Is electrolysis right for me?

You may feel like you are alone in having unwanted hair, but you’re really not. Believe it or not, your hair problems are probably typical. There are many reasons people – both men and women – turn to electrolysis as the best way to remove hair. No matter what the specific problem area, age, gender, hair or skin type, hair colour or skin colour – you have plenty of company and electrolysis can help. Every day, people just like you choose electrolysis as a permanent, safe, and effective solution.

Superfluous or unwanted hair can grow for a number of reasons, from hormonal and hereditary factors to medication or the impact of life factors such as stress. Most people never learn the cause of their excess hair growth and accept the fact that electrolysis is the solution to this universal problem.

This page has been created to answer as many of your frequently asked questions as possible. If you are looking for a specific answer to a burning question these buttons may come in useful:

History of Electrolysis

Hair removal using electrolysis for ‘cosmetic’ reasons has been around since the early 1900’s, having been initially invented within the ophthalmology field in the early 1870’s for the permanent removal of in-growing eyelashes.

Electrolysis is ‘non-discriminatory’ as any hair colour on any skin colour, on any part of the body can receive an effective treatment and it is permanent. Regardless of the cause – heredity, metabolic, or hormonal conditions – electrolysis will permanently remove unwanted hair to reveal a glowing, confident you.

Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal approved as permanent by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in USA). The British Advertising Standards Authority has given permission to state that electrolysis is ‘permanent hair removal’ in advertising. Other hair removal methods do not remove hair permanently.

Laser and IPL treatments, which use light, are FDA approved for ‘hair reduction’, not permanent removal and these treatments are ‘discriminatory’ against some hair and skin colours.

The Sciencey bit – How does it work?

Electrolysis works by passing a tiny pre-packed sterilised needle into the opening of the hair follicle, then discharging a small amount of electrical energy into the hair follicle, where it creates friction within the tissues. This generates a mild thermal heat which then destroys the matrix cells that produce the hair at the base of the follicle, through either cauterisation or coagulation, thus weakening and eventually destroying hair growth depending on the stage of the hair cycle.

Common Treatment Areas

Electrolysis works on all skin colours and hair types. It can be applied to most facial and body parts, including eyebrows, chin, upper and lower lip, jaw line and sides of the face, breast, underarms, abdomen, bikini line, feet, legs, and back. Based on a personal and confidential consultation, your electrologist will design a treatment plan that addresses your specific hair removal needs.

Why do people get electrolysis hair removal?

Maybe it’s just an unwelcome maintenance routine that takes a lot of time, but often, unwanted hair creates self-consciousness serious enough to impair relationships with other people. If unwanted hair gets in the way of your confidence, social life, work, sports, schedules or even self-expression, this is your opportunity to act.

Is all electrolysis the same?

There are three types, or modalities, of electrolysis used today – galvanic (current produces a chemical reaction), thermolysis (short-wave which produces heat) and a modality that blends the two. They all result in effective permanent hair removal.

What does electrolysis feel like?

You’ll probably feel a momentary heat sensation or pinch. Discomfort is minimal for most people, but individual tolerances vary greatly. Keep in mind that some areas of the body are much less sensitive than others. Many people read, listen to music or even take a nap while being treated.

Does electrolysis have any side effects on the skin?

Immediately following treatment, there may be a temporary redness or tenderness, which varies with each individual. The latest technology has made electrolysis more comfortable and effective than ever before. Your electrologist will provide you with post treatment instructions and any personal attention you may need. You are assured of the best care from a skilled hair removal professional.

What about after treatment?

Immediately following treatment, you may experience slight redness or tenderness which usually disappears in a couple of hours. There is very little risk of complication or serious skin irritation with electrolysis performed by a skilled practitioner. For the first 24 hours following treatment avoid activity that could irritate hair follicles such as excessive sweating, tanning and prolonged sun exposure or make-up application. 

How long will my electrolysis treatment take?

