This article appeared in the Nov. 20, 2003 Jewish Advocate.

Aronis-Friedman helps people with hair woes

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

Not many people realize that there are 2400 hair follicles per square inch of skin on the human body. Of course, if all were active, they might be more aware of this fact. For those who nonetheless believe they have one or more hairs too many, electrolysis could present a permanent solution.

As opposed to laser treatments, which can only reduce hair growth, electrolysis, which has been around since 1875 and is FDA approved, is the only proven method for permanently removing hair.

“As hormones change, hair can increase,” says Galina Aronis-Friedman, who has been licensed in the field since 1981 and operates the G.A. Electrolysis Center in Brookline. “We all have male hormones,” she explains. “As we age, we lose estrogen and gain testosterone, which can cause hair growth.” Major influences, she said, are puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Electrolysis, she explained, is the process of permanently destroying the nourishment to individual hair follicles. Once the nourishment is destroyed, the follicle will die and fall out, never to return.

Aronis-Friedman emigrated 24 years ago from Kiev and first lived in Revere. Following 1100 hours of electrolysis work at the Eleanor Roberts Institute in Boston and after passing the state board exams, she moved to New York, where she worked for a number of prestigious salons. “At that time, I began specializing in eyebrows shaping and correcting hair lines for both men and women,” she said. In 1983, she worked in Hollywood and in 1984, moved back to New York, where she opened her first practice on Park Avenue. In 1986, she married Neal Friedman, an attorney who practices intellectual property law, and moved to Massachusetts where she opened her second practice at 364 Harvard St. in Coolidge Corner, Brookline (the white office building adjacent to Congregation Kehillath Israel).

“I managed resettlement cases for the Worcester Jewish Family Services of the Worcester Jewish Federation from 1990-94,” she said. “I could certainly relate to their situation, and wanted to help them acclimate within a Jewish community.” Today, Aronis-Friedman lives in Brookline with her husband and their two sons. They belong to Ohabei Shalom, where her older son, Allen, was bar mitzvahed in 2001. Her younger son, Kevin is on the path toward the same rite.

Aronis-Friedman’s staff includes two fellow electrolysis specialists, who between them possess decades of experience. Both male and female clients are welcomed, and at a free initial consultation, the science and procedure are explained fully. “We used disposable needles from the start, well before it was made mandatory by law,” she noted. She recently accepted a position on the Board of the Massachusetts Association of Electrologists, Inc.

She offers evening and Saturday hours to accommodate her clientele, and after her many years of practice, remains highly enthused about her work. She still specializes in eyebrow reshaping and correcting hair lines, for both men and women. From these services to a more major removal, she is happy to help clients achieve their hair-free dreams.

“I am proud of the work I do, and I feel blessed to have been able to make my living doing what I love to do, for people I love to work with,” she said.

For information or to schedule an appointment, please call 617-731-3515.