How to choose an electrologist
So, you’ve just moved to a new city! You’ve unpacked the necessities, but are still partially living out of boxes. The immediate chaos of the move has calmed, and you have a chance to look around and realize -- you need a new plumber. And car mechanic, handyman, go-to coffee shop, and not least of all, someone to pick up where your last tech left off with your electrolysis treatments.
Or you’re finally done dealing with regular hair removal. The waxing, the tweezing, the shaving, the bleaching… You’re ready for a more long-term solution, and have decided that electrolysis is the permanent hair removal treatment for you. Now it’s time to get started!
All of us are very familiar with the trial and error that ensues when we’re looking for a new service provider, whether it’s a hair stylist or a handyman.
But this is your skin we’re talking about!
It’s not exactly like fixing a bad paint job in your living room.
So to help you get you to a winning tech the first time, here is how to find your first, or next, electrologist.
How to Choose the Right Electrologist
Why is it important to choose the right electrologist?
Well, to be blunt - you want your treatments to be effective so you can achieve your hair removal goals, and you don’t want to cause avoidable damage to your skin. So, you want to be sure you’re taking the time to search for and find a good electrolysis technician to avoid these less-than-ideal outcomes. Who wants to blindly choose a mechanic to later find that your oil did not, in fact, stop leaking?
Not to mention, electrolysis treatments can often be costly, especially when you add up all your sessions over weeks and months of treatment. So just like anything else, we want to be sure we’re getting the most “bang for our buck”.
If your electrolysis tech isn’t using proper technique, your minutes and hours in the chair might not be working very well.
How does this happen?
Performing electrolysis correctly and skillfully involves choosing the right kind and amount of current for each type of skin and hair. Some hair is more coarse, some skin is more delicate. These different attributes require a precise and catered approach to the electrolysis treatment. Mismatching the needed electrical current and the kind of hair being treated can result in less-optimal results, or worse.
It all comes down to education, experience, and skills, which we'll talk about more in a later section.
That being said, it is important to keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different, and some individuals are more prone to different types of reactions to their electrolysis treatment than others. A good electrologist will talk you through this and explain what you can expect post-treatment.
Personal Recommendations & Reviews
The first place many of us turn to when searching for anything new, is to our friends and family for personal experience and recommendations. This is a great way to fast filter to service providers who may already be a close fit for you. Then you’ll start your search with a ready-made shortlist you can further research and meet for consultations.
Don’t have anyone in your circle to give you personalized electrologist recommendations? Public reviews are the next best thing. Some electrologists or electrology salons have reviews curated on their websites, although it’s always a good idea to check the more public, not editable sources like Google and Facebook.
You may want to consider taking these accounts in with a grain of salt. They sometimes lack context, and one person’s experience doesn’t guarantee your experience.
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Education & Experience
Electrology is a regulated industry in many, if not all, states. So you’ll want to make yourself familiar with what the education requirements and necessary licenses are to practice electrology in your state. Understanding this can help you check if a particular tech or clinic meets all those requirements and if they are up to date with any continuing education. This is one of the most important steps in choosing your electrologist as quality education can be the difference between a good and bad treatment experience.
Another element to consider is not only if they have the proper education, but how experienced they are. Typically the electrologist’s website will state how many years they have been in business and practicing electrolysis. If this information is absent, you can always ask during your consultation, or simply reach out to them via whatever contact method they provide (phone, email, social media, contact form, etc.).
Here at Professional Image Enhancement, owner Teresa has been performing electrolysis since 1995!
And while a number of years of experience can be important to consider, it’s more about the technician's education.
Experience teaches a lot, but what’s more vital is the accuracy of the tech who performs the electrolysis and their level of expertise.
An electrologist should be well informed on the ins and outs of the process of electrolysis, how it works, why it works, and other contributing factors. Techs should be aware of the initial causes of unwanted hair growth. It could be genetics, it could be a symptom of hormone imbalances or of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In some cases, some medications can be to blame for increased hair growth. The causes of unwanted hair are an important element of the whole client profile. You want an electrologist that is aware of, understands, and considers all the different causes of unwanted hair, regardless of how long they’ve been practicing.
Additionally, treating different hair types on different areas of the body requires a thorough understanding of how to correctly choose the level of current and size of needle for a specific job to achieve the desired results. A good tech will know how much electricity each hair will absorb, as not all hair will absorb the same amount.
A good electrolysis will also know the consequences of different hair removal methods a client has regularly used in the past on the process of electrolysis, and appropriately warn their client of possible negative consequences. Repeatedly plucking or waxing the hair will result in ingrown hairs, which can have a greater risk of injuring the skin. This is a conversation a well-educated electrology professional will have with you.
If the tech has the proper education and licensing, is clear on the process of electrolysis, can explain things to you in an informed and confident way, and can answer all your questions and concerns, don’t be afraid to visit a newly practicing electrologist.
