Electrolysis Pre & Post Care: How to Prepare and Heal Well

How should I prepare for my electrolysis appointment?

Let the hair grow. Three to four days of growth gives me enough length to grip each hair and treat the follicle accurately. Please don't tweeze or wax between sessions — trimming or shaving is fine.

Arrive with clean skin. Remove makeup from the treatment area before you come in; I can only treat clean, healthy skin.

Hydrate well. Drink plenty of water the day before, the day of, and the day after your session, and skip alcohol the night before. Hydrated follicles are easier to treat, usually feel more comfortable, and heal faster.

Eat a meal and go easy on stimulants. Having eaten helps with comfort, while caffeine, chocolate and sugar on treatment day can make the skin feel more sensitive.

What should I avoid before treatment?

Avoid sun exposure for 48 hours beforehand. Skin that has been activated by the sun is more prone to temporary darkening.

Pause strong retinoids such as tretinoin or tazarotene at least one week before treatment. If you have taken isotretinoin (Accutane), please wait at least six months after finishing before starting electrolysis.

Plan around sensitivity. Stress, lack of sleep, and the days just before or during your period can make treatment feel more intense. If you'd like to use a topical numbing cream, apply it about 30 minutes before your appointment and let me know when you arrive.

How do I care for my skin after electrolysis?

Keep it clean and bare for 24 hours. Skip makeup, perfume and alcohol-based products on the treated area. A gentle cleanser or witch hazel is all you need, applied with clean hands or a cotton swab.

Moisturize to help healing. A few drops of Wurayo Aftercare Oil the evening after treatment keep the skin comfortable and help prevent scabbing. I made it for exactly this, and you can pick up a bottle at the studio. If redness or swelling lingers into the second day, a 1% hydrocortisone cream can calm it.

Stay out of chlorinated pools for 48 hours, and avoid extended sun for 72 hours. Irritated skin can overproduce pigment, so protect it while it settles.

What is normal after a session?

Mild redness, small bumps, or a little swelling are common and usually fade within hours to a day or two. Occasionally tiny scabs form — leave them alone and let them fall off naturally, since picking can lead to marks or infection.

Some regrowth is expected. Hairs in different growth stages surface over the following weeks, and regrowth tends to come back finer and weaker. Booking your next session once that first regrowth appears keeps treatment efficient.

If anything feels unusual or doesn't settle, call or message me — I'd always rather hear from you.