Electrolysis

[CrawlingFromShitshowToAfterglow]

I have fine dark hairs and pale skin, and I'm considering electrolysis for my upper lip and chin.

I'm having laser for the rest of my body and the lady doing my laser has said because the hair on my face is quite fine (but still noticeable), laser wouldn't be appropriate for me.

What I'm asking is, is electrolysis worth it? I feel I've left it quite late (in my 40s), so it is even worth it at my age? Or should I just stick to those hand held mini battery shavers for my face?

Also, the lady I've spoken to about the electrolysis has suggested if I go ahead, I should buy some numbing cream as upper lip can be quite painful. Does anyone have any numbing cream suggestions as well?

Thanks.

I have electrolysis for exactly what you describe. For me, most of the hairs on my lip and chin weren't dark enough for laser. It has worked REALLY well, with most of the hairs gone completely and the rest far finer. I had got to the point before where I was plucking everyday, getting in-grown hairs, and could always feel the little spikes just pushing through. It really depressed me.
I don't find it that painful, so don't use a numbing cream, but I do take a pain killer an hour before I go, just to take the edge off.
It is important to find a good person. I saw another person for electrolysis who was not only slow (we barely got through any hairs) but also left me with little scabs and bruising. That definitely shouldn't happen.
I would REALLY recommend it.

@Ruthietuthie, that's really helpful - thank you. Your post has given me the confidence to go ahead with it.

I second that. It totally changed how I felt about myself.

The upper lip is a bitch. But it's gone now. My skin was getting very blotchy and scarred from constant prodding to get ingrown hairs out. Some strong vit c and retinol has sorted that too. Get some numbing cream and take some paracetamol before if that's your thing.

As @Ruthietuthie said, get a decent practitioner. A crap one a) won't get rid of the hairs but b) will leave you with scarring.

Go for it but definitely take a painkiller as the top lip is very sore, but it’s worth it. Use a good aftercare lotion or whatever the woman recommends as it will make a difference.

Another one who has found it very beneficial.

I found the person I see for electrolysis on this site - BIAE.

I’ve had very good results on my chin and neck.

Thank you, everyone. You have reassured me into making my first appointment, which is tomorrow!

@Gloucester15 - I've checked the link you provided and, thankfully, the lady I'm seeing tomorrow is on there!

Excellent news.

@CrawlingFromShitshowToAfterglow, sounds very promising! Keeping fingers crossed for you. It takes a bit of time, but it REALLY works. (And you look better after even the first session).
I am so grateful to not be constantly picking at my chin, feeling the spikes and seeing the in-grown hairs or the little black points sticking through. I just don't think it anymore. What a relief.

@CrawlingFromShitshowToAfterglow how was your session? I'm also part way through treatments and have it to be really effective! Hope everything went ok for you!

Just to add - in my early 40s I started to get some hair on my upper lip. Not particularly noticeable but I hated it.

Electrolysis was great for me. I had it regularly enough over a year - 18 months. No hair at all now, no need for it anymore.

I have a full on lady beard thanks to PCOS and I’ve been going to my practitioner in the NW for five years. For the first two it was twice a week (yep, it was that bad) but now I only go every two months for basic maintenance. I’ve spent thousands on it but it’s been worth every penny.

Can you recommend, also in NW

Sorry for the very late update. I went to the appointment - it hurt like hell on that upper lip, so she didn't carry on.

My chin was fine, though, and she managed to get rid of my thick perimenopausal chin hairs.

She recommended Emla cream to use on my upper lip when I went back again. Had an appointment yesterday. Emla cream is magic! It numbs your skin like a dentist's anesthetic injection!

It did look like a bit of a prat travelling to her with cling film on my upper lip (you have to do that after applying the Emla cream for the full effect).

I managed to lie there while she got rid of a lot of hairs on my upper lip. Going back again with more Emla on my face!

Thank you for your advice, everyone.

Glad it went well, it’s worth every penny.

Best to get the hairs while they still have pigment. The grey ones are even thicker and spikier and no good for laser. I've had a quite a lot of upper lip & beard electrolysis but after a couple of years I could do with more.

I had it 30 years ago. It worked, I'm now nearly 60 and I would say in 30 years that I could count on one hand the number of hairs on my top lip that I have had to get the tweezers out for. I don't know how different/better/worse the technology is today but I can honestly say I just had one treatment.

Beauty treatments are really not my thing. I'm not someone who wears make up or has my legs waxed or uses moisturiser or gets my nails done etc and I have no memory as to why I went and had it done - but I did. And I am so glad I did.

These days the hairs are on my chin but nobody really notices when you are old. I would say get it done - it really made me feel better about myself.