What to look for in an electrologist.

Choosing an electrologist will be the most important factor in how long your treatments will take from start to completion, the investment, and the comfortable level of your treatments.

Their electrolysis training and qualifications (see below)

Over one-third of the US states have no certification requirement for electrologists, and states that do regulate electrolysis each have widely varying standards for certification. Electrologists should have a current, dated certificate on display where required.

They should have one if the state where they practice regulates electrolysis (see State regulations)

They should have a certification from an accredited electrology school.

Many belong to a professional trade group. The largest trade groups include:

AEA (American Electrology Association)

SCMHR (Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists)

Common national certifications include:

CPE (Certified Professional Electrologist) a certification governed by the AEA

CCE (Certified Clinical Medical Electrologist), a certification governed by SCMHR

Set up a consultation

*Check out the office. Is it clean and organized? Most places have a waiting room and private booths or offices in the back. Are the workers clean, too?

*Is everyone there professional and courteous? If not, you should look elsewhere.

*Make sure they are sanitary. Non-sterile conditions can lead to spread of infection and warts, and possibly blood-borne disease (although there are no documented cases of blood-borne disease transmission via electrolysis).

*Electrologist should wash hands before and after each treatment. The Center for Disease Control recommends electrologists use disposable gloves during treatments.

*Treatment tables should be sanitized or appropriately re-draped with paper or linen before each treatment.

*Do they use disposable probes? If not, why?

*How does the treatment feel? You should never have the feeling that a hair is being plucked or tweezed during treatment.

*Do you like the practitioner? You should get along. It can help to think that you are a team working together toward a common goal, since it’s very important to have a good rapport and an atmosphere of trust. If you don’t feel you can express your concerns about treatment to him or her, you might try someone else.

*Talk to clients (if possible). Ask to talk with clients who used the same practitioner who are done and happy. Clients should be at least 6 and preferably 12 months past their final treatment. Note: This option is not always available, as many clients of hair removal want to keep their visits private. That’s why it’s best to get a personal recommendation from a friend or loved one. Most practitioners do not have clients on hand who are willing to speak about their satisfaction, and no reputable practitioner will divulge any information about clients without first getting client permission.

*Discuss costs. Usually, electrolysis costs are calculated by time. Many places offer 15-minute increments, and the longer the session, the less it is per minute.

Discuss treatment schedule

You should find out:

*How often you’ll need to come in

*About how long each treatment will take (subsequent treatments may require less time)

*Roughly how many treatments in total you might need before you won’t need to come in any more. They will probably give you a range, since it’s hard to predict.

*Ask about post-treatment. Find out what to expect after you’ve been treated:

*Ask if you will need to do anything special to your skin after treatment.

Good electrologists keep a log of your treatment dates and times, and many will give you a card with the same information. If they don’t provide this, you should keep your own record and make sure it matches their records after each session. This is especially important if you have bought a block of time.

Give the practitioner feedback. Don’t be afraid to tell her or him to stop if it hurts. Your practitioner wants to ensure that you are not being over-treated, which can lead to injury.