What is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a permanent method of hair reduction. It is a method that is over 100 years old & has been proven over time. Hairs are treated individually so it can be a slow method requiring patience & therefore suitable for small areas i.e. upper lip & chin.
Can you explain the procedure?
A very fine needle is inserted into the hair follicle; it’s so fine it cannot be felt. A current is released which cauterises the blood supply to the hair, rendering the hair loose in the follicle. The therapist then slides the hair out of the follicle with a tweezers. (Hairs should NOT be tugged or plucked out)
How does it work?
Hairs that are in the Active stage “Anagen” stage of growth at the time of treatment are killed off; the remaining hairs need repeat treatment.
Are there different types of electrolysis?
There are a few different types of current used in electrolysis. LaNú MediSpa offer you a choice of both diathermy as well as Blend.
Diathermy current – This is the most popular types of electrolysis current used as it’s the fastest method. A mild sting is felt as the current is released. Skin will be red afterwards & may have a hive like bump appearance on the treated area afterwards.
Blend: A combination of Galvanic Current & diathermy current. Galvanic current creates a natural chemical reaction in the follicle creating the chemical called Lye, the diathermy current then heats up the Lye, which cauterises the hair. This is a slow method of electrolysis, but is a less painful technique than diathermy alone, it leaves less redness & less swelling (heat bumps) on the skin. Blend takes about 6 seconds to remove one single hair, but the hairs do not grow back as fast as with diathermy current alone. Clients may need to book in for a longer session of Blend electrolysis.
What can I do to ensure I get best results?
Make sure you have the area retreated, as soon as hairs begin to regrow, because hairs that are new & just emerging from the skin are in the active stage of growth so can be killed off with electrolysis. If you wait until the hairs are longer in order to have more hairs to treat when you come into the salon, they possibly may have gone into the transition stage of growth where they will not be killed off.
How can I ensure that the treatment is working for me?
It’s imperative that the hairs are not being plucked during your treatment, (you will feel traction if they are plucked, like when your eyebrows are plucked). The hairs must slide out easily out of the follicle if they are treated correctly.
What areas are suited to electrolysis?
Small areas i.e. upper lip or chin areas are suitable, as electrolysis treats only one hair at a time. It will successfully treat blonde, red or grey hair, unlike laser.
Is it painful?
A mild stinging sensation is felt, usually chin area & sides of outer lip is pretty comfortable. Inner upper lip can be more tender.
Is there anything I can apply to reduce discomfort?
Yes a topical anesthetic gel (i.e. Emla, available in your chemist) can be applied a half-hour before treatment, this numbs the area & eases the discomfort.
How regular should I go for treatments?
The aim initially is to clear the area of hairs, this can often take from 3 to 6 months depending on the size of the area treated & how often the client has treatments done. Regular treatments are needed to achieve this; usually clients need to come either weekly or fortnightly ideally. Your therapist will monitor how quickly your hairs are regrowing & recommend suitable intervals between treatments.