HairFire: Electrolysis At It’s Hottest

How does electrolysis measure up to laser hair removal?

I’d like an answer to this question, too.

To get the information I want about these two methods of hair removal, I am going to conduct my own hair removal research project.

I believe the best way to get an answer is to actually experiment upon myself.

The thesis of my research project is, “Electrolysis is the better method of permanent hair removal.”

I will treat my left underarm with electrolysis and my right underarm with laser hair removal.   

As I go along, I will plan to blog expenses, time spent, pain levels, and display before and after photos of each session of electrolysis and laser hair removal. I will also record any other issues that may arise as I pursue to have hairless underarms.

The research starts this week!

In order for a hair to be permanently removed, it must be in the growth stage of the hair cycle.How do we know what stage it’s in? Is this something we can see before treating the hair? Can we only know after the hair has been properly treated and removed?

When hairs are treated by electrolysis, there isn’t any way of knowing which stage each individual hair may be in until after the hair has been removed with the aid of tweezers.

Some hairs could be in the dormant stage, some are in the growing stage, and the rest may be in transition.

The best way of knowing if the hair is an anagen hair, or in the growing stage, is by seeing a clear sheath around the base of the hair.

This clear sheath is the tissue that makes up the hair follicle. When this has been completely removed after being treated with electrolysis properly, the hair is considered to be permanently removed.

It makes my day when I treat anagen hairs! My clients are happy, too!

Good question!

I believe the best length of hair to treat with electrolysis is when the hair just breaks through the skin and is long enough for tweezers to grab.

There is a good chance these hairs are in the right stage of the hair cycle…the growing stage. Electrolysis is permanent when treating hairs in the growing stage.

Your appointments will be more efficient and effective if you schedule appointments when your hairs barely come in.

If the hair is too long, it can be hard to follow the hair to the pore where it’s coming from. Your hairs may need to be trimmed at your appointment. Also, when they are longer, more likely than not, the growing stage may be missed, and the hair follicle may not be permanently damaged.

Just think, longer hair…longer appointment. (It takes time to search for follicles and trim hair.)

If the hair is too short, it may be impossible to treat, and you should plan to schedule another appointment when those hairs are visibly breaking through the skin.

One of the most popular questions I’ve been asked is, “Are most of your clients men or women?”

I have two responses for that question:

In Utah, I treated more WOMEN.

In Arizona, I would have to say…MEN!

Who would have ever thought I would have more male clients than female at any one time?

Hopefully by posting this simple fact, hesitant men out there may be more inclined to experience electrolysis because it really isn’t just a girl thing!

The best way to find a good electrologist is by word of mouth.This may not be an easy method for you to find an electrologist because it can be uncomfortable talking about your unwanted hair with someone else. If you do get the urge to ask someone…hopefully they can help you out! Maybe that person knows an electrologist or knows someone who is getting their hair removed and is happy about experience.

The next place I would visit is the internet. Check out www.electrology.com. This is the American Electrology Association (AEA) website. It has a directory of all the members of the AEA throughout the nation. This is a great source to find well qualified electrologists in your area. These electrologists pay a fee to become member of the Association each year. If they become nationally certified, they are considered a Certified Professional Electrologist (CPE). CPE’s are required to get continuing education. (I would say this is a plus!)

If the internet doesn’t work for you, you could always check your yellow pages. Many electrologists are not part of the AEA and are still considered exceptional electrologists.

Be aware that many states do not require a license to practice electrolysis. I would find out more information about these electrologists if I were you.

In all my experience with electrolysis, these have been the typical prices:

15 min = $15

30 min = $30

45 min = $40

1 hr = $50

On average, it’s a dollar a minute.

I have lived in Missouri, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. I personally have never paid more than what I have listed. I have paid less a couple of times. When I had my appointments, I found out those electrologists were using the blend method instead of thermolysis. They charged less because it takes longer to treat each hair using the blend.

Some electrologists may be a little cheaper, perhaps because they have less experience or use slower modalities. Others are more expensive, especially if they work in salon or spa, or live in an area where the cost of living is high.

In a survey I took a while ago, I found out that most electrologists charge more than $75 per hour. Only a handful of electrologists charge the amount I charge. I would say I’m spoiling my clients!

I charge a little differently than most, too, because I only charge for treatment time. I don’t include the time to set up and clean up; This is typical for most electrologists. Also, many electrologists will charge for the time scheduled, even if the client isn’t there on time for their appointment.

Maybe this is the type of information you should find out before choosing your electrologist?

If you thought thermolysis was your modality of choice, you may have not done all your research.There’s even a faster way to treat hairs! Have you heard of Microflash? This is actually the method I use. My epilator, the Apilus Senior II, can treat hairs within thousandths of a second! Exciting, huh? Not only that, but it doesn’t hurt as much either. Plus, it’s just as effective as thermolysis. It’s great!

