Electrolysis Onboarding Information

1. About Electrolysis

• Electrolysis is the process of gently inserting into each follicle with a small rounded metal probe, and creating a reaction inside the follicle to destroy the hair growth cells. 

• Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal method.

• HOW MANY SESSIONS? There’s no way to know an exact number, due to the nature of our hair growing in cycles, there are MANY more follicles than meet the eye, hormones, genetics, treatment area size, there are too many factors to guess.

• Hair growth cycle: A natural process that's always happening on our bodies, everywhere, hairs growing in (anagen) hairs shedding (telogen), to see a full cycle of 1 hair can take weeks to multiple months, for us to see the entire cycle in an area can be over a year.
   

• Every treated hair = permanent damage to hair growth cells.
   

• Laser is a permanent reduction method, not permanent removal, and can sometimes increase growth (especially on the face and with hormonal hair).  It doesn’t work on hairs w/out pigment. Treated hair can even grow back years later.
   

• Different modalities (techniques) vary in speed and permanency, but all are safe and effective when done properly. 

  • We optimize for the greatest permanency without changes to the skin often this method will include galvanic.

  • Electrolysis: DC galvanic destruction of follicle, Thermolysis: RF heat destruction of follicle, Blend: Combination of both.
     

• Seeing new growth after treatment is normal — those hairs are from follicles that weren’t active earlier. Those are called undergrowth- hairs beneath the surface of the skin and invisible at the time of treatment.

  • Regrowth from treated follicles is unlikely but possible, these will always be permanently damaged (thinner, lighter, etc.)

• Progress takes time: Track with monthly photos (think of it like working out — gradual, but very real).

 

2. Before Appointment

• Hair growth: Leave 2–4 days of growth (closer to 5 for surgery prep areas). Do not pluck or wax. 

• Why do I need to grow hair out, and what if this causes dysphoria?

  • Electrolysis requires visible hair growth so each hair can be properly treated.

• Options that may help reduce gender dysphoria during treatment:

  • Minimal necessary growth only: Hair only needs to be grown for the shortest time required, no longer.

  • Sectional Treatment: We can work in sections so only specified areas need to be grown out at a time.

  • Masks and Coverings: Wearing a mask or face covering during grow-out days can help reduce distress or visibility. 

• How Long do you need the hair?

  • Long enough to grab with a tweezer, usually around 1/8th of an inch.

• What if my hair is too long?

  • You can simply trim the hair to a shorter length beforehand. If you don’t have a trimmer, we have one in the office, but its highly recommended to come with your hair of proper length so we can make the most of your apt time.​​

• Shaving between appointments is recommended once the skin has healed.

  • ​Shaving (or derma-planing) is the only recommended method of temporary hair removal, gliding over the surface of the skin rather than creating deep irritation like waxing, sugaring, plucking, or threading. 

• Lidocaine Cream: Not recommended on first apt. If this is decidedly necessary, optimal usage is applying 1-2 hours before with plastic wrap. Please seek professional medical advice before usage and for related health questions.

• Lidocaine Disclaimers:

  • Consult with a doctor before using lidocaine

  • Test a small area of skin before applying lidocaine (do not use if allergic)

  • Do not apply to damaged or irritated skin

  • Avoid applying more than needed or covering larger areas than needed

  • Do not get lidocaine in your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or other sensitive areas

• Arrival: Text your operator when you arrive. First-time clients arrive 5-10 minutes early for paperwork.

  • Clothing: Wear comfortable clothes. For bottom work, easy-access clothing (skirts, dresses, sweatpants, etc.) is preferred.

  • Comfort prep: Eat beforehand, shower, and avoid caffeine.

  • Hydration: Healthy, but not required for treatment.

• Evening/Weekend appointments: Doors may be locked; text your operator when you arrive.

• Getting to your apt: Big brick building ‘The Cannery’, we’re located within the Sola Salon Studios at 1675 Alhambra Blvd, and we’re down the hall on the left in unit #4 

• Parking: Present your license plate to your operator so we can validate your parking. Parking is valid for 3 hrs.
   

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3. During Appointment

• Some time is spent on positioning, cleaning, phoresis, and setup — not every minute of a session is epilation.
   

• We may and likely will not clear an entire area in one session! This is expected. Each follicle needs a certain amount of time in the follicle, creating a natural time constraint. There’s also often an over abundance of hair.
   

• If treating multiple areas, we usually focus on one location of your choice, per session, for efficiency.
   

• Discomfort is normal (we’re destroying hair cells). Let us know if you need adjustments:

• Client comfort options guide:

  • Most important: talk to your operator, we can adjust settings while retaining permanency.

