Good questions, honest answers.

Electrolysis is a method of permanent hair removal that treats one follicle at a time. A fine, single-use probe the width of the hair slides into the natural opening of the follicle, and a small amount of energy disables the growth cells at the root so that follicle can no longer produce a hair. It is the only method proven to remove hair permanently, on any colour of hair and any tone of skin.

Yes. Electrolysis is the only hair-removal method the FDA and Health Canada permit to be described as permanent. Once a follicle’s growth centre is destroyed, it can’t grow a hair again. Laser and IPL reduce or delay growth but aren’t classified as permanent.

Laser relies on pigment contrast and often fails on blonde, red, grey, and fine hair, and needs extra care on darker skin. Electrolysis targets the follicle’s structure directly, so it works on every hair colour and every skin tone, and it’s permanent rather than a reduction.

Because it is the only method health authorities in North America permit to be called permanent, and because it works where laser cannot, on fine, light, red, grey, and white hair, and on every skin tone. It treats each follicle individually, so results do not depend on pigment or on repeated maintenance. That precision is why surgical teams ask for electrolysis on the areas that matter most.

The probe does not pierce or puncture the skin. It slides into the follicle’s own natural opening, the same channel the hair grows through, so nothing is cut. A small, controlled amount of energy at the base disables the cells responsible for growth, and the loosened hair is then lifted out with tweezers. You feel a brief warmth, not a needle going in.

Galvanic uses a chemical reaction to break down the growth cells, thermolysis uses heat, and blend combines both in the same insertion. Each has strengths depending on the hair and the area. John selects and tunes the method for your hair type, skin, and comfort rather than treating everyone the same way.

That’s decided at your consultation and precision test. John assesses your hair coarseness, the area, and your skin’s response, then chooses the method and settings that clear the hair effectively while keeping you comfortable. It can be adjusted from visit to visit as an area changes.

John treats on an Apilus Senior Electropil, a professional computer-controlled electro-epilator by Dectro, paired with sterile, single-use probes that are opened in front of you and discarded after your session. The Apilus platform offers finely adjustable thermolysis and blend settings and a built-in comfort test, so John can dial in the energy precisely for your hair and skin.

Almost anywhere hair grows: upper lip, chin, jaw and full face, eyebrows (between the brows), neck, underarms, chest, abdomen, back, hands and feet, bikini and intimate areas, and the donor areas for gender-affirming surgery. The eyelashes and the inside of the nose and ears are the main areas not treated. If you’re unsure about a specific area, ask.

Both. Because you only pay for the time you need, a short visit can clear a few stubborn hairs, and a longer plan can work through a large area such as a full beard or a surgical donor site over a series of sessions. John will map a schedule that fits the size of the job.

Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people come to us. Laser depends on pigment, so it thins dark hair but leaves fine, light, red, grey, and white hair behind, and it can stop working once the remaining hair loses pigment. Electrolysis treats the follicle directly, regardless of colour, so it finishes what laser started and clears what laser never could.

No. Coarse, deep, and stubborn hair is exactly what electrolysis is built for. Very dense areas simply take a planned series of sessions. John tunes the method and energy to the hair in front of him, so even the most resistant follicles are treated safely.

The goal is complete, permanent clearance of the area you are treating, and that is achievable. It takes a planned series of sessions because hair grows in cycles and only actively growing follicles can be treated at each visit. Once an area is fully cleared, occasional stray hairs from newly active follicles can appear, especially with hormonal changes, and are quickly touched up.

Yes. Some people use laser first to reduce dense, dark hair quickly, then electrolysis to permanently finish the fine and light hair laser leaves behind. If you are already having laser elsewhere, John will work around it and focus electrolysis where it matters most.

There is no strict age limit, and electrolysis is safe across ages. For minors, we ask for a parent or guardian’s consent and involvement. If you have questions about treating a younger client, just ask.

Look for a Certified Professional Electrologist (C.P.E.), a national standard that requires tested knowledge of skin, hair biology, sterilization, and technique. John Wieringa is a C.P.E. Electrolysis is not licensed the same way in every region, so the credential, along with hospital-grade hygiene and single-use probes, is your best assurance of safe, skilled care.

Yes, everyone is welcome. In The Styx serves women, men, non-binary, and trans clients, and is a queer-positive space. You’re treated with full respect and complete discretion, whatever brings you in.

You work directly with John Wieringa, a Certified Professional Electrologist, in a private one-on-one clinic rather than a busy salon. He brings decades of precision trade experience, hospital-grade hygiene, single-use probes, and an honest, education-first approach, and the practice specializes in the gender-affirming and PCOS work many clinics don’t focus on.

Yes. In The Styx is a private, one-on-one clinic in Thamesville with easy parking and complete discretion. There’s no busy waiting room, it’s just you and John. See the Location page.

Hours are flexible and appointments are by arrangement. Tell John the days and times that work for you when you send a request, and he’ll find a slot that fits.

No referral is needed to book.

Yes. Your first visit includes a short consultation and a precision test so John can assess your hair and skin, tune the settings for your comfort, and give you a realistic plan and estimate. To book, use our Contact page.

There’s no penalty to cancel or reschedule. Life happens, just let John know as early as you can so the time can be offered to someone else.

CA$20 for the first 15 minutes (including sanitization and a sterile, single-use probe), then CA$1 per additional minute, so you only pay for the time you need. A 30-minute session is $35 and a 60-minute session is $65. See the Pricing page for examples and timelines.

No packages and no pre-payment. You pay per session, only for the time used.

Payment is due at each appointment. John accepts cash, e-transfer, and debit, and provides itemized receipts for your insurance or tax claims.

Some Canadian extended-health plans may cover electrolysis, often with a physician’s note, particularly for PCOS or gender-affirming care. Coverage varies by plan, so confirm with your insurer. The cost may also qualify for the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC). More on the Pricing page.

