| The quest for permanent hair removal goes
| |
| | Electrolysis has a long history, and many
|
| back millenia; archeologist say that men
| |
| | researchers were experimenting with
|
| shaved as far back as 20 thousand years
| |
| | electrical methods of hair removal as far
|
| ago, using sharpened rocks and shells.
| |
| | back as the American Civil War era. The
|
| Societies all around the world use
| |
| | first workable electrolysis machine was
|
| diverse hair removal methods, from
| |
| | invented by St. Louis ophthalmologist
|
| sugaring to caustic depilatory creams.
| |
| | Charles Michel, who in published results
|
| However, the hair eventually grows back
| |
| | of permanent hair removal with treatment
|
| and the procedure must be repeated
| |
| | by a battery-powered electrified needle
|
| endlessly.
| |
| | in 1875. He had been using his device to
|
| The oldest method of permanent hair
| |
| | treat ingrown eyelashes since 1869. This
|
| removal is electrolysis. It works as
| |
| | DC-current powered method is referred to
|
| advertised for most consumers if done
| |
| | as electrolysis or galvanic electrolysis
|
| correctly, but it requires training and
| |
| | because a chemical reaction in the hair
|
| skill by the operator. A hair-thin probe
| |
| | follicle causes formation of sodium
|
| is inserted into each hair follicle, and
| |
| | hydroxide, which damages the follicle.
|
| low-voltage electricity is applied,
| |
| | The chemical reaction is as follows :
|
| causing localized damage to the follicle
| |
| | NaCl (salt) H2O (water) direct
|
| and preventing hair regrowth. Proper
| |
| | current = NaOH (sodium hydroxide) Cl
|
| insertion of the probe follows the
| |
| | (chlorine) H (hydrogen).
|
| natural opening of the follicle and does
| |
| | Subsequent improvements included a
|
| not penetrate the skin.
| |
| | machine using multiple needles, invented
|
| This method of hair removal has a proven
| |
| | by Paul Kree in 1916; and the use of AC
|
| track record of more than 125 years, and
| |
| | current, called diathermy, which causes
|
| most studies show 90%-93% customer
| |
| | direct thermal injury to the hair
|
| satisfaction with the results. However,
| |
| | follicle, reported in medical literature
|
| it can be expensive if large areas are to
| |
| | in 1924 by Dr. Henri Bordier. The latter
|
| be treated, and waiting while a
| |
| | method is also referred to as
|
| technician attends to each individual
| |
| | thermolysis, short-wave, high-frequency,
|
| hair in turn can be tedious. It can be
| |
| | and radiofrequency hair removal.
|
| moderately painful. If the technician is
| |
| | Minor improvements continued through the
|
| unskilled, permanent scarring can occur,
| |
| | 1930s and 1940s. In 1948, Arthur Hinkel
|
| and unsterilized equipment can spread
| |
| | and Henri St. Pierre received a patent in
|
| skin infections.
| |
| | 1948 for a combination method they
|
| The treatment may have to be repeated 3-4
| |
| | developed, and 20 years later published
|
| times, both to redo follicles which were
| |
| | "Electrolysis, Thermolysis and the
|
| not destroyed after one treatment, and to
| |
| | Blend", which described their experiments
|
| catch follicles which were not producing
| |
| | with different hair removal techniques.
|
| hairs at the time of treatment and thus
| |
| | "Blend" refers to the fact that blended
|
| went unnoticed. Hair follicles are not
| |
| | methods often work better than just one
|
| always in an active growth phase;
| |
| | method alone.
|
| however, after a year or so, most
| |
| | Further improvements included
|
| follicles will have been treated. Because
| |
| | incorporating transistors and
|
| a majority of hair follicles are in a
| |
| | computerized controls, as well as
|
| dormant, non-growth phase at any given
| |
| | insulated probes and sterile disposable
|
| time, treatment must be repeated at 2-3
| |
| | needles. However, despite attempts to
|
| month intervals to catch them all.
| |
| | automate electrolysis equipment, the
|
| The term "needle-free electrolysis" is
| |
| | effectiveness and safety of electrolysis
|
| sometimes used to describe hair removal
| |
| | is highly dependent on the skill of the
|
| devices which function by passing
| |
| | operator. Electrolysis professional
|
| electric current down the hair shaft to
| |
| | organizations exist and set standards for
|
| the follicle by a tweezer or a conductive
| |
| | member certification, but in many states,
|
| patch. These systems are completely
| |
| | anyone is legally permitted to offer
|
| ineffective, as hair is a poor conductor
| |
| | electrolysis services. Therefor it is
|
| of electricity.
| |
| | important for anyone seeking electrolysis
|
| Battery-operated home units are sold on
| |
| | to get references beforehand.
|
| at department stores, the Internet and on
| |
| | Use of this hair removal method continued
|
| Ebay, usually for around $20. The most
| |
| | into the early part of the 20th century,
|
| popular brand is One-Touch by Babyliss,
| |
| | when it was briefly eclipsed by X-ray
|
| though others are offered as well. From
| |
| | hair removal, which was advertised as
|
| personal experience, I can testify that
| |
| | safe and painless. It should be noted
|
| these units do indeed work, but a lot of
| |
| | that people in this era displayed a
|
| practice is necessary. Consumers who try
| |
| | generalized, dangerous lack of knowledge
|
| this option should be aware that despite
| |
| | about the dangers of radiation; shoe
|
| the detailed and quite adequate
| |
| | stores even featured x-ray machines to
|
| instructions accompanying the units,
| |
| | aid in shoe fitting!
|
| there is a learning curve, and many
| |
| | After the X-ray fad ended consumers
|
| people have found that performing
| |
| | returned to electrolysis until the advent
|
| electrolysis on themselves is too
| |
| | of effective laser treatment in the
|
| difficult to be worth the trouble.
| |
| | 1990's. These days, most hair removal is
|
| However, if you do decide to use this
| |
| | done by laser, but electrolysis is still
|
| option, a pair of magnifying glasses and
| |
| | useful for isolated hairs, and for pale
|
| a good set of tweezers can make the
| |
| | hair which responds poorly to light-based
|
| procedure much easier.
| |
| | treatment.
|