Neurospice Beauty

FAQs

Electrolysis uses a tiny, sterile probe to deliver a controlled amount of electrical current directly into each hair follicle, one by one. This detaches the treated hair from the follicle, which then is gently lifted out with tweezers. Over multiple treatments, this process completely destroys the cells responsible for hair growth.

Both electrolysis and laser can be effective, but they work differently. Here are some key points to consider:

Electrolysis:

    • Permanent: Still the only FDA-approved method for permanent hair removal.

    • Works on all hair & skin types: Effective regardless of hair color (including blonde, gray, red, and white) or skin tone.

    • No risk of laser-induced hair growth: Some people, especially those with deeper skin tones or hormonal hair growth, experience paradoxical hypertrichosis (increased hair growth, thickness, and pigmentation) from laser, especially on the face. Electrolysis does not carry this risk.

    • Suitable for hormonal hair growth: Hormonal changes (e.g., PCOS, menopause, hormone replacement therapy) can stimulate new or thicker hair growth that’s often more resistant to laser. Because electrolysis directly treats the follicle and doesn’t depend on pigment, it can be especially effective in preventing regrowth from hormonal triggers.

    • Useful for surgery prep: Required for many gender-affirming surgeries if the procedure calls for complete and permanent hair removal without risk of regrowth.

    • Cleans up residual hairs post-laser: If laser leaves some hairs behind, electrolysis can finish the job.

Laser Hair Reduction:

    • Faster for large areas: Covers more ground quickly

    • Less required upfront: Upfront costs may be lower and require fewer sessions upfront, although maintenance sessions are usually required 1-2 times annually thereafter. This is why laser is not FDA approved for permanent hair removal, only permanent hair reduction.

    • No need to grow out hair: For laser treatments, you arrive with the area already shaved—there’s no need to grow out the hair beforehand. This can be a big relief, especially for those who may find visible hair growth distressing or dysphoria-inducing.

Hair grows in cycles that can span several months, so multiple sessions are needed to treat each follicle during its active growth phase. On average, you may need to address 3–4 growth cycles per follicle to achieve complete clearance. The exact number of sessions varies from person to person and depends on factors such as the size of the area treated, your hair type and texture, genetics, hormones, and how often you come in for treatments. We’ll discuss a realistic timeline during your consultation. Once finished though, the results are as smooth as butter! Not even peach fuzz can grow back in a properly treated follicle!

Pain tolerance varies from person to person. Some describe electrolysis as feeling like a brief, mild heat or a quick pinch. Certain areas can be more sensitive. To minimize discomfort, you can:

  • Apply a topical numbing cream (over-the-counter or prescription) before treatment, according to the product’s instructions.

  • Take a mild over-the-counter pain reliever (like you would for a headache).

  • Avoid caffeine the day of treatment. Caffeine increases tension in the body and can increase the sensation of pain.

  • Bring cozy items like a blanket, headphones, or stress ball to help you relax.

I’m committed to making your session as comfortable as possible. That’s why I’ve invested in a state-of-the-art electrolysis machine designed to minimize discomfort, a high-quality treatment table for optimal support, and several pain distraction methods—including a vibratory analgesic tool, plus music or TV to help you relax during treatment.

Not necessarily. The “new” hairs you see are most likely hairs that were still growing beneath the surface of the skin during our last appointment that have yet to be treated. They could also be hairs that were already treated but not in the optimal growth stage. With consistent treatments over time, you’ll notice a gradual decrease in the amount of hair. Eventually, each follicle that has been fully treated will not grow hair again.

Do’s:

Prior to your appointment, allow several days of visible hair growth in the area to be treated, long enough to be reached with tweezers, like the size of a grain of rice.

The day before:

  • Drink plenty of water. Electrolysis relies on there being water in your follicles – if there isn’t, the power has to be turned up to get the same result.

The day of:

  • Shower and cleanse the area.

  • Exfoliate gently on the area to be treated. This helps get rid of dry skin that makes insertions difficult, as well as helps bring ingrown hairs to the surface, so that they can be treated at the same time as other hairs and not lag behind in treatment.

  • Moisturize the area with an unscented alcohol-free lotion/cream, for the same reason as needing to hydrate. It is harder to get inside of a dry follicle with the probe.

  • If you believe you’ll be sensitive, apply numbing cream according to the product’s instructions, usually 40-50 minutes before the appointment. It’s also usually recommended to wrap the area covered in numbing cream with plastic wrap or Glad Press & Seal wrap (which sticks to itself). You can even have a doctor prescribe higher strength numbing cream.

  • If you believe you’ll be sensitive, prepare with pain management, like with an over-the-counter medicine that you’d take for a headache.

  • Bring what you need to get cozy, like your phone/tablet, headphones, a book, a blanket, fuzzy socks, etc.

Don’ts:

The day of:

  • Don’t use any drying products on the area, like products that contain alcohol or fragrance.

  • Avoid deodorant, if treating your underarms.

  • Avoid perfume/cologne. Strong scents can be irritating to you, me, or other clients.

  • Avoid caffeine. I consider this optional, because some of us need caffeine every day. However, caffeine can increase bodily tension and pain sensitivity slightly.

Do’s:

  • Keep the skin clean with gentle soap and water.

  • Apply hydrating and soothing fragrance-free products, like lotion or aloe.

  • Apply antibiotic cream, if seeing signs of infection.

  • Drink plenty of water to support healing.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t touch or scratch the skin. This can introduce bacteria and lead to infection.

  • Avoid sun exposure: ELECTROLYSIS AND THE SUN DO NOT MIX WELL! Avoid direct sun for 24–48 hours, and use sunscreen on the treated area afterward, to avoid skin pigmentation issues.

  • Don’t pick at scabs caused by treatment. Let them fall off naturally to avoid scarring or pigmentation issues.

  • Don’t exfoliate the area prematurely until the redness and swelling subside.

  • Avoid excessive sweating in the area being treated. Avoid intense exercise or heat exposure (saunas, hot tubs, etc.) for 24 hours.

  • Don’t apply makeup on a treated area for 24 hours.

  • Don’t apply deodorant on a treated area for 24 hours.

  • Don’t apply alcohol/fragranced products to the area. This can dry out the area as well as cause pigmentation problems.

  • Avoid tight clothing, to reduce irritating the area.

  • Redness

  • Swelling

  • Bumps that look like bug bites

  • Minimal pinpoint scabs

These are temporary reactions and should subside within a few days.

If you’re experiencing anything outside of those reactions, please text me a picture and description of what’s going on!

It is very important that you know what to expect before committing to what can be a long and expensive process. It is also critical that we go over any conditions you have and medications you take, so that I can ensure treatment is safe for you – even if you’ve already had electrolysis done before.

Yes! I require clients to schedule a 15 minute session at first, either with the consultation or at another time. This ensures that you can get a feel for the sensation and see how your skin responds.

Absolutely! Electrolysis is often recommended for gender-affirming surgery prep and gender dysphoria hair removal goals. I respect everyone’s identity and will work with you to ensure a comfortable and supportive experience.

Yes. I am happy to treat minors as long as a parent or legal guardian provides written consent and attends all appointments with the child. In some cases, I may also require a note from the child’s healthcare provider, confirming that electrolysis is an appropriate option. The comfort, safety, and well-being of the minor are my top priorities.

Exploring insurance options is on my roadmap for the future, and I’ll share updates here on my website and my social media as I am able to accomplish this. If you believe your situation might qualify for coverage—for example, if you have a medical need—it’s worth checking with your insurer directly to see if they offer any reimbursement or exceptions.