The ever-evolving market of hair removal treatments has yet another product that will intrigue you, stun you, and possibly leave some permanent scars. Even more shocking than depilatory products - lotions and creams that use chemicals to dissolve hair away at the surface - you now have the additional option to perform electrolysis - on yourself!
Electrolysis is the process of using a mild electric current to destroy unwanted hair. By inserting a metal probe into a follicle, and triggering the electric current, you are able to destroy strands of hair at the root. Destroying the actual follicle gives the greatest chance for permanently removing hair. With this additional option to purchase a do-it-yourself electrolysis kit, you are now able to destroy unwanted follicles in the privacy of your own home, at a cheaper price than the professionals charge. Sounds too good to be true, and indeed the home treatment does come with some very charged drawbacks.
First of all, remember that you are using an electric current to remove hair. Scarring of the skin is very possible. And if you do not remove the hair properly, you may damage the skin above the follicle, causing new hairs that grow in to become trapped underneath the surface of the skin. Moreover, the redness and swelling that occurs after destruction of the follicle appears to be more severe when performed at home. Some consumers that have tried this method claim that it is also more painful to perform yourself than when having a professional do the job.
The process does not simply require a high pain threshold, but also a great amount of time. On a square inch of human skin, there are approximately 70-100 hair follicles - it’s going to take quite a while to remove any patch of unwanted hair. Even then, it may not be a permanent removal. If you do not completely destroy the follicle, and only damage it, hair will grow back - thinner but still visible. Moreover, hormonal fluctuations may cause new follicles to form at any time. You may need to perform this painful, time-consuming treatment more than once for complete removal.
Additionally, the FDA warns that self-treatment should be limited to lower parts of the body. Because hair removal of the face requires a mirror and, thus, reversed movements, the difficulty of completing the task is highly increased. Furthermore, if you are interested in removing hair that is not readily accessible - say on your back - you're going to need a good friend to help out anyway. With the pain your friend will be causing, I can already imagine that friendship dying along with the follicle.
If you do plan on going through with this procedure, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success. Take a hot shower before you begin to open up the pores, making the insertion of the electric needle easier. Set up a comfortable workspace that has great lighting. The use of a magnifying mirror may also be beneficial. Some people take over-the-counter painkillers about 15-20 minutes beforehand to help with the pain. Additionally, it is wise to work on just a small area at a time, about one square inch, and wait 2-3 days for skin to heal before beginning a new session. It is very important to sterilize your equipment with rubbing alcohol in order to decrease the possibility of infection.
At-home electrolysis seems like a great method - at first glance. However, just the possibility of skin damage throws me off. But if you have a high tolerance for pain, a whole lot of time, as well as patience, you might want to consider this hair removal procedure. I'll stick to my trusty razor and sweet scented shaving cream.
In a previous blog, “A Runners Wife” I spoke about my husband training for the NYC marathon. All I have to say is that the months of training all came together of an amazing race. Race day is a grueling day for runners, and the family. But a miracle happened...
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the senate judiciary committee and basically shrugged when asked if any other enemy combatant captured overseas had ever been brought to civilian criminal court to face justice. Talk about an incompetent boob, not to mention a disgrace.
Here is a list of wines all from Spain, and menus from restaurants in Brooklyn where a crew of us did a food / wine crawl through Carrol Gardens and Williamsburg recently
E-Mail Story
Print Story
