Electrolysis still popular?

[Strawberry chops]

I qualified in Electolysis many years ago and would like to get back into it perphaps going onto do advanced. How many of you do it and is it still popular or is it on the decline?
Thanks

 

[Ruth Mills]

I'm pretty sure it's still popular with the transsexual market - you should also find that each transsexual client will bring in a lot of repeat business, as it takes many hours of electrolysis to clear typical male beard growth - as well as transsexual clients being likely to recommend you to other people in the trans community.

But I would be inclined to do some research first, to see how the demand for electrolysis compares with laser hair removal and other similar treatments now...

 

[weezie]

It depends on the age of your clientele, also I would think. In the salon I used to work at most of the clients were over 40 and nearly all of them had electrolysis for the odd facial hair. :hug:

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

I don't perform electrolysis but i can honestly say that in the last two years i have never once been asked for it or if i know of anyone that does it, though i have been asked several times about laser. I don't do that either. Just waxing for me.

Ruth, can transexuals have laser on their beard?

I would think electrolysis would take a long time and people are quite impatient nowadays.

 

[Ruth Mills]

Ruth, can transexuals have laser on their beard?

Yes, I have heard of people having laser done for their beard, but my understanding was that a good electrologist could produce better results, and that laser didn't work anywhere near as well if you have lightly pigmented beard hair as opposed to dark hair (much of my growth is fairly light in colour, for example)...

Maybe laser techniques have come on since then though... I would need to investigate... although the lady who does my waxing is hoping to start electro again soon and I am going to "guinea pig" for her while she gets up to speed

 

[weezie]

I still think electrolysis is the only "guaranteed" permanent hair removal process. You can even get it on the NHS (I know as a friend had it done). It is also completely safe where as laser hasn't been around long enough to know the long term affects. If you have laser you sign a disclaimer saying you understand it may not work. :hug: I think as a therapist (as with any treatment) you need to educate the client as to what electrolysis does.

 

[Ruth Mills]

I still think electrolysis is the only "guaranteed" permanent hair removal process. You can even get it on the NHS (I know as a friend had it done). It is also completely safe where as laser hasn't been around long enough to know the long term affects. If you have laser you sign a disclaimer saying you understand it may not work. :hug: I think as a therapist (as with any treatment) you need to educate the client as to what electrolysis does.

Yep, electrolysis works by either cauterizing the hair follicle (diathermy), chemically burning it by means of the localised creation of hydroxide ions [a.k.a. "lye"] (galvanic) or a combination of the two (blend). In the hands of a skilled practitioner, the destructive force will be targeted precisely at the hair follicle, minimising the risk of "collateral damage".

Whereas with laser, the technique is relying on darker pigmented hairs absorbing the majority of the laser's energy (such that the hair heats up and destroys the root) - however the laser will still be heating up the surrounding skin though, albeit by a lesser amount than the hair - but potentially still enough to cause redness and other skin reactions.

 

[weezie]

Exactly Ruth, great explanation. :hug:

 

[Tia 203]

I've been offering electrolysis for 20 years now. When I started it really was the "bread and butter" of the business. Not now ~ people are more into relaxation and pampering. I still think it's a life-changing treatment to do and the clients who benefit from it would agree, but I don't think it's going to make you a fortune anymore.

 

[Ruth Mills]

I've been offering electrolysis for 20 years now. When I started it really was the "bread and butter" of the business. Not now ~ people are more into relaxation and pampering. I still think it's a life-changing treatment to do and the clients who benefit from it would agree, but I don't think it's going to make you a fortune anymore.

Have you tried attracting clients from the trans community yet incidentally? As you may find a very loyal client base for electrolysis, with a good scope for lots of repeat appointments.

 

[andi]

I totally agree I have been offering electrolysis for nearly 20 years and I have to say that my clients are very loyal and have given me lots of referals. I find that clients usually come to me for another treatment first and then they ask about the electrolysis. If you really love doing it I would say have a go as it gives great job satisfaction but you won't make a fortune from as has just been said.

 

[Tia 203]

There's no trans community where I live...or certainly none that have been brave enough to come out! (North of Scotland)
The only thing with electrolysis is that if you're good at it, your customers' visits become less frequent! The customers I've helped are still very loyal and do send referrals, but it's nothing like what it was in the 80's and 90's. These customers now enjoy the pleasant treatments!
I still think it's the number 1 treatment for sucessful and permanent hair removal, but people are so eaily lured by the promise of painless hair removal. We know that laser isn't totally painless, but the clients don't.
The other problem I've come across is clients who have attended other salons for electrolysis and been really disappointed when the hairs came back after their treatment! You HAVE to be totally honest from the outset and explain that it's going to require commitment from them and it's NOT going to be particularly pleasant, but hey, the results are definately worth it.
I LOVE doing electrolysis ~ it gives me the most pleasure and satisfaction of all the treatments I do. Some of my clients travel 100 miles for their electrolysis, which is such a compliment. It really can change someone's life.

 

[hazelb]

I would like an update on this topic:

It's now 2014 and are clients still asking for electrolysis?

It looks like quite a few colleges are now dropping electrical epilation from their sylibusis. Does that mean that it is no longer wanted as a treatment, or does it mean there will be a shortage of properly trained electrologists out there?

I am contemplating training in a vtct level 3 electrical epilation and would like to know if the treatment is still a popular choice.

 

[SarahH2003]

We do lots of electrolysis and it's hugely popular. We have gained a reputation for it and is the bread and butter of our work. There is definitely still a demand for this treatment as clients have found the results of laser and ipl limiting sometimes, particularly on fair hair.

 

[Joely_x]

I would like an update on this topic:

It's now 2014 and are clients still asking for electrolysis?

It looks like quite a few colleges are now dropping electrical epilation from their sylibusis. Does that mean that it is no longer wanted as a treatment, or does it mean there will be a shortage of properly trained electrologists out there?

I am contemplating training in a vtct level 3 electrical epilation and would like to know if the treatment is still a popular choice.

I went back to college after I done my Level 3 Beauty to do the VTCT Level 3 Epilation as it was taken off the syllabus when I done beauty therapy anyway when I went to do the Epilation I was the only person in the class so I don't think there is a huge amount of demand for it anymore. Since I qualified (2010) nobody has asked for it and you don't tend to find it on price lists anymore xx


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[gillian w]

Its become a specialist treatment and quite rightly so because in the wrong unskilled hands it can scar or be ineffective.People who want it will seek out the right therapists to do it.
It has no way had its day.With the dumbing down of the rest of the qualifications it should stand alone as a level 4 qualification.

 

[littlebear]

We do lots of electrolysis and it's hugely popular. We have gained a reputation for it and is the bread and butter of our work. There is definitely still a demand for this treatment as clients have found the results of laser and ipl limiting sometimes, particularly on fair hair.

For me Electrolysis is my bread and butter treatment as most of my clients have tried laser with disappointing results and some have had increased hair growth as a result of their laser treatment