Permanent Hair Removal - Electrolysis
What is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is an invasive method of hair removal, whereby a needle is inserted into the follicle and the current is then released. There are two types of currents that may be utilized. You could have high frequency electrolysis, which is a little bit more painful, or you could have the blend method, which is a combination of high frequency and galvanic currents. Either one of these are quite successful treatments to have.
What are the advantages of electrolysis?
I think the main advantage of electrolysis is that it is permanent, over a period of time. It does take a long time to get a result but it is definitely a permanent result.
What are the disadvantages of electrolysis?
The biggest disadvantage of electrolysis is that it's very painful, it's invasive. It can cause, especially for Asian and Black skins, scarring or pigmentation. Because it's painful, you cannot treat a very large area in one single session, because the skin cannot take the trauma. It would take months, for example, to remove the hair on an upper lip with electrolysis. You would not be able to clear an upper lip in fifteen minutes with electrolysis; it would take longer to do it. I think that is the main disadvantage.
What happens when you undergo electrolysis treatment?
With an electrolysis hair removal treatment, you would start off with cleansing the area. A needle is then inserted into the follicle. The therapist or the practitioner would be looking through a magnifying lamp. Once the needle is inserted, the current is let out. She, with the needle, also holds tweezers in her hand and she pulls the hair out. Each hair is treated individually during electrolysis.
Which areas of the body does it suit?
You can have electrolysis on any area of the body. Obviously, it depends on each individual's pain threshold. There is a numbing cream that is sometimes applied to the area prior to treatment, which makes it a little easier, but generally I would say most people would probably have smaller areas like upper lip, eyebrows or maybe the underarms done.
What skin type does it suit?
Electrolysis suits all skin types, but you have to be careful with black and Asian skins because the hair follicle is only a dip in the skin. If the client has curly hair, for example, the follicle is not going to be a straight dip in the skin; it will actually have a curve at the end. When the needle is inserted, instead of going to the base of the hair follicle, where the hair root is, if it's angled slightly, it will go through the wall of the follicle, therefore puncturing it and causing a bleed. This, in turn, will have a scab and the scab will then result in scarring or pigmentation.
Does it hurt?
Electrolysis is a painful treatment to have. If you can imagine a needle being inserted, and then when the current is let off, it's like a hot searing pain going through you. Electrolysis is not the most comfortable hair removal treatment to have.
How long does it take until it's effective?
The result or length of time that it takes for anybody to have a result from electrolysis will also be dependent on the hormone imbalance. If there's a hormonal imbalance, it takes longer for the person to get the result.
How long will it last?
If the person has been through the whole electrolysis process, and has actually managed to get rid of all the hairs, it is a permanent method of hair removal. This is the case unless there is a change in their hormone balance, in which case some of the follicles may become activated.
Is it good value for money?
I think electrolysis is definitely good value for money. It initially may be a commitment in terms of time and money, but once you've gotten rid of the hairs, it is a permanent solution.