Yes. We specialize in MTF facial feminization and in pre-surgical clearance for GRS/GCS (vaginoplasty and phalloplasty), which surgeons ask for so donor tissue is hair-free. See our gender-affirming care →

For vaginoplasty and phalloplasty, surgeons build the new structure from skin that naturally grows hair. If those follicles are still active, hair can grow inside after surgery and cause irritation, hygiene problems, and complications that are hard to correct later. Permanently clearing the donor site beforehand removes that risk for good.

Many surgical teams require permanent hair removal of the donor site and ask specifically for electrolysis. Laser can thin hair but cannot confirm a follicle is truly gone, and it misses light and grey hair. Electrolysis treats each follicle directly and permanently, which is the certainty surgeons need. Bring your surgeon’s instructions and John will follow them.

As early as you can. Pre-surgical clearance typically takes 12–18 months and must be completely finished 2–3 months before your surgery date, so the tissue is healed and hair-free. If you have a date or expect one, book a consultation and John will map a schedule that finishes on time.

Yes. Electrolysis has been used safely for over a century and is the most established method of permanent hair removal. Here, every session uses sterile, single-use probes and hospital-grade hygiene. Side effects are usually limited to brief redness. As with any treatment, a few health conditions are worth mentioning first, below.

Please let John know before your first session if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, a heart condition, diabetes, a tendency to keloid scars, a skin condition or infection in the area, a history of cold sores in the area, or take medication that affects healing or the skin, such as blood thinners or isotretinoin (Accutane). None of these automatically rule out treatment; they simply let John adjust the plan or, when sensible, check with your doctor first.

Most electrologists, including John, prefer to avoid elective treatment during pregnancy as a simple precaution, and galvanic and blend methods are not used. Thermolysis on small areas is generally considered low-risk, but we ask you to check with your doctor first, and many clients simply resume after pregnancy.

Tell John before booking. Because electrolysis uses a small electrical current, thermolysis is generally avoided with a pacemaker or implanted electronic device, and we ask you to clear treatment with your cardiologist first. In many cases a suitable, safe approach can be arranged once your doctor confirms.

Yes, with care. Well-managed diabetes is not a barrier, but skin can heal more slowly, so John works conservatively, keeps sessions comfortable, and pays close attention to aftercare. Let him know so the plan fits you.

Usually yes. Blood thinners can make small pinpoint marks or minor bruising slightly more likely, but they rarely prevent treatment. Tell John so he can adjust technique, and never stop prescribed medication without your doctor’s guidance.

Not during treatment. Isotretinoin (Accutane) makes skin fragile and slow to heal, so we wait until you have been off it for the period your prescriber advises, commonly around six months, before starting. Let John know and he’ll plan around it.

If you get cold sores and we’re treating the lip or face, tell John. Treatment can trigger an outbreak in people prone to them, so your doctor may suggest antiviral medication beforehand. We plan around any active outbreak.

Tell John if you scar easily or form keloids. Electrolysis is generally low-risk for scarring when done properly, but John will treat conservatively, may suggest a small test area first, and will tailor the settings to protect your skin.

Properly performed electrolysis with sterile, single-use probes and correct technique rarely causes scarring or infection. Temporary redness, tiny scabs, or small white bumps can occur and settle on their own. Picking at the area or poor aftercare is the main cause of marks, which is why John gives you clear, simple aftercare guidance.

The common, normal after-effects are brief redness, minor swelling, and occasionally tiny scabs that heal within a few days. Contact your doctor if you notice signs of infection, such as spreading redness, warmth, pus, or a fever, or if a mark isn’t healing as expected. These are uncommon, but John would always rather you ask.

PCOS raises androgen levels, which push follicles to grow thicker, darker hair, especially on the face. Electrolysis permanently closes off the blood supply to those over-stimulated roots. Temporary methods only remove the visible hair and can provoke coarser regrowth. Because PCOS is ongoing, occasional touch-ups may be needed over time.

Yes. Because electrolysis targets the follicle itself rather than pigment, it’s effective and appropriate across every skin tone, on every part of the Fitzpatrick scale.

Yes. Once the follicle is gone, painful Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) and the scarring it causes stop for good, revealing clearer, healthier skin. More on hair removal →

Tweezing and waxing tear the root, distort the follicle, and trigger a healing response that can bring hair back thicker and deeper. Between appointments, only shave or trim with clean scissors. Shaving does not make hair grow back coarser and won’t affect your treatment.

You’ll feel a brief heat or “pinprick.” Sensitivity varies by area, with the upper lip and centre of the face usually most sensitive. At your precision test we tune the settings for your comfort. Staying well-hydrated helps, and some clients use an over-the-counter numbing cream beforehand, ask John if you’d like guidance.

Mild redness, slight swelling, or tiny white bumps are normal and a sign the root was treated. They usually settle within a few hours to a couple of days. Keep the area clean, skip heavy makeup and fragranced products, and apply pure aloe vera gel for the first 24 to 48 hours.

Two simple things: allow 3 days of growth (don’t shave for 3 days) so the growth angle is visible and each hair lifts cleanly, and hydrate well the day before and the day of, because well-hydrated skin carries the current more effectively for a more comfortable, more efficient treatment.

Appointments are booked to the time you need, from quick 15-minute touch-ups to longer clearing sessions. Most people come weekly or every two weeks at first, then space visits out as an area clears. John will recommend a rhythm that fits your goals and your skin’s healing.

It depends on the area, hair density, and hormones. Most clients reach full clearance within 12 to 18 months of regular sessions; dense facial feminization work can run longer. See the Pricing page for typical ranges by area, and your consultation gives you a personal estimate.