Electrolysis FAQ's > Frequently Asked Questions about Electrolysis... > I want to have electrolysis but I can’t bear the thought of walking around with hair on my face for months just for my appointments.
You can still remove hair between appointments by cutting or shaving (yes, even on the face) just so long as there is enough to show where the hair is on the day of your appointment.
“I spend half an hour every morning plucking out hairs from my face, otherwise I can’t bear to let anyone see me.”
“My husband doesn’t know about my facial hair.”
“It controls my life. I can’t be spontaneous because I’m always worrying about 5 o’clock shadow.”
“I’ve tried everything and nothing works for me. I have to shave twice a day just to keep it under control.”
“No-one understands what I’m going through. All my confidence has gone and I can’t see any way out.”
We know what you are going through.
Hormonal hair growth, especially on the face, is not limited to just PCOS but also Cushing’s Syndrome, adrenal problems, thyroid disorders and more.
This type of hair is tough to the touch, like plastic toothbrush bristles. It is deeper and more strongly rooted than typical facial hair. The hair itself is sometimes not particularly thick, but the roots are very large which cause a noticeable shadow under the skin. Not surprisingly many sufferers pluck the hairs out to stop this shadow appearing, but sadly this can lead to ingrown hairs and damaged skin. A vicious circle then starts up where the sufferer can’t stop plucking, even though she knows it’s making her skin look worse.
On top of all this there are other symptoms such as receding scalp hair and weight gain or loss. Thick hair can also spring up on the body, especially the abdomen, across the chest and the backs of the thighs.
While your GP may have prescribed medication to help you control your other symptoms, none of them can reverse the hair that has already grown. Eflornithine (aka Vaniqa tm) can reduce the size of the hair but doesn’t work for everyone, and the effect wears off once you stop using it. Laser/IPL offers temporary relief, but again isn’t suitable for all, and in a small number of cases can trigger more hair growth*.
It’s likely you know about every hair removal method under the sun, and have tried almost all of them (including the dubious ones). You may even have started electrolysis but didn’t stick with it because it didn’t seem to be working. No wonder you feel angry, depressed, exasperated and just plain fed-up about your situation. A ‘boom and bust’ pattern occurs where you want instant relief from the hair, and feel elated when it’s gone using temporary methods, but when it grows back you are back at square one.
The only way to deal with a large problem like hair growth is to cut it down into small, manageable steps. Instead of trying to ‘just get rid of it’ all in one go (which can’t happen without taking your skin with it!) electrolysis correctly treats the problem by working with the hair growth, using it to prevent more hairs from growing. It won’t provide dramatic results in the first few weeks but if you stick with it then you’ll be left with permanent results and a real sense of achievement. As the beauty pioneer Helena Rubinstein once said, “Nothing worthwhile happens in a hurry.”
Electrolysis has helped countless women like you remove their thick facial hair, and the results are truly permanent. It is tough going at first, I won’t lie about that. But if you start with one small area and get it cleared first you’ll see for yourself that hormonal facial hair really can be removed permanently.
Last updated on September 30, 2013 by Chantal Peacock