I am a medium skinned black woman. I am thinking about having electrolysis done on my facial hair.?

I heard that electrolysis doesn't work as well on people with darker skin tones. That it will leave discoloration in places treated. Is this true? Any recommendations for electrolysis treatments available for blacks in the Philly area.

I am a medium skinned black woman. I am thinking about having electrolysis done on my facial hair.?
Hey Cass,





I think I went to Lucy Peters when I lived in Philly to have it done.





First, it hurts. Just imagine being stuck with a safety pin and then zapped. Over and over again for 30 minutes.





I have sensitive skin, so I broke out for about an hour afterwards. My best friend is a chocolate complexion, and she scabbed when she had it done. Neither lasted more than a few days.





Also, since hair grows in 13 week cycles, you will have to get it done religiously for 13 - 26 weeks.





It works fine when you have it done, but the hair grows back, even after completing all the cycles.





What you are referring to that doesn't work as effectively on darker skin is laser hair removal, which is different from electrolysis.
Reply:Electrolysis will work on you and it will be great...check with a professional for advice.
Reply:You're probably thinking about laser, rather than electroloysis. But you'd do well to think very carefully about all the options available and how likely they are to be successful.





If there's not too much of it, do you really need to do anything? Most guys are OK about women with, for example, a slight moustache.





If you do decide you have to do something, then there isn't a simple answer.





Facial (and also body) hair on women comes about in the same way as on men because of





1) your body being sensitized, before you were even born, to testosterone -- doesn't happen to all girls, but does to many





2) your body producing high levels of testosterone





The growth rate and coarseness of the hair depends on just how much testosterone is circulating in your bloodstream.





Steer clear of bleaching -- when someone sees you against the light you'll look as if you have a glowing moustache and/or beard.





As far as removing it is concerned it's worth remembering that





* Waxing, plucking, threading, epilating all pull the hair out by the roots and where the growth is hormonally-driven can actually stimulate a dormant follicle into producing more hair quicker. They also distort the root if done repeatedly, leading to hair growing at strange angles. And you've got to let the hair grow to quite a length before you can repeat the exercise. It can also damage the skin and discolor it. Long-term use of waxing also causes bad wrinkles.





* Chemical depilatories strong enough to remove the hair are very likely to burn the skin, cause swelling and cause long-term discoloration of the skin.





* Laser is also liable to cause burning and discoloration and in any case only works effectively on a dark hair/light skin combinantion.





* Electrolysis is very liable to cause scarring and discoloration of the skin.





Which, like it or not, leaves shaving which does not damage the skin. Best done with a men's-style electric razor, the best of which, for women, are probably those from the men's range of Norelco razors (Philishave outside the US). Most women who try a men's Norelco wonder why nobody ever told them about it before.