Methods and types of electrolysis. The most interesting questions about electrolysis
(or super flash speed).
So, in the 30-40s. last century, thermolysis, or alternating current electrolysis, almost completely replaced electrolysis, or direct current electrolysis. Alas, it soon became clear that the new technology, while having undeniable advantages in speed, was inferior to the old method in terms of effectiveness in relation to curved or very large follicles.
Not all follicles grow predictably: constant plucking or friction deforms them so that the location of the hair papilla cannot be guessed based on the direction of hair shaft growth. During electrolysis, sodium hydroxide spread throughout the hair pore, reaching both the source of nutrition for the hair (hair papilla) and the source of new cells for the destroyed/damaged hair (hair niche). After passing the direct current, sodium hydroxide remains in the follicle for some time, and this is a significant factor in the effectiveness of the procedure. With thermolysis, the task is to ensure that the end of the needle is in close proximity to the hair papilla in order to coagulate the vessels that feed it, and from the hair niche. The likelihood of accurately hitting these two key points depends on the luck of the skill, but can be increased by "overheating" the skin. This is how they still do it - they use redundant current parameters. This is what my skin looked like after thermolysis hair removal:
Thermolysis-electrolysis of the neck with excessive current parameters and too thick a needle
One of the electrologists, Henri St. Pierre from San Francisco, began using thermolysis back in the 30s, and noticed that after it, hair grows back more than after electrolysis. Together with engineer Arthur Hinkel from General Electric X-Ray Corporation, he began experimenting with a hybrid technique. In 1945, they managed to design a device with characteristics that satisfied them, and after 3 years they became patent holders. During this time, Hinkel learned electrolysis and founded a school where his companions taught electrologists the new method; The devices were sold only to those who were trained.
Hinkel (left) teaches electrologists how to use the new blend hair removal machine (1948) The new method was called blend, from the English. the words blend (“mix”). Its idea is to use the heat generated by alternating current to speed up the chemical reaction of electrolysis. As a result, the time of direct current flow, which is necessary to produce the required amount of sodium hydroxide, is reduced by 2-4 times and averages 5 seconds.
Any blend electroepilator allows you to carry out the procedure using both currents together or separately. This can be convenient: let’s say, I process all the hair on my face using the blend method, and on my thighs I can easily process it with thermolysis.
Illustration for the EvoluBlend method Even on the simplest devices you can set the DC/AC current strength and the DC current exposure time. “The key to successful blend electrolysis lies in the correct relationship between the contributions of the two currents,” wrote Hinkel (1968, p. 202). - If you overdo it with direct current, then you will not gain anything in speed [compared to traditional electrolysis]. If you overdo it with alternating current, hair regrowth will be higher than necessary.”
Modern devices, unlike those produced by Hinkel and Saint-Pierre, have programs with a mutual combination of currents depending on the parameters of the hair, contain the ability to select the frequency of alternating current and even the sequence of pulses. For example, “EvoluBlend” (EvoluBlend, a Dectro company patent) combines several flash pulses with a frequency of 27 MHz and a gradually increasing direct current (these tricks are designed to increase the comfort of the procedure).
Instead of a conclusion, or what is better?
So, we have looked at three methods of electrolysis and it’s time to decide which one is the best. The table below shows the main characteristics of these methods.
| Method | Electrolysis | Thermolysis | Blend |
| Type of current | D.C. | high frequency alternating current | direct and alternating current |
| Type of impact | sodium hydroxide | warm | sodium hydroxide |
| Exposure time | 10-60 sec | 0.001–1 sec | ≈5 sec |
| Efficiency | high | Difficulties in treating large and curved follicles | high |
| Flaws | slow (=expensive) and painful | the likelihood of regrowth after treatment is higher; If over-processed, there is a risk of burns. | faster than electrolysis, but much slower and more painful than thermolysis |
| Cannot be used if... | ...stimulants and implants | ...stimulants | ...stimulants and implants |
I follow the blogs of two electrologists and recognized masters - Michael Bono and Josepha Reyna. The first prefers the blend method, the second gets excellent results using the flash method. I constantly present their videos and photos of the results - look at the “” tag. Of course, no one flaunts failure, but what is important to understand is that both flush and blend allow you to get approximately the same results if you know what to do. For example, in one of my previous posts I talked about the electrolysis techniques used by Reina, and in Maila Bono we see that his blend is not so slow.
For beginner electrologists, the blend definitely gives a more predictable result, and it's especially good for the face because it comes after, so I prefer it.
Sources:- Morris, D. Encyclopedia of hair removal: everything about hair removal for professionals and beauty salons / D. Morris, D. Brown. - M.: RIPOL classic, 2008. - 400, ill.
- Brochure from the manufacturer of electric epilators Dectro [website]. URL: http://www.dectro.com/en (accessed 12/10/2016)
- Website about cosmetology [site]. URL: http://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/ (accessed 12/10/2016)
Electrolysis– a method of radical elimination of existing hair and stopping the growth of new ones by dosed electric current on the hair follicles. In the process of electrolysis, current, using an electrode, penetrates to the depth of the hair follicle and causes its thermal destruction. Electrolysis is effective for hair of any type (including thin, gray and blond, hormone-dependent) and for any skin phototype. Electrolysis is often performed in addition to laser hair removal to remove residual hair.