Depending on the area you want cleared, it could be a few minutes for a follow up appointment to an hour for a larger area. Most people who follow the recommended treatment plan can expect to be completed or nearly completed within 18 months. Factors such as hair growth cycles, the quantity and structure of hair presented, previous use of temporary hair removal methods, heredity, hormone function, certain medications and stress influence the treatment program for each individual.

Are all hairs eliminated in one treatment or is regrowth to be expected?

Excessive hair growth, also known as hirsutism, can range from fine, vellus hair to dark, coarse hair on the face and body. Breaking down the hair growth cells on deep, coarse hairs will require more than one treatment.

Hairs have differing cycles of growth, many of which are not visible on the surface of the skin at the same time. The follicle produces the hair from the blood supply, and eventually discards it through shedding. The process of growth, rest, and replacement are known as the hair growth cycle. Since individual hairs are in different phases of the cycle at any given time, multiple treatments may be required to remove unwanted hair.

Based on a personal and confidential consultation, your electrologist will design a treatment plan that addresses your specific hair removal needs.

What medications cause hair growth?

Many medications can cause hair growth or hair loss. Talk with your GP or pharmacist about each medication you are on and also about how your medications interact.

My grandmother used to get electrolysis treatments. Has the technology changed much?

Permanent hair removal using electrolysis has come a long way since its beginnings in 1875. Today’s computer technology enables the electrologist to work with more speed and comfort. Epilators are much quicker, utilising current timings of thousandths of a second over the longer current applications of the past, plus, intensity settings can now be modulated to varying proportions. The instruments and equipment used in a contemporary electrologist’s office are just part of the changes that have occurred in the electrolysis industry.

Why should I choose electrolysis over temporary methods like waxing?

Unlike other hair removal options, professionally performed electrolysis eliminates unwanted hair, permanently, with unsurpassed results. Moreover, it does so for the largest variety of skin and hair types.

Waxing, threading and tweezing are alike. With all of these, ingrown hairs and discolouration may result. Additionally, they may cause an increase in hair growth activity. Depilatories and shaving can cause an irritation to the skin while the hair regrows quickly. These methods can require a lifetime of maintenance. Many can appear inexpensive but cost more due to long term use and are found to be inconvenient.

Electrolysis works on most areas of the body to give you permanently smooth, sleek, healthy-looking skin. No other solution can claim such universal acceptability and success.

How much does electrolysis cost?

Electrolysis costs depend on a lot of factors including: how much hair needs to be removed and the size of area being treated. Overall, electrolysis cost compares very favourably to other hair removal methods, including laser hair removal.

When compared to the expense of a lifetime of shaving, depilatories, or laser treatments, the permanence of electrolysis makes it a wise investment in yourself.

How many treatments are required with electrolysis?

The number of treatments necessary varies with each client. The amount of hair, the methods used to hide hair before treatment, genetics, hormones, nutrition and health of the individual will all be factors that determine how many treatments or sessions will be required. For areas that have been waxed or tweezed, treatments will be more frequent than for areas that have been shaved.

Treatment sessions can range from 15 minutes to more than an hour depending on the area being treated. To achieve optimum results, it is important to follow the recommended treatment plan and to know that consistent clearings, of any area, will achieve permanence sooner than having sporadic appointments.

How often should I schedule electrolysis treatments?

Electrolysis clients might schedule 10 minutes for just a couple of annoying hairs on their chin or they might schedule hour or longer appointments to treat larger areas like heavy facial growth or legs.

The frequency and length of your appointments depends on the size of the area being cleared and the progress of your treatment. In general, treatments on a particular area are longest and most frequent at the beginning. Treatment length and frequency then tapers off as fewer and fewer hairs remain to be treated.

For best results, follow the electrologist’s recommendations in scheduling appointments. It is important to know that consistent clearings, of any area, will achieve permanence sooner than having sporadic appointments.