Gender-Affirming Electrolysis in San Francisco

Electrolysis is the only method the FDA allows to be marketed as permanent hair removal, and it works on every hair color and skin tone. At Celestial Electrolysis in Union Square, Jade provides private, affirming electrolysis for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse clients, from beard clearance to hair removal before surgery.

Facial hair and beard removal

Facial hair is often the first priority for trans women and transfeminine clients. Electrolysis treats each follicle one at a time, so it removes dark, light, grey, white, and red hairs, which laser cannot reliably treat.

What a beard clearance usually looks like:

Long sessions at the start. Early sessions clear as much of the beard as possible. Many clients book 1–2 hour sessions.
Regrowth sessions after that. Hairs grow in cycles, so follicles that were resting appear later. Sessions become shorter and less frequent over time.
A timeline of 1–3 years. The total depends on hair density, hair type, hormones, and how often you come in. A full beard often takes a large number of hours; we give you an honest estimate at your consultation.

Laser first, then electrolysis? If your beard hair is dark and coarse and your skin tone allows it, some clients use laser to thin the beard first and then electrolysis to finish the hairs that laser does not remove. We are happy to talk through the right plan for you.

Hair removal before gender-affirming surgery

Many surgeons require hair removal before vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, and some other procedures. See our page on hair removal before gender-affirming surgery for timelines, surgeon hair maps, and how we plan your sessions.

What to expect at your appointment

Your name and pronouns, always. You will be addressed the way you ask.
A private studio. Sessions take place in a private treatment room at 450 Sutter St.
Comfort options. Many clients use a topical numbing cream before facial sessions. See pain, sessions, and aftercare for tips.
Hair length. Come with about 1–3 days of growth, so we can see and grip each hair. Please do not pluck or wax between sessions.

Insurance

Many health plans cover gender-affirming hair removal when it is medically necessary. Celestial Electrolysis is not contracted with any insurance plan, but when your plan gives you a prior authorization for care with us, we bill your insurance directly. See our insurance guide for the steps.

Questions we often hear

How many hours of electrolysis does a beard take? It varies widely with density and hair type. Most full beards take many hours spread over 1–3 years. We give you an estimate after we see your hair.

Do I need to be on hormones first? No. You can start electrolysis at any time. Hormones can soften some body hair, but they do not stop facial hair growth.

Can electrolysis remove grey or blonde hairs? Yes. Electrolysis does not depend on hair pigment, so it treats grey, white, blonde, and red hair.

Is the studio LGBTQ+ friendly? Yes. Gender-affirming care is the center of our practice.