An Inside Look
A Permanent Solution Stop Fighting That Frustrating Fuzz By Elizabeth French
Electrologist Julie Thornton is delighted to have her office in Dundee (at 4910 Dodge Street, Suite 101). She moved her business, A Permanent Solution, to this location in 2012 because she loves the neighborhood—in fact, her childhood home is just blocks away! She also loves having a discreet office that’s still on the main drag. “It’s really easy to find me here, right on Dodge Street,” she says. Though Julie’s mother was also an electrologist, it took Julie some time to discover that she belonged in the business. After earning a bachelor’s degree in fashion design in Chicago, she worked in several places before her mother suggested that Julie’s “extreme attention to detail” would serve her well in electrology. Julie completed over 600 hours of training and practice before starting her own practice in 2007. Because she works in an incredibly small niche, Julie has local clients and ones who come from neighboring states. With fewer and fewer electrology schools left, it is becoming increasingly difficult to train new electrologists. Julie continues to educate herself on new methods and technology through the American Electrology Association, which allows fellow professionals to network while continuing their educations. There are only 11 electrologists left in the state of Nebraska, many in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. Sadly, Julie says, “once the two in Lincoln retire, there won’t be anyone else.” Julie notes that about 80 percent of her work is on the face and 20 percent is on the rest of the body. The excess hair that her clients want removed can show up for many different reasons. Some of her clients are going through polycystic ovarian syndrome. “Due to the hormonal factors involved with PCOS, they tend to get a lot of hair growth,” Julie shares. “I also have a lot of transgender clients.” Many of her clients are going through menopause. “As our estrogen levels drop,” she explains, “our male hormones tend to stay at the same level, so we will see a lot of hair growth in that stage of our lives. People who go on certain medications tend to get hair growth, and then there are just some people who have a genetic predisposition to it.” Depending on an individual’s hair growth, clients come to Julie on different schedules. While some only need yearly or monthly touch-ups, some come on a weekly basis for maintenance. To cater to her clientele, Julie typically offers hours between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and she even does sessions on Saturday! People find her online booking “very convenient,” she says. It is important to note the vast difference between electrolysis and laser hair removal. While an electrolysis session can take longer, it works differently.
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Because it works under the skin, it is a good solution for people of many different complexions. Also, Julie points out, “Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved solution for permanent hair removal.” Rather than the laser used in laser hair removal, Julie utilizes electricity. “It’s a thin wire that slides into the hair follicle. The electricity kills the cells at the bottom.” Using a probe that is as thin as the hair itself, the procedure varies in length, depending on the amount and thickness of the hair. To achieve the optimal result, Julie uses insulated probes, which keep the heat from her instrument underneath the skin, promoting faster healing. Without insulated probes, Julie says, “the area could be a little redder longer.” Julie likes to get to know her new clients and walk them through the treatment process before she begins. A challenge she often faces is that many people confuse electrolysis with laser hair removal. “I was at a bridal show recently, and I had people coming up to me, saying their hair was too light for electrolysis to work. I explained that it is laser hair removal, not electrolysis, that depends on the hair’s color. Electrolysis can be done on hair that is any color.” People also overestimate the amount of pain the procedure can cause. Julie’s new clients are often surprised, she shares, at how little pain they experience. If clients are still concerned about pain relief, they can obtain a prescription for lidocaine from their general practitioners, but most do not. Most of them need no numbing whatsoever, just walking away smoother and happier. The most rewarding part of Julie’s profession is helping her clients through emotional and private stages of their lives. “Everyone is so kind,” she says, “and they’re so grateful to finally have this dealt with.” Julie recommends that clients talk to their primary physicians before beginning electrolysis or any type of hair removal, as medications or medical conditions could be contributing to excess hair growth. If electrolysis is the next step for you, call Julie at A Permanent Solution today at 402-558-1948. For more information, visit omahaelectrology.com. WE
Electrologist Julie Thornton