How To

How to Understand Electrolysis

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(6 Ratings)

Electrolysis is a permanent means of hair removal. If you are tired of plucking and waxing and messy depilatory creams, consider electrically destroying your hair root forever.

From Quick Guide: Hair Removal
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Understand that electrolysis consists of sliding a small electric needle down the hair shaft into the base of the hair follicle, and destroying it with an electric current.

  2. Step 2

    Realize that an experienced electrologist can treat several hundred hairs in one session, each session lasting about 45 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Know that electrolysis is often painful. The small needle inserted into your pore will actually produce a tiny shock, and then that hair will be plucked out with tweezers.

  4. Step 4

    Accept that you may require many treatment sessions because hair grows back about 40 percent of the time. If you have extensive facial hair, it may take years of periodic electrolysis treatments to achieve satisfactory results.

  5. Step 5

    Try a home electrolysis unit if you have only a few hairs you want to remove. Home units can destroy about 50 hairs an hour.

Tips & Warnings
  • Before electrolysis, your electrologist will remove your makeup. No other preparation is needed for electrolysis.
  • According to Dr. Joseph Bark, a diplomat on the American Board of Dermatology, electrolysis is the least desirable way to remove hairs. He says that it doesn't work the way it is supposed to, often leading to scarring, infection and the appearance of aberrant hairs that grow in crooked.

Comments  

phoeve said

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on 5/27/2009 I just wondering if I need to go for several session of electrolysis to remove the unwanted hair permanently or one session will be enough? How about waxing? Waxing will eventually prevent hair from growing too after several session. So if I need to do electrolysis for several session just like how I go for waxing, isn't better if I go for waxing? :)

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on 5/24/2009 I am a Electrologist and a Nurse, a mole should not be worked on, I refer my clients with moles to a Dermatologist as some may need to be removed. Electrologists know this and I am surprised any trained Electrologist would treat them.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/14/2006 I have been getting electrolysis done for almost a year on a few chin hairs, I had and I have seen results. I do have hair that grows back, but that is because I used to pluck regularly, but I can't even notice them now. I am glad I decided to go get it done.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I just started going to an electrologist to remove my back hair, shoulder hair, and reduce my facial hair. I've never been so pleased with something. My results so far have been awesome! I would recommend it to anyone.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I get electrolysis regularly and have had excellent results. I have had some moles done, my bikini line and am working on my underarms. I love it. My boyfriend had the back of his neck done and neither of us have any scars or problems. We both have very different skin types. I reccomend it!

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