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Unwanted hair can be a chore to deal with. Some treatments are too expensive or too much of a bother to do on a regular basis. You want that hair gone forever, but how? The market is full of methods claiming they’ll do the job, but how can you tell what’s a scam and what’s not?
If you’ve done some research on hair removal you’ve probably come across electrolysis before. While it’s not as heavily marketed as laser or waxing, electrolysis hair removal remains the only certifiable way to remove body hair permanently. But how does it work? And what makes it so much more effective than waxing and laser treatment? We’re here to provide you with the answers.
RELATED: Get Rid Of Unwanted Hair PERMANENTLY With These Methods
Electrolysis Definition
So what is electrolysis? Unlike other hair removal methods that target the hair, electrolysis damages and seals up the follicle itself, thus preventing hair from regrowing. It does this by sending an electrical current into a needle inserted into the follicle itself, which destroys the cells responsible for hair growth. It was a method first used in 1875 by Ophthalmologist Charles Michel to remove ingrown hair on the eyebrows.
Does It Hurt?
To be frank, it will probably hurt. We’re dealing with electricity after all. The pain will vary depending on your personal tolerance and the sensitivity of the area you’re treating. The electrologist in charge of your treatment will usually provide some kind of mild anaesthetic to help you deal with pain, so it’s really no big deal.
Can I Get It Done Anywhere On My Body?
You can get electrolysis done on pretty much any part of your body. Smaller areas like the upper lip, the facial area and the eyebrows should only take about 15 minutes per treatment! Slightly larger areas like the bikini line should only take about 30 minutes. And large areas like the arms, or legs, or the full Brazilian may take hours.
Electrolysis Versus Other Hair Removal Methods
Hair removal is expected to be a 3.4-billion dollar industry by 2025, and with the demand soaring so high, you can expect the number of choices to skyrocket. Electrolysis has a strong case behind it, but how do the other methods compare? Let’s take a look at the most popular ways we get rid of our fuzz.
Shaving
Ah, shaving. It’s cheap, it works (for a little bit), and basically everyone knows how to do it. Of course, if you’re considering electrolysis, then you’re probably sick and tired of shaving on a regular basis. Shaving is simply taking a razor blade and cutting the hair down to be level with the skin – the hair grows back pretty quick, so you have to shave every couple of days.
Waxing And Threading
Both methods use some kind of implement (wax, or a thread) to remove hair from the root. This leaves your skin totally smooth and keeps it that way for about two to four weeks.
But these methods come with some annoying drawbacks. They require your hair to be at a certain length, and you need to constantly set appointments since the hair will inevitably grow back. Not to mention they hurt more than either laser or electrolysis hair removal.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is the usual go-to for those looking for a more permanent hair removal solution. Laser treatment uses high-powered light to kill hair follicles. The result is a long-lasting removal method, which eventually slows down hair growth to a point where shaving or waxing may be unnecessary.
However compared to electrolysis, it has yet to prove itself as a totally permanent method for removing hair, and laser sometimes underperforms when it comes to treating light hair and dark skin (although lasers are getting better these days). In rare cases, laser hair removal may even stimulate hair growth, though those cases are few and far between.
What To Expect
There are things you’ll need to consider both before and after undergoing electrolysis. To start with, you need to set your expectations straight. Electrolysis is a long, tedious process. It can cost a lot of money over the course of weeks and weeks of sessions. It can hurt, and if you’re unlucky and get a bad job done, it can damage your skin which can lead to scars and infection.
You may feel a sensation like a small burst of heat or a small sting. Electrolysis is performed on every hair, one by one, so it will take some time. The length of treatment will depend on how large the area is; a small area during a follow up will only take a few minutes, but a really big area with lots of hair can take hours.
How many sessions you will need depends on what your treatment plan is. You’ll discuss this with your electrologist, who will give you a plan based on the area you want treated. Thicker hair may need more than one session to completely remove.
Afterwards, expect some redness for about 24 hours. If your electrologist is competent, there shouldn’t be any issues beyond that. So after it’s done, just sit back and relax! And you’ll want to since you will probably be returning in a month or two. A full electrolysis treatment lasts about 18 months on average.
Getting It Done At Home?
If you’ve done your research on electrolysis, chances are you’ve come across ads for ‘electric tweezers,’ no-needle electrolysis, or tweezer electrolysis. They claim to remove hair permanently as well. So, that’s great right? Unfortunately, these products have no proven ability to achieve the permanent hair removal that they advertise. While they do remove hair, the US Federal Trade Commission stated that they don’t achieve anything more than ‘temporary hair loss’.
There are, however, actual home electrolysis kits. These include small probes that are inserted into a hair follicle, killing the hair growth cells, preventing the hair from regrowing. While it does work as advertised, the issue here comes with the person performing the hair removal: you. Each hair will have to be probed individually and carefully to achieve desired results. This job requires real training, so performing it on yourself is not recommended as you can possibly scar your skin in the process.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a surefire way to get rid of your hair for good, then there’s really only one option. Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved method to totally get rid of any hair on your body. If you’re the type of person who’s sick and tired of shaving, waxing, or threading, and you want a reliable way to say goodbye to your body hair, then electrolysis is definitely the way to go!
Afterwards, expect some redness for about 24 hours. If your electrologist is competent, there shouldn’t be any issues beyond that. So after it’s done, just sit back and relax! And you’ll want to since you will probably be returning in a month or two. A full electrolysis treatment lasts about 18 months on average.
Getting It Done At Home?
If you’ve done your research on electrolysis, chances are you’ve come across ads for ‘electric tweezers,’ no-needle electrolysis, or tweezer electrolysis. They claim to remove hair permanently as well. So, that’s great right? Unfortunately, these products have no proven ability to achieve the permanent hair removal that they advertise. While they do remove hair, the US Federal Trade Commission stated that they don’t achieve anything more than ‘temporary hair loss’.
There are, however, actual home electrolysis kits. These include small probes that are inserted into a hair follicle, killing the hair growth cells, preventing the hair from regrowing. While it does work as advertised, the issue here comes with the person performing the hair removal: you. Each hair will have to be probed individually and carefully to achieve desired results. This job requires real training, so performing it on yourself is not recommended as you can possibly scar your skin in the process.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a surefire way to get rid of your hair for good, then there’s really only one option. Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved method to totally get rid of any hair on your body. If you’re the type of person who’s sick and tired of shaving, waxing, or threading, and you want a reliable way to say goodbye to your body hair, then electrolysis is definitely the way to go!
RELATED: Get Rid Of Unwanted Hair PERMANENTLY With These Methods
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