While the visible part of hair, is already dead, the bulb, or hair root, contains living cells that grow the hair.
The bulb or hair root (and the papilla) is connected to the blood supply (when in anagen stage).
The other very important part is the bulge, which is where stem cells are stored to regenerate the bulb when the hair falls out near the end of its growth cycle. It is the bulge that needs to be targeted for permanent hair removal.
In order to destroy the hair follicle, we must damage both the bulb and the bulge.
Modalities of Electrolysis
Thermolysis
High frequency (AC) current is passed through a single probe, which is inserted into the hair follicle alongside the hair. Energy is converted to heat within the liquid found in the follicle, which then electrocoagulates (cooks) the surrounding tissue.
Thermolysis was originally introduced to remove vellus hair (peach fuzz), but technology has come a long way and we can treat all different hair types with thermolysis. It is very effective for laser regrowth because your follicles have been damaged previously.
It can permanently kill hair in the anagen phase, which is anywhere from 10% to 60% of hairs, depending on body area. The rest can grow back, but because the follicle was damaged, it will be a lot thinner and weaker.
Advantages
Very fast, our thermolysis works in thousandths of a second.
Hydration doesn’t matter as much.
Suitable for all hair and skin colours.
Can be used over the whole body.
Can be done during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.
Can be done if you have metal implants, electrical devices, e.g cochlear implants, or pacemakers.
Disadvantages
Hard to treat curly hair.
Galvanic
We use a single probe that is inserted into the hair follicle alongside the hair, and a low-voltage direct current is passed through it. There is also multiprobe galvanic, which has 16 needles inserted and turned on at once.
The direct current creates a chemical process in which the salt and moisture in your follicle are converted into caustic lye (also known as sodium hydroxide). Lye is extremely alkaline and breaks down the entire follicle, including the bulge and bulb. It can permanently kill hair in the anagen and catagen phase, which is anywhere from 10% to 99% of hairs, depending on body area. There are some cases that galvanic current has completely destroyed every hair follicle no matter the growth phase. The rest can grow back, but because the follicle was damaged, it will be a lot thinner and weaker.
Advantages
Suitable for all hair and skin colours.
Effective on curly hair.
Can be used all over the body.
Is effective on the anagen and catagen phases of hair growth.
Possibly destroys telogen phase as well.
Disadvantages
It is very time-consuming; probes can need to stay in the follicle for 4 or so minutes.
The most painful of the three modalities.
Skin will be most compromised with this modality.
It cannot be if you have metal implants or electrical devices. Eg cochlear implant & pacemaker.
Because there is current going through the body, we will not treat you during pregnancy with galvanic current.
You need to hold the grounding rod.
Skin needs to be well hydrated for maximum effectiveness.
Blend
Just as the name suggests it is a blend of both Thermolysis and Galvanic…The best of both worlds so to speak. The thermolysis method in blend is used to speed up the galvanic chemical reaction so instead of minutes its seconds. It can permanently kill hair in the anagen and catagen phase, which is anywhere from 10% to 85% of hairs, depending on body area.
Advantages
Faster than galvanic alone (between 3-10 seconds).
Suitable for all hair and skin colours.
Not as painful as galvanic alone.
Great for curly hair.
Is effective on the anagen and catagen phases of hair growth.
Skin should be well hydrated for maximum effectiveness.
Disadvantages
It can’t be if you have a lot of metal implants.
It can't be done if you have ANY electrical devices. Eg cochlear implant & pacemaker.
Because there is current going through the body, we will not treat you during pregnancy with galvanic current.
You need to hold the grounding rod.
Please note - Consultations are essential so we can discuss your desired results, as well as what modalities would be most effective for you. However, we will make the final decision.