Uncle Pinky's Electrology

Uncle Pinky's Electrology operates from inside Seawolf Barbershop on Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma. The practice is built around electrolysis, a method of permanent hair removal in which a sterile, single-use filament is inserted into each hair follicle and a controlled electrical current is delivered. Galvanic electrolysis, short-wave thermolysis, and a blend of the two are offered.

Each session opens with an anaphoresis pre-treatment, which is meant to loosen oil and debris and soften the tissue, and closes with a cataphoresis step intended to help restore skin pH and calm redness. Clients may feel a brief heat or pinch, which the business describes as minimal for most people. Because hair grows in cycles and not every follicle is active at once, treatment is done over several spaced sessions. Treatable areas listed include the face, neck, chest, back, underarms, bikini line, hands and feet, and the breasts, among others. Electrolysis is not performed inside the ear or nose. Most moles can be treated where licensing rules allow, with written approval from the client's physician.

New clients book a 60-minute consultation before their first treatment. It covers an assessment of the area and hair growth, time for questions, a customized treatment plan, and a short patch test and treatment. Existing patients book sessions through a separate option. Sessions are priced by length rather than by area: $40 for 15 minutes (existing clients only), $75 for 30 minutes, $100 for 45 minutes, $130 for 60 minutes, $195 for 90 minutes and $260 for 120 minutes, with no added charge for particular areas.

The practice does not bill insurance directly, and payment is due on the day of treatment. A superbill is emailed after each appointment for clients to submit to their insurer. Coverage typically requires a pre-authorization and a doctor's note. Clients are asked to arrive with clean, product-free skin, avoid caffeine, alcohol and heavy exercise beforehand, and avoid tweezing, waxing or epilating between sessions. Hair should be long enough for a tweezer to grasp. The business describes electrolysis as the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal option, a claim it makes about its own method.

The practice serves gender-affirming electrolysis clients, including those preparing for gender-affirming surgery. A chilled Diet Coke is offered after sessions.

Built on the idea that electrolysis suits every body, with an individual consultation and a customized treatment plan before any treatment begins.