Menopause hair growth catches most women off guard. You’ve probably noticed it. A dark hair on your chin that wasn’t there last year. More growth on your upper lip. Maybe coarser hair showing up on your neck or jawline. You’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.
Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause are one of the most common reasons women seek out electrolysis for the first time. Here’s what’s actually happening, and why electrolysis is worth knowing about at this stage of life.
What Hormones Have to Do With Hair
Hair growth is deeply tied to your hormone balance. During your reproductive years, estrogen keeps androgen activity in check. As estrogen declines during perimenopause and menopause, androgens (like testosterone) become relatively more dominant, even if their actual levels haven’t changed much. The result is that hair follicles that were once dormant, particularly on the face and neck, can become active and start producing coarser, darker, more visible hair.
This is sometimes called relative androgen dominance. Your body isn’t necessarily producing more androgens than before; estrogen has simply declined enough that androgens now exert a stronger effect on hair follicles, particularly around the chin, upper lip, and jawline. Hair follicles in those areas contain androgen receptors, and when androgens bind to them without estrogen to counterbalance, fine vellus hairs can transform into thicker terminal hairs.
This process often starts in the mid-to-late 40s, well before periods actually stop. For women who are post-menopausal, research suggests facial hair concerns affect roughly half of women in that stage of life.
Why This Isn’t a Phase You’ll Grow Out Of
Hormonal hair growth at this stage doesn’t typically reverse on its own. Once a follicle has been stimulated and starts producing a terminal (coarse, dark) hair, that follicle will continue doing so. Tweezing, waxing, and threading remove the hair but leave the follicle completely intact and ready to grow it back. Shaving works faster but offers no permanence either. Prescription creams like eflornithine can slow growth but don’t stop it.
For many women in this season of life, that cycle of temporary removal gets old quickly.
Why Electrolysis Makes Sense Right Now
Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal recognized by the FDA as permanent. A fine probe is inserted into the hair follicle, a small amount of electrical current is applied to destroy the follicle’s growth center, and the hair is removed. Done correctly, that follicle will not regrow hair. Laser hair removal, by contrast, is cleared only for long-term hair reduction, not permanent removal, and manufacturers are not permitted to market it otherwise.
There are a few reasons electrolysis tends to be especially well-suited for menopausal and post-menopausal hair concerns:
It works on any hair color. Laser hair removal targets pigment, which means it’s less effective (or completely ineffective) on gray, white, blonde, or light hair. Many women in menopause are dealing with exactly those hair colors on their face. Electrolysis works on all hair colors and types, with no pigment required.
It works on any skin tone. There are no restrictions based on skin color with electrolysis.
It’s permanent. At a point in life when you’d rather not think about this anymore, permanent removal is genuinely appealing.
It can be done in small areas. Facial hair concerns are often limited to specific spots such as the chin, upper lip, jawline, or sideburns. Electrolysis is precise and well-suited to targeted treatment.
What to Expect From the Process
Electrolysis works hair by hair, so it takes a series of appointments. The number of sessions depends on how many follicles are active in the area, how coarse the hair is, and where you are in your hormonal transition. Women who are still in perimenopause may find that new follicles activate over time as hormones continue to shift, which can extend the overall timeline.
Most clients describe the sensation as a brief heat or sting with each flash. Face and neck skin tends to be sensitive, and everyone’s tolerance is different, but for most people it’s very manageable. After each session, the treated area may be a little red or slightly swollen for a few hours to a day. This is normal and settles quickly.
A Note on Timing
If you’re just starting to notice hormonal hair changes, earlier is generally better. Getting ahead of the growth before more follicles activate and hairs become fully established typically means a shorter overall treatment timeline. That said, electrolysis can be effective at any stage, whether you’re newly noticing changes or have been dealing with this for years.
Ready to Talk About It?
At Cranky Crow Aesthetics in Melbourne, FL, electrolysis is one of our specialties. If you’re navigating hormonal hair changes and want a real solution, we’d love to help you figure out if electrolysis is the right fit.
Book a consultation or reach out with questions. No pressure, just answers.
Serving Melbourne, FL and the surrounding Space Coast area.
References
- Goldberg, L.J. and Goldberg, N. (2022). Menopause, skin and common dermatoses. Part 1: hair disorders. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. Published via PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10092469/
- Grymowicz, M. et al. (2020). Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Published via PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7432488/
- The Endocrine Center. Unusual Hair Growth and Menopause: What’s the Link? https://www.endocrinecenter.com/blog/unusual-hair-growth-and-menopause-whats-the-link
- Cleveland Clinic. Electrolysis: Definition and Treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8306-electrolysis
- American Electrology Association / Oregon Association of Licensed Electrologists. FDA Reaffirms Electrolysis as Only Permanent Hair Removal Method. https://www.electrolysis-oregon.org/the-fda-reaffirms-electrolysis