Electrolysis is chronologically the earliest hardware method of hair removal, used in Europe since the 1940s. The mechanism of electrolysis is based on the destructive effect of electric current on the germinal part of the hair follicles. Electric current is supplied by pointwise application of a thin electrode to each individual follicle. The generated electrical pulse forms a microspark at the tip of the electrode, causing local high-temperature heating of the growth zone of the hair follicle and its complete destruction. After electrolysis, hair growth from destroyed follicles stops forever. Using electrolysis, it is possible to remove hair on the eyebrow line, cheeks, upper and lower lips, chin, neck, shoulders, back, chest, mammary glands, arms, abdomen, legs, bikini area, fingers and toes. Electrolysis of the armpits is not recommended due to the concentration of many lymph nodes in this area. Electrolysis is not performed in the ears and nasal passages. The most painful areas for electrolysis are the upper lip and bikini area.
Electrolysis is the only method that allows you to get rid of unwanted hair forever. However, this effect cannot be achieved in one procedure. Due to the fact that hair has three stages of growth, the effect in one procedure does not occur on all hair, but only on that part of the hair that is in the growth stage or has already fully grown. Thus, after the first procedure, approximately 2 weeks later, a new batch of hair grows, which was in the resting stage during hair removal. The hair that was removed during the first procedure gains strength and grows back, but weaker, thinner and less noticeable. At the same time, some hair may be removed forever even after the first procedure. In any case, the number of procedures required to completely get rid of unwanted hair depends solely on physiological characteristics. For some, 6 procedures may be enough, for others – 12. In any case, the effect of electrolysis will be noticeable after the first 3 procedures (on one area of the skin). To completely get rid of unwanted hair, you need to be patient for a year and a half. As soon as new hair grows at the site of exposure to the electric epilator, go to the cosmetologist again, and under no circumstances use any other methods of hair removal - otherwise, all efforts can be reduced to nothing.
Before the procedure, it is recommended to see the body’s reaction to electrolysis on a small area of skin. Observe how quickly the irritation at the site of exposure to the device subsides, and how many days will it take for the marks from the needle insertion to disappear. Check to see if there is any individual intolerance to this type of electrolysis. After the electrolysis test on a small area of skin is successful, you can safely get down to business! In any case, after 3-4 procedures the effect will be noticeable - there will be significantly less hair, and those that continue to grow persistently will become thinner and grow weaker and will eventually be removed forever.
Classification of electrolysis methods
Depending on the electrodes used, tweezer and needle methods of electrolysis are distinguished.
Tweezer electrolysis method consists of capturing each hair being removed using a thin tweezer electrode connected to a high-frequency current generator apparatus. Through the shaft of the hair held with tweezers, the current penetrates the follicle and causes its destruction. Tweezer electrolysis is non-contact, least painful and indispensable for sensitive areas of the body (face, bikini). However, due to the slow speed of electrolysis (a single hair can be processed for up to 1.5-2 minutes), this method is unsuitable for removing hair from large surfaces of the skin.
Varieties needle electrolysis, depending on the characteristics of the current used and their combinations, are thermolysis, electrolysis, blend and flash methods and their modifications. The prefixes “new, super, ultra” indicate different variants of basic electrolysis methods without any fundamental differences. Needle electrolysis is an invasive method of hair removal, as it involves inserting a conductor needle into the skin, through which current of certain parameters is supplied.
Thermolysis, as a method of electrolysis, involves the destruction of the hair follicle by alternating high-frequency low-voltage current. The application of electrical impulses leads to an instant high-temperature reaction and coagulation of follicles that are in the growth phase. Thermolysis is often used in the practice of electrolysis, although its implementation is associated with certain risks and requires high qualifications and practice. This type of electrolysis is the most painful and often requires not only the application of surface anesthetics, but also standard local anesthesia (lidocaine, trimecaine, etc.). In turn, the use of injectable anesthetics can provoke a change in current parameters, due to which the procedure will be ineffective. According to some observations, there may also be an increase in local hair growth. The advantage of thermolysis is fairly fast hair removal, at a speed of 22 hairs per minute, which is convenient for treating large areas of skin. The disadvantage of this method of electrolysis is high pain, the risk of folliculitis and multiple atrophic scars, and the difficulty of getting into the lower segments of curved follicular canals.
At the core electrolysis lies an electrochemical reaction that occurs under the influence of direct (galvanic) current. During electrolysis, direct current causes the formation of sodium ions around the needle-electrode, which, when interacting with tissue fluid, turn into microdoses of alkali. The alkaline substance penetrates into parts of the bulb that are inaccessible to the electrode and causes their destruction. With the help of electrolysis, curved hair passages are successfully treated by electrolysis. During the electrolysis procedure, a passive electrode is placed in the patient’s hand, and an active electrode (needle) is passed along the hair shaft to the depth of the follicle. Then a current is applied, the strength of which is adjusted on the device according to standard recommendations, depending on the thickness of the hair and the depth of the follicles. A sign of a completed electrochemical reaction is the appearance of a small amount of foam bubbles near the hair - released hydrogen. The hair treated during electrolysis is removed with tweezers. Electrolysis is a less painful method of electrolysis than thermolysis, but it is inferior to the latter in terms of hair removal speed - on average 4 hairs per minute. Even when using multi-needle systems for electrolysis, electrolysis requires quite a long time to treat large areas of the body.
