before & after care
pre-treatment care
✦ Stop tweezing/waxing at least 4 weeks prior your first appointment, then give your tweezers to a friend for the next 12-18 months so you aren’t tempted to tweeze in between treatments. :-)
✦ Shaving between treatments is okay, but definitely stop shaving at least 3 days prior your appointment. In order to perform electrolysis, the hair must be long enough to grab with tweezers.
✦ The hair should be 1/8” - 1/4” long for the most efficient treatment. Please trim, shave, or grow out the hair so that it’s 1/8” - 1/4” in length for your appointment.
✦ Avoid benzoyl peroxide, retinoids (e.g. tretinoin, retinol), AHAs (e.g. glycolic acid, lactic acid), and BHAs (e.g. salicylic acid) 48 hours prior to your appointment
✦ Stop taking oral retinoids (e.g. Accutane) at least 6 months prior to treatment
✦ Avoid cosmetic skin treatments for 2 weeks prior to treatment (Botox, IPL, dermaplaning, microneedling, dermal fillers, microdermabrasion, tanning beds, chemical peels, etc.)
✦ Routinely (every 2 hours while outdoors) apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. We cannot treat sunburned skin, so don’t get sunburned prior to your appointment!
✦ Use a gentle exfoliant. Gentle exfoliation between electrolysis treatments sloughs off dead skin cells, preparing the skin for its next treatment and minimizing risk of ingrown hairs. Do not exfoliate 48 hours before or after your treatment as it will disrupt the skin’s natural healing process.
✦ Stay hydrated, especially in the 24 hours prior to your appointment
✦ Moisturize, especially in the 24 hours prior to your appointment. Post-shower/pre-appointment slugging can make the treatment much more efficient and far more comfortable for you!
✦ Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine prior to your appointment
✦ Get your beauty sleep the night before your appointment :-)
✦ Eat a yummy meal before your appointment :-)
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post-treatment care
✦ Immediately after treatment, routinely cleanse the treatment area
✦ Immediately after treatment, routinely apply aloe vera to soothe the treatment area
✦ If applicable, wear loose clothing near treatment area
✦ Avoid sun exposure for 24 hours (wear a wide-brimmed hat, scarf, or sun umbrella if necessary)
✦ Avoid makeup, heavy creams, and sunscreen for 24 hours, then moisturize twice daily and routinely apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
✦ Avoid swimming/hot tubs for 48 hours
✦ Avoid excessive sweating/physical activity for 48 hours
✦ Avoid shaving for 48 hours or until the skin is no longer irritated
✦ Avoid benzoyl peroxide, retinoids (e.g. tretinoin, retinol), AHAs (e.g. glycolic acid, lactic acid), and BHAs (e.g. salicylic acid) for 48 hours or until the skin is no longer irritated
✦ Avoid cosmetic skin treatments for 2 weeks post treatment (Botox, IPL, dermaplaning, microneedling, dermal fillers, microdermabrasion, tanning beds, chemical peels, etc.)
✦ And of course, stay hydrated. We love electrolytes
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The Current sells a handful of top-notch skincare products, including cleansers, toners, exfoliants, occlusives, moisturizer, sunscreen, and numbing cream. Good skincare = better results.
your skin deserves
good skincare
morning routine:
1. Use a gentle, water-based cleanser.
2. Apply hydrating toners, then serums, if desired.
4. Apply moisturizing cream.
5. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. Apply routinely throughout the day (every 2 hours while outdoors).
6. Apply makeup, if desired.
evening routine:
1. Double cleanse part one: Use a gentle, oil-based cleanser (oil cleansers are best for removing sunscreen and makeup).
2. Double cleanse part two: Use a gentle, water-based cleanser.
3. Use a gentle exfoliant 1-2 times per week, as long as your skin has recovered from its last electrolysis treatment.
4. Apply hydrating toners, then serums, if desired.
5. Apply moisturizing cream.
6. Option to slug if your skin is feeling dry! Layer a semi-occlusive to lock in all that hydration.
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numbing cream to the rescue!
A good numbing cream can make your treatment much more pleasant.
We sell Lovely Numbing Cream at The Current. It’s the best non-prescription numbing cream we have tried!
Alternatively, you can get a prescription for BLT or EMLA cream from your doctor.
How to apply:
1. Cleanse skin.
2. Apply a thick layer (think frosting!) of numbing cream to the treatment area 30-45 minutes prior to your appointment.
3. Immediately cover the area with saran wrap and leave it in place for your appointment. This is easier said than done, but the saran wrap really increases the absorption rate, so it’s a must!
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