  • Ibuprofen before your session (consult with your doctor before taking this)

  • Lidocaine before your session (numbing cream self-applied 1hr+ before treatment, consult doctor before using)

• Other things that help:

  • Well hydrated before apt

  • No caffeine, nicotine, or stimulants before

  • Well fed before apt

  • Comfy clothes

 

4. After Appointment

• Normal reactions: TEMPORARY redness, tiny dots, irritation, or small pimples (may last a few days or so).

  • If tiny pimples or other dots develop: Don’t pick, scratch, touch. Don’t use irritating products on healing skin.

  • Ways to avoid these include: avoid touching treatment areas, wearing clean masks, cleaning pillowcases, any products applied must be applied with a clean applicator.

• Avoid: Sun exposure (until healed), acids, scrubs, alcohol-based products, and avoid touching/scratching/picking the area.

  • Exercise is okay, but may increase the chance of developing temporary pimples

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• Okay to use: Sunscreen, gentle moisturizer/cleanser applied with clean hands.

  • If you find any of these products to be irritating to the treatment area, then avoid them at your own discretion. 

 

5. Scheduling

• Timeline: Full face clearing often takes 1–2 years, sometimes more, of weekly sessions. 

• Your appointment reserves operator time, not 100% treatment minutes (though we maximize treatment as much as possible).

• Typical session length: 1 hour or more.

• Tapering Sessions: As progress is made, we may be able to reduce frequency or apt length. Circumstantial, but takes a while to get there. 

• Why consistency matters:

  • Provides the highest quality, most time-efficient results.
     

 

6. Surgery Prep (If Applicable)

• Timeline: Bottom prep usually requires 1–2 years of weekly sessions.

  • Shallow-depth prep: ~1 year.

• Consistency: Weekly sessions at the same time/day are best. W

• Typical session length: 1 hour or more.

• Pause treatment: 3–4 weeks before surgery.

• Why consistency matters:

  • Provides the highest quality, most time-efficient results.

  • Untreated hairs may end up inside the body post-surgery, where they cannot be removed.

• Surgeons have consistently been pleased with our clients’ results. All our operators have extensive experience with surgery prep

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7. Payment and Insurance

• If using LOA or contract: we bill insurance directly, we need authorization. 

  • To obtain authorization we need a REFERRAL from your primary or surgeon. 

  • Your primary or surgeon should also send the referral and a treatment authorization request to your insurance to start the process of getting treatment approved. 

  • Once we have authorization and an LOA or contract is in place, we can schedule you. 

• SUPERBILLS: we provide a superbill (you pay us, then you submit superbill to insurance).

  • Reimbursement is not guaranteed

  • Many clients submit superbills in batches, but you can submit after each session.

• Authorization types (Superbill Only):

  • Pre-authorization: Units approved in advance → easier/faster reimbursement.

  • Post-authorization: You start treatment, then submit claims; insurance may approve units retroactively.

• We bill insurance at our standard rates, which include the administrative cost of claim submission and processing.

• For clients who pay in full at the time of service (cash, card, or Venmo), we offer a 21% Prompt Pay Discount.

  • This discount helps offset insurance billing overhead and makes our services more affordable for direct-pay clients.

• Please contact us to learn more about current rates and payment options.

• Payment is due at the time of treatment. We accept cash and all major credit cards. 

 

8. Common Myths & Questions

• Does shaving make hair worse? No — it only feels coarser because of the trimmed tip, but it doesn’t increase growth or thickness.

• Is electrolysis expensive? The cost is on par with other similar services, but considering the results of true permanency, the cost is nominal. 

• Is electrolysis slow? No — it’s the fastest way to permanently remove hair, because it’s the only method that’s permanent.

• Is electrolysis painful? Tolerance varies, but we have options to increase comfort.

• I had electrolysis years ago and developed a new hair problem, did electrolysis even work? YES — Although electrolysis permanently damages any hair that is treated, new hairs can still develop in the future due to factors unrelated to treatment, such as hormonal changes.

9. Policy

• We require 48 hours minimum notice for any cancellation or a 50$ fee may be applied. 

• Please book responsibly — cancellations and no-shows may limit your progress and delay results.

• Appointments will be charged in full for no-warning no-shows. Repeated short-term cancellations may result in stoppage of future services. 

• Patients will be seen by appointment only.

• Late arrivals will be charged by time originally scheduled, and appointments may not be able to be extended.

• The practitioner reserves the right to postpone or refuse treatment when client mobility limitations create an unsafe working environment or compromise the electrologist’s ergonomic safety. Accommodations may be arranged if discussed in advance.

 

10. Final Notes

• Patience and consistency are key to the best long term results!

• Always feel free to ask questions; we’re here to help!