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You Have Too Much Hair?

The quest for permanent hair removalmany researchers were experimenting with
goes back millenia; archeologist sayelectrical methods of hair removal as
that men shaved as far back as 20far back as the American Civil War era.
thousand years ago, using sharpenedThe first workable electrolysis machine
rocks and shells. Societies all aroundwas invented by St. Louis
the world use diverse hair removalophthalmologist Charles Michel, who in
methods, from sugaring to causticpublished results of permanent hair
depilatory creams. However, the hairremoval with treatment by a
eventually grows back and the procedurebattery-powered electrified needle in
must be repeated endlessly.1875. He had been using his device to
The oldest method of permanent hairtreat ingrown eyelashes since 1869. This
removal is electrolysis. It works asDC-current powered method is referred to
advertised for most consumers if doneas electrolysis or galvanic electrolysis
correctly, but it requires training andbecause a chemical reaction in the hair
skill by the operator. A hair-thin probefollicle causes formation of sodium
is inserted into each hair follicle, andhydroxide, which damages the follicle.
low-voltage electricity is applied,The chemical reaction is as follows :
causing localized damage to the follicleNaCl (salt) H2O (water) direct
and preventing hair regrowth. Propercurrent = NaOH (sodium hydroxide) Cl
insertion of the probe follows the(chlorine) H (hydrogen).
natural opening of the follicle and doesSubsequent improvements included a
not penetrate the skin.machine using multiple needles, invented
This method of hair removal has a provenby Paul Kree in 1916; and the use of AC
track record of more than 125 years, andcurrent, called diathermy, which causes
most studies show 90%-93% customerdirect thermal injury to the hair
satisfaction with the results. However,follicle, reported in medical literature
it can be expensive if large areas arein 1924 by Dr. Henri Bordier. The latter
to be treated, and waiting while amethod is also referred to as
technician attends to each individualthermolysis, short-wave, high-frequency,
hair in turn can be tedious. It can beand radiofrequency hair removal.
moderately painful. If the technician isMinor improvements continued through the
unskilled, permanent scarring can occur,1930s and 1940s. In 1948, Arthur Hinkel
and unsterilized equipment can spreadand Henri St. Pierre received a patent
skin infections.in 1948 for a combination method they
The treatment may have to be repeateddeveloped, and 20 years later published
3-4 times, both to redo follicles which"Electrolysis, Thermolysis and the
were not destroyed after one treatment,Blend", which described their
and to catch follicles which were notexperiments with different hair removal
producing hairs at the time of treatmenttechniques. "Blend" refers to the fact
and thus went unnoticed. Hair folliclesthat blended methods often work better
are not always in an active growththan just one method alone.
phase; however, after a year or so, mostFurther improvements included
follicles will have been treated.incorporating transistors and
Because a majority of hair follicles arecomputerized controls, as well as
in a dormant, non-growth phase at anyinsulated probes and sterile disposable
given time, treatment must be repeatedneedles. However, despite attempts to
at 2-3 month intervals to catch themautomate electrolysis equipment, the
all.effectiveness and safety of electrolysis
The term "needle-free electrolysis" isis highly dependent on the skill of the
sometimes used to describe hair removaloperator. Electrolysis professional
devices which function by passingorganizations exist and set standards
electric current down the hair shaft tofor member certification, but in many
the follicle by a tweezer or astates, anyone is legally permitted to
conductive patch. These systems areoffer electrolysis services. Therefor it
completely ineffective, as hair is ais important for anyone seeking
poor conductor of electricity.electrolysis to get references
Battery-operated home units are sold onbeforehand.
at department stores, the Internet andUse of this hair removal method
on Ebay, usually for around $20. Thecontinued into the early part of the
most popular brand is One-Touch by20th century, when it was briefly
Babyliss, though others are offered aseclipsed by X-ray hair removal, which
well. From personal experience, I canwas advertised as safe and painless. It
testify that these units do indeed work,should be noted that people in this era
but a lot of practice is necessary.displayed a generalized, dangerous lack
Consumers who try this option should beof knowledge about the dangers of
aware that despite the detailed andradiation; shoe stores even featured
quite adequate instructions accompanyingx-ray machines to aid in shoe fitting!
the units, there is a learning curve,After the X-ray fad ended consumers
and many people have found thatreturned to electrolysis until the
performing electrolysis on themselves isadvent of effective laser treatment in
too difficult to be worth the trouble.the 1990's. These days, most hair
However, if you do decide to use thisremoval is done by laser, but
option, a pair of magnifying glasses andelectrolysis is still useful for
a good set of tweezers can make theisolated hairs, and for pale hair which
procedure much easier.responds poorly to light-based
Electrolysis has a long history, andtreatment.



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