Mountain Meadows Electrolysis

Mountain Meadows Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal practice based in a suite inside Qualy Made Beauty Collective in Vancouver, Washington. It serves clients from the Portland metro area and describes itself as a queer-led clinic. The office is open Sunday through Wednesday, 11am to 8pm.

The practice says electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal method the FDA approves, and that it removes follicles where laser only reduces growth. It also states that electrolysis can treat light, gray, blonde and red hair that laser cannot, and that the method has been in use for about 150 years.

Every new client begins with a consultation to talk through goals, timeline and expectations, followed by an evaluation of the areas to be treated. Because hair grows in cycles and not every follicle is active at once, sessions are spread over several appointments. Early facial sessions are usually weekly or every other week, then spaced further apart as density drops, and facial clearance typically takes one to three years. Clients with PCOS often notice finer, sparser regrowth within two to three months. PCOS care is long-term, and visits usually become less frequent once the main areas are clear.

Before a visit, clients are asked to let about two to four days of growth come in, roughly the length of a sharpened pencil lead. Between sessions, tweezing and waxing are discouraged, while shaving or trimming is fine if stopped a few days before an appointment. A topical numbing cream can be applied about an hour ahead if needed. For 48 hours after treatment, direct sun, hot tubs, pools, saunas and natural bodies of water are avoided, and sunscreen of at least SPF 15 is recommended on treated skin. Clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding can continue, with session length adjusted. Clients with a pacemaker or implanted device need medical clearance first, and clients with diabetes are asked to coordinate with their doctor. Payment is due at the time of appointment. The practice is not currently in network with any insurance but is working toward accepting Kaiser Permanente and PacificSource, and it provides a superbill for clients who want to seek out-of-network reimbursement.

Gender-affirming care includes pre-surgical depilation required before vaginoplasty, phalloplasty and vulvoplasty. The practice recommends starting 12 to 18 months before surgery, usually with weekly or biweekly sessions, and works from the surgeon's map of required areas. A minimum of two to three months with no regrowth is generally needed before the surgery date, and documentation of clearance can be provided to the surgical team. The practice also treats folliculitis, cystic acne and hidradenitis suppurativa, working alongside a client's dermatologist or medical provider. It does not treat areas during active flares, though calm follicles nearby can still be treated. Some stable moles or birthmarks can be treated after a medical provider has checked them. Trans women, nonbinary clients, and people with larger, disabled or scarred bodies are welcome.

Sessions are spaced over multiple appointments because hair grows in cycles, and pacing and settings are adjusted to each client's skin response.