Another alternative is Multiplex. Multiplex is similar to the blend, but uses thermolysis and microflash in combination. So, it’s more effective than thermolysis and microflash alone, but it takes a little longer to treat each hair.

After using Microflash, it’s hard for me to use anything that may take longer to treat individual hairs. Again, why would anyone want to endure a longer session, pay more, experience greater pain, and not get all the unwanted hairs treated in a nice, short appointment?

Another advantage of using Microflash is the concept of having more time per appointment to work on other areas of unwanted hair. How exciting is that? You may become more hairless than you ever thought you could!

There are many different ways an Electrologist can go about treating hairs. There is not just one method.

In general, electrolysis is the use of an electric current to remove hair roots.

These are the three main modalities of electrolysis:

1. Thermolysis, which uses alternating current (AC)

2. Galvanic, which uses direct current (DC)

3. Blend, which combines both thermolysis and galvanic methods (AC and DC)

Common alternative names for thermolysis are high-frequency or short-wave. This current travels down the probe and interacts with the moisture from the cells that make up the hair follicle. The current causes the water molecules to vibrate and produce heat. If there is more moisture, this causes more vibrations, and then more heat is created. Typically, an insulated probe will be used so the heat will be concentrated only at the base of the hair follicle. This is a quick method to damage hair follicles. On average, thermolysis takes about 1 second to treat each hair.

Galvanic and electrolysis are words that can be sometimes interchangable. Galvanic current creates a chemical reaction within the hair follicle. The salt (NaCl) and moisture (H2O) from your hair follicle cells, along with the current, creates a rearrangement of these 2 molecules. The most obvious product from this reaction is sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or lye. It is a visible substance created that is known to effectively decompose the soft tissue of the hair follicle. (Chlorine gas and Hydrogen gas are also released…in case you are interested.) This is the least used method of permanent hair removal, which is hard to believe since this was the originial way to do electrolysis. But, it is not as quick as thermolysis and not as effective as the blend.

The blend is a combination of the two methods. The most common way I’ve used the blend is to first use galvanic (DC) and then follow it by thermolysis (AC). This is the best method to use to treat and damage the hair follicle. It unfortunately takes the longest time to treat per hair. On average, it takes about 6-7 seconds to use the blend method on each hair.

My opinion:

Thermolysis is more painful than galvanic because heat is involved. But, because it’s so quick, it’s not too bad. Galvanic is not painful, it’s just time-consuming. The blend is a bit painful and time-consuming. Therefore, if I had the choice, I would pick thermolysis.

With thermolysis, the electrologist is able to cover a greater area of hair in a shorter amount of time. Thermolysis may not be as effective as the blend, so in the long run, it could create a few more appointments . But, I would rather leave a single, less expensive appointment, having less visible hair, than go to a longer, more expensive appointment with not all my unwanted hair gone. I, personally, don’t have the patience for the blend on myself.

There may be instances where your hairs may release easier using one type of method over another. Your electrologist will determine this as they start treating your individual hairs.

During my consultation, I will go over these methods. My clients are free to tell me which method they would prefer, if they do have a preference. I am happy to do what they would like. If they don’t have a preference, I’m all about speed!

Don’t give up! I know it can be frustrating to not see results as quickly as you’d like, but I promise you…if you don’t TWAX, and if you are consistent with your appointments…electrolysis will work.Two years ago I had a problem with thick/black unwanted hair. I consistently made appointments once a week for a year and a half. I was beginning to wonder if electrolysis was ever going to work for me.

But, I finally saw results! Now, whatever hair I do get, it’s either super thin or really light. I may get a thick hair every once in awhile, but I haven’t had to have regular appointments.

I tell you, it does work. It is so worth it not to have to worry about those unwanted hairs creeping up on you…especially on a regular basis!

I wish I could show you everything about electrolysis, but I’m limited to what I own. (Maybe a few of my electrologist friends will help me out in the future with a few more visuals.)

I thought I’d run through some of the necessary equipment and supplies that every electrologist should have.

The most important piece of equipment for the Electrologist is the electrolysis machine, or epilator.

I own an Apilus, specifically the Senior II. There are many brands of epilators to choose from. While I was in school, I learned mostly on a Fischer. Hinkel and Gentronics were also available for students to use.

I never thought I would veer from what I learned on, but when I attended my first American Electrology Association (AEA) convention, I was convinced to purchase an Apilus.

I have been really pleased with it. It is very user-friendly, less painful, and quicker than most machines that I have worked with.

Because of their sleek appearances, Apilus machines are also very easy to clean. This is an important feature because it’s something electrologists must do a lot!