Cleanliness & Sterilization
In line with education requirements held by various boards and states across the country, there are also cleanliness and sterilization requirements that electrologists and electrology clinics are held to. Electrology is a service that deals with the body, and uses needles, so beyond requirements, you want an electrologist who takes sterilization seriously for the genuine protection of their clients.
Any electrologist should be cleaning and sanitizing their work areas between each client.
This includes the chair the client sits in for treatment, either by cleaning with an appropriately graded disinfectant, and/or by replacing protective paper.
Tools and equipment should also be fresh and sterilized for each new client. Tweezers, needles, and gloves should be changed for each appointment. Needles and gloves should never be reused, and tweezers should be sanitized in an autoclave before their next use. And of course, especially after our collective experience with COVID-19, your technician should be washing their hands before beginning your appointment.
Don’t be afraid to ask the electrologist about their cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Any good practicing technician will be happy to share with you the ways they are keeping your health a top priority.
Personal Relationship
Electrology is a personal service, and like many other personal services (think hair stylists, barbers, nail technicians, doctors, dermatologists, chiropractors, dentists, etc.), you’re going to be spending a sum of hours and hours with this person one-on-one. In addition, these service providers are often helping us with things that many consider to be quite personal.
So, naturally, we want to feel comfortable with our provider. They should feel like someone we can build trust and a positive relationship with.
How do you find out if you will feel comfortable with a particular electrologist? This really isn’t something you can learn from only looking at a provider’s website or their reviews, although that can help. You need to meet, and spend a bit of time with the provider. Another reason why an in-person consultation is so important.
Comfort comes down to various things you can consider when meeting a potential electrologist.
Do they make you feel welcome when you arrive?
Are they kind and caring?
Does their presence make you feel comfortable? Safe?
Do they create a space that is free of judgment?
Yes, a lot of this is very subjective, and difficult to define. But just think back to various new people you’ve met over the course of your life. Most certainly some made you feel more comfortable or at ease than others. Sometimes it can’t be helped, and it really comes down to who you “vibe” with best, and this can only be discovered by meeting your potential electrologist.
In-Person Consultation
Most electrologists and electrology clinics offer consultations for new clients, even if those clients have had electrolysis done elsewhere before. In fact, it may be required before actual treatment can begin. And in some cases, you will find this informative consultation is even complementary and has no obligations for you to book any treatment sessions.
An in-person consultation offers the opportunity for a new, or potential, client of electrolysis to meet the technician, learn about the electrolysis process, how it works, the kinds of results you might expect, and to help you determine if electrolysis is the right permanent hair removal option for you. This is a chance for you to come with all of your questions and concerns about electrolysis treatment and to receive personal, expert answers from a practicing professional.
An initial consultation can also give you the opportunity to have a small session of electrolysis to experience the treatment for yourself. This will help you determine your level of pain tolerance, and consequently what length of sessions you are able to do. Once you know this, the electrologist can give you a better idea of how long it will take to reach your hair removal goals.
This is also a great time to ask about the electrologist’s education and experience. Especially any specific experience that directly relates to the kind of hair removal you’re seeking. For example, shaping eyebrows requires additional skills and training to do well. And working on coarse beard hair vs more fine, delicate hairs requires equally different settings and technique.
Finally, this is a chance to meet and get to know your possible electrologist, and see if you get along well and feel comfortable with them.
Specific questions about electrolysis? Call Teresa at Professional Image Enhancement at (319) 373-9596.
To help you be prepared and to make the most of your initial consultation, we’ve curated a list of questions to ask during your consultation.
Questions to ask at your initial electrolysis consultation:
What is your education? Do you have [appropriate license for your area]?
Can you spend some time walking me through the process of the electrolysis treatment and it works?
What is the healing process like, and what should I expect after treatment?
What can I do to help the healing process?
Do you work on [specific hair removal area of interest]?
How much experience do you have with [specific type of electrolysis you’re looking for] OR [your specific hair removal situation]?
Could you take a few minutes to walk me through your cleaning and sanitizing procedures, both before and after a client’s treatment?
If they have a negative review that has you concerned: I’m really interested in your service, but I came across your review that mentions [XYZ complaint]. Could you shed some light on this situation and share why this should or shouldn’t be a concern for me?
What are the modalities you use, and what would you recommend for my hair removal goals?
Would we be able to try a few minutes of electrolysis [on area of interest, eg., chin, knuckles, back, upper lip, armpit]?
These are my hair removal goals: ___. Given my pain tolerance during our test session and your experience, what treatment plan would you put together for me, and how long would you predict I could reach my goal? I understand that this is only a prediction and could change with time.
What are the things you want all of your clients to understand about electrolysis?
Are there any concerns you have or anything else I should know about regarding my treatment?
What can I do to ensure I have a positive electrolysis experience?
Time to find your electrologist!
Now you are prepared to go out and find an electrologist that’s the perfect fit for you. If you still have electrolysis questions of your own, schedule an electrolysis consultation with Teresa at our salon in Cedar Rapids by calling (319) 373-9596 or by requesting an appointment online.