Electrolysis
Using a needle-like electrode, in the form of a metal probe, electrolysis uses an electric current to destroy the roots of individual hair follicles, stopping them instantly from being able to grow back. Many experts still consider electrolysis as one of the most successful hair removal methods and is suitable for most people.
For electrolysis to work most effectively, hair needs to be at the receptive ‘growth’ phase of its life, when it is shortest and youngest. When the follicle is affected at this stage there is a higher chance of stopping its growth permanently.
Types of Electrolysis
There are three types of electrolysis treatment available, using electric, heat or a combination of the two to destroy hair follicles and prevent hair growth.
Galvanic Electrolysis
Galvanic electrolysis is the oldest and favoured form of this brand of hair removal treatment. Using a fine needle our technician will direct the galvanic, electric current towards the follicle of the hair, causing a chemical reaction amongst the water and salt found there (in turn producing Lye which helps to kill the root), chemically destroying the hair for good. Unfortunately while having fewer side-effects than any other form of electrolysis, galvanic treatment, takes about two minutes to destroy an individual hair. Unlike thermolysis, the galvanic method takes only one sitting to complete.
Thermolysis Electrolysis
Thermolysis relies on heat, using high frequency through an epilation technique to burn and destroy the root of the follicle and cauterise it instantaneously. This heat will be conducted into a thin needle and directed into the follicle, where it will burn the follicle and surrounding tissue. Thermolysis is the quickest form of electrolysis hair removal, each burst of heat lasts only a few seconds. This form of treatment may require more than one session to totally destroy hair, because it is likely that some follicles will manage to survive the heat process.
Blending Electrolysis
The blend method of electrolysis uses a combination of the two types of electrolysis to more effectively and more speedily remove hair, so that only a one-off, shorter session is needed to complete treatment.
When the two treatment forms are combined it has been found that they actually accentuate the affect of each other. By heating the hair follicle at the same time as chemically altering its make-up, the lye produced, and used to destroy it, becomes more effective. The electrolysis element of the treatment heats the hair and skin makes the area more porous allowing the Lye to spread around the root and diffuse into it. This means that there is a greater chance of the follicle being killed, and reduces the time taken, as the resulting Lye can be left to destroy the root on its own, so that the technician can move on to another follicle straight away.
Blend treatment is less painful than thermolysis, but takes slightly longer, due to the need to apply heat. It can reduce the likelihood of your having to undergo multiple sessions of electrolysis, and lessen the time of the only other single-sitting method, electrolysis.
How is Electrolysis Used?
Unfortunately electrolysis cannot yet be used for large surface areas of hair removal, simply because of the average time taken to destroy single hair follicles. For this reason it is mainly utilised for hair removal around the hairline and eyebrows, but is very successful in these areas.
Prices start from £1.25/minute