MELISSA WHITLER | NBCU Fellow
Melissa@DallasVoice.com
One important aspect of our well-being is how we look, as it can be quite distressing when our physical self does not align with our inner being. For transgender people especially, gender dysphoria can become debilitating.
Electrolysis is one procedure that offers permanent hair removal. And in North Texas, trans people looking for electrolysis can turn to Hair & Now, a trans-owned and -operated business that offers not just hair removal, but understanding, too.
Valerie Jackson, who first sought out electrolysis in 2012 as the first step in her gender transition, created Hair & Now. Jackson developed a friendship while working weekly with her electrologist, and Jackson then decided to start learning the process herself.
“I’m a very detail-oriented person, and training put a determination in me to learn this and give this opportunity to people,” Jackson explained.
In 2013, Jackson and her friend started a company together; that company eventually grew into two locations. Then when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jackson started her own practice.
“It’s quite the journey, something I never expected,” Jackson said. “It was just a service that I needed, and I didn’t expect to fall in love with it. Now I’m able to provide the same care that I received that was so vital for my journey.”
The process of receiving electrolysis at Hair & Now begins with a free consultation to discuss the personal needs of the client. An individualized treatment schedule is created for that client based on their needs, as hair growth is influenced by hormones and genetics.
Jackson said that her clientele includes both transgender and cisgender women dealing with unwanted facial hair. “About a third of our clientele are individuals seeking gender transition-related electrolysis, and half are cisgender women with polycystic ovary syndrome,” said Jackson. (PCOS side effects include a hormonal imbalance that causes increased hair growth.)
Despite the varied reasons her clients have for seeking treatment, Jackson has found that the emotional and psychological distress they experience is the same across the two groups of women.
Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved method for permanent hair removal, and it requires several rounds of treatment over the course of multiple months.
The procedure involves inserting a probe in each hair follicle, then the machine admits small amount of heat so the hair can never grow again.
Because only one hair is treated every few seconds, and not all hair grows at the same rate, the process must be done across multiple sessions.
Hair & Now is working to expand, as Jackson has two previous clients who are now training, as she did, to be electrologists. Recently they were able to eliminate their waiting list and accommodate everyone seeking their services.
“It’s very rewarding to teach others, as I find myself to be more valuable when I can duplicate myself,” Jackson explained. “The way that I teach them is a way that maintains consistency in our treatments.”
Spring is their busiest time, and the business sees on average 60 clients a month. Jackson said her business is on the right path to continue expanding in the community.
“A large portion of being a good practitioner is being able to empathize with patients when they’re coming in to see us,” Jackson explained. “The fact that we know what it’s like to be on the other side of things allows us to connect with the individuals and develops an immediate trust between us that makes for an effective treatment.”
For more information and to schedule a consultation, go to HairNowElectrolysis.com.