Published on 02/21/2007

Electrolysis, invented well over a hundred years ago, has been an established hair removal method at the professional level with thousands of clinics, spas, and other facilities worldwide offering this grooming treatment under carefully controlled conditions given by trained and certified (and sometimes licensed) Electrologists. In todays do-it-yourself era, some people want to have more control and convenience than an outside facility can offer so they look for home-based electrolysis equipment to perform this hair removal technique upon themselves. There are a number of brands of home electrolysis devices available that use variations on the basic electro-chemical physiological process that makes electrolysis so effective. Understanding this will give a reference point to evaluate these products and their use.

Be Wary of Home Electrolysis Kits

Electrolysis, invented well over a hundred years ago, has been an established hair removal method at the professional level with thousands of clinics, spas, and other facilities worldwide offering this grooming treatment under carefully controlled conditions given by trained and certified (and sometimes licensed) Electrologists. In today's do-it-yourself era, some people want to have more control and convenience than an outside facility can offer so they look for home-based electrolysis equipment to perform this hair removal technique upon themselves. There are a number of brands of home electrolysis devices available that use variations on the basic electro-chemical physiological process that makes electrolysis so effective. Understanding this will give a reference point to evaluate these products and their use.

How Electrolysis Operates
In the electrolysis process, a needle passes an electrical current through the hair follicle after it's inserted into the hair shaft. Although hair above the skin's surface is dry, the follicle below lies immersed in a highly mineralized watery environment. The needle's electrical current creates a chemical reaction, turning the salt water in the hair follicle to sodium hydroxide. This chemically dissolves the hair follicle and its papilla, so when the hair is extracted, there's a cessation of hair growth. a high degree of skill, is necessary for treatment with a needle; this requires the technician to guide the needle very accurately to reach the bottom of the hair follicle in order to achieve maximum hair removal results.

There's 3 types of electrolysis:

Galvanic - this is the one noted above which the electrical current creates a minute amount of lye (sodium hydroxide)
Thermolysis - the electricity is used to generate molecular heat around the follicle to destroy it
Blend - this is a combination of the two listed above and is considered by some practitioners to be the best methodology.

Whatever method of these three is used, the Electrologist must be well trained, as accurate insertion of the fine probe that's used in commercial electrolysis equipment should not puncture the skin so that irritation and discomfort are kept to a minimum.

Home Equipment and Methodology
Any hair removal process referred to as Electrology will use electrical current applied to the hair in one way or another. What separates the various models are the way they apply it and their related design to accomplish the hair removal that they promise. A look at these offers insight into some user-friendly versions of electrolysis:

VECTOR electrolysis - this device works by the user applying a conductive gel containing silver chloride to the skin and grasping with metal tweezers that conduct the electricity to the hair. Since dry hair is not conductor, this process would not work without the electrically conductive gel. This is an AC powered device and delivers more power than battery-operated equipment.
One Touch Deluxe Home Electrolysis - This battery-operated unit uses a needle similar to commercial equipment, also offers a comfort control and requires at least 15 seconds or more of contact per hair for removal. It also suggests moistening fingers for better electrical conduction to the wand and performing a sample test on a few hairs before commencing an extended electrolysis session.
Soft Epil - A similar battery powered unit that uses a pad and conductive gel for hair removal on small areas. They stress "repeated applications" as this is a very basic low-power electrolysis unit with limited results.
E-Pen - See Soft Epil above

Know The Drawbacks
The FDA weighed in on home electrolysis by recommending that self-treatment be limited to readily accessible areas, such as the lower parts of the arms and legs. Since working on facial hair requires the use of a mirror which entails reversed hand movements, they feel that electrolysis on this area is best done by a professional. Actually, any area not easily visible or reachable, such as the back, neck, hairline, etc. will be challenging for home hair removal.

The application of ANY significant amount of electrical energy to the skin can leave it prone to irritation, discomfort, and possibly more lasting injury if misused. The significant training and education professional electrologists are required to have can reduce the likelihood of this happening tremendously, as well as the ability to treat a greater area for more effective depilation. Experience shows that professional electrolysis gives more comfortable and lasting hair removal results with greater safety for the recipient.