
longest track record
All permanent hair removal methods are prone to some level of regrowth
and electrolysis is said to have one of the lowest rates of this,
particularly when compared to Laser Hair Removal
Electrolysis sessions are relatively cheap compared to other hair
removal treatments and some places will also give transexuals discounts
since you'll most likely be needing a lot of it! If your budget can
spare £30 to £40 a month you can get started. While IPL and Laser typically cover a larger area per treatment, they also require a larger
purchase, so Electrolysis can be an affordable way of "getting on your
way"
Electrolysis is good for removing hairs which have become curved
or distorted - this sometimes happens to hairs that have previously
been plucked or removed and makes it very difficult for treatments
that follow the hair to deliver an effective treatment to the follicular
tissue
Electrolysis can also treat all colours of hair and skin type
There are several different ways of getting electrolysis and the cheapest
and without a doubt the least useful for transexuals is the home electrolysis
kit. I first started with one of these electrolysis kits many years ago
only to realise that they are really designed for removing the "peach
fuzz" type of hair genetic women have. The higher levels of testosterone
in a transexual's body, combined with the very low charge these kits
deliver make them, in my opinion, about as useful as an underwater hair
dryer.
Salons provide one of several forms of electrolysis:
Normal or galvanic electrolysis, which is the slowest form of electrolysis,
yet one the most effective on all types of hair
Slow thermolysis, which is quite rare and cauterises the hair folicle
rather than by electrodessication (also known as zapping it if you
want to those uneducated in electrolysis like me!)
Flash themolysis which is a very fast method
Blend electrolysis which is the latest and most comfortable, and
gets it's name from being a combination of electrolysis and thermolysis
technology
When you first book, many salons will openly tell you that treatment
is going to take a long time. Quite rightly so. It's true. Unless you
are taking anti-androgens or can regulate your diet to inhibit your
testosterone levels, male hair is notoriously difficult to kill off and
to remove
a beard fully will require commitment. It can take between 2 and 4 years
of treatment to completely remove it permanently, though the hair gets
softer and sparser throughout treatment and later in to your electrolysis
you will not need to attend at the same frequency.
A further gripe with electrolysis is that estetician standards do vary
widely in Europe and North America, the very homelands of standardisation.
I the US for examplew only just over half of the States have standards
relating to training, so when chosing an electrolysist, do shop around
and ask about their background. Many will have experience of dealing
with trangendered patients and take it as no big deal.
My electrolysist while I lived in Vancouver was Marie Ruiz. Marie had
several transexual clients and shared an office space with a counsellor
who dealt with gender identity issues and hormone perscription. The whole
time I saw her was pleasant and she not only made me feel very at home,
she also gave me a very good price for bulk booking and helped me mend
a tight skirt that tried to kill me one day as I ran down the stairs...
much to it's own trouble! Marie is Spanish and has been practicing for
over 15 years having qualified in Europe. If you are out that way and
looking for a transexual
friendly electrolysist in Vancouver, give her
a call (604-733-5523) and tell her that Danielle, the transexual she
used to treat from the
UK
sent
you,
and
I'm sure she'll
look after
you
well.
The best thing about electrolysis without a doubt is that it is permanent,
even though it is slow. I have heard stories from people who've had laser
hair removal that after 3 or 4 years it started to grow back; whether
or not that's true is a hotly debated subject with many salons claiming
that this was new hair growth. With electrolysis you can expect regrowth
rate to be very low, about 7-10% of patients complain of it. Electrolysis
also allows you to accurately treat areas where pinpoint precision is
needed
such
as
the
T-zone and
eyebrows.
On a slightly more tender note, some Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS)
doctors ask for the skin of the scrotum to be hairless, especially in
less well endowed girls so that they have enough skin to work with to
construct the vagina. If this is the case, electrolysis may be the best
option no matter how much you hate those balls...
OK, those of you not intending to transition fully can stop crying now!
If you are planning to transition, start as early as you possibly can
as it can take several years. Yes, it hurts a little and yes, you will
be red and blotchy after, but being hair free is the single biggest factor
in gaining passability and with it's long history it compares favourably
with newer techniques in that it definately does work for most people
who persist. It's a well known fact that going full time before having
cleared at least your face can adversely affect your work, social life
and mental well being. Personally I see it as ground work that anyone who
wants to live as woman or spend long periods in drag will be well advised
to address first. Concentrate your budget on this initially to get it
sorted and worry about the rest later.
You can also read till your eyes go square about electrolysis for transexuals
on TSRoadmap,
an American website aimed at helping those who want to transition. Whether
you do or you just want to find out more about electrolysis, there's
no doubt that it is very comprehensive.
Electrolysis is a great way to tidy up certain areas and it's so cheap
that anyone can afford to get started on an appointment or two a month
which will make you feel like you are on your way to achieving the look
you want. It is the only hair removal technique that will definately
work for all as other hair removal techniques are better suited to certain
skin and hair types.