Electrolysis using the blend method (blend- mixing) combines the effect on hair of high-frequency alternating and direct galvanic current, that is, thermolysis and electrolysis. Blend electrolysis causes not only the formation of alkali, but also its heating, which increases the destructive effect on the follicles. At the same time, the duration of electrolysis is reduced and the efficiency increases. In the process of electrolysis using the blend method, there are 2 stages of impact on the follicles. The first phase is thermolytic, characterized by heating of the follicle and dehydration of perifocal (surrounding) tissues. During the second, electrolytic, a galvanic reaction occurs with the formation of a small amount of an alkaline environment, sufficient for the final destruction of the follicle. Modern bend epilators have a built-in computer unit for optimal selection of thermo- and electrolytic phases, taking into account the specifics of the patient. The limitations of the blend method include the relatively low speed of electrolysis and the risk of folliculitis and scars. A modification of electrolysis using the blend method is the “sequential blend” ( sequential- subsequence). Sequential blend differs from the traditional blend method by reducing the amplitude of the galvanic current during the pulse, which enhances the destructive effect on the follicle and reduces pain.
Flash electrolysis (flash- flash) represents an advanced thermolysis using direct current of very high frequencies (2000 kHz). The exposure of current with the flash method is extremely small (from 0.01 to 0.09 sec.), the needles for electrolysis are equipped with mandatory insulation, which practically eliminates pain and trauma. The flash method is not recommended for electrolysis of the bikini area and face, but is very effective when used on arms and legs. An improved technique of the flash method is “sequential flash” using high-frequency sinusoidal alternating current, which allows the electrolysis specialist to maneuver depending on the quality of the hair in one area. Sequential Flash also allows you to vary the duration of the pulses taking into account the thickness of the hair - the thicker the hair, the smaller the pulse and the stronger the current.
Needle electrodes For electrolysis, three types are used: insulated, gold and medical alloy needles. Insulated needles are covered with a microlayer of insulation (usually Teflon) less than 1 micron, which protects the tissue from burns; used for patients with increased pain sensitivity. Needles made of chrome-nickel copper alloy, used for the production of fine surgical instruments, are indicated for electrolysis in patients who easily tolerate electrolysis. Gold needles for electrolysis are coated with 24-karat gold and do not contain nickel; Suitable for skin intolerant to medical alloy.
Contraindications for electrolysis:
- presence of a pacemaker;
- pregnancy;
- exacerbation of chronic skin diseases;
- acute infectious, pustular skin diseases;
- epilepsy;
- the presence of nevi, moles in the affected area;
- individual intolerance to current;
- diabetes;
- varicose veins (at the site of the procedure);
- severe forms of hypertension and coronary heart disease;
- oncological diseases;
- some gynecological diseases (during epilation of the bikini area).
Advantages and disadvantages of electrolysis
The advantages of electrolysis are its affordability, radicality, and the ability to get rid of hair of any tone for any skin phototype. Potential dangers of electrolysis include the risk of infection when the integrity of the skin is damaged by needles, the occurrence of folliculitis, scars and hyperpigmentation. The result of electrolysis depends on the qualifications of the specialist, the equipment used, adequate anesthesia, regularity of procedures, and correct post-epilation care.
-~- Such different electrolysis. What is the difference? Electrolysis has a centuries-old history and has proven itself as an effective and safe method of removing excess hair. In modern cosmetology, there are several types of electrolysis, differing in the duration of exposure to current, its type, as well as the effectiveness and strength of the effect on the skin and hair. It’s worth dwelling on 4 main ones: electrolysis, thermolysis, flash method and bland hair removal.
Electrolysis: time-tested
Electrolysis is the oldest method of electrolysis used. It can be called chemical, since the follicle dies during electrolysis under the influence of alkali - sodium hydroxide, formed as a result of the action of a direct current on a hair follicle filled with a saline solution.During the procedure, a needle-thin electrode is inserted into the hair follicle and a low-voltage direct current is applied to it. It takes up to 2 minutes to process one hair. Modern devices allow you to process 12-16 follicles at a time, and, nevertheless, electrolysis is classified as a slow method. Electrolysis is rarely used to treat large areas of the body. But where the hair growth area is small and the hairs are thick and deeply rooted, electrolysis works very well and guarantees the destruction of 80% of the hair, even if its root is crooked.
During the procedure and immediately after it, irritation is possible on the skin at the epilation site, which goes away after a few days.
Thermolysis: radio hair removal
Thermolysis ensures the death of the follicle due to heating. This method was invented in 1927, but began to be actively used only in the 40s of the last century. It is interesting that all thermolysis devices are radio devices and operate on a single frequency specially allocated for them.To remove hair using thermolysis, a cosmetologist inserts a thin needle into the base of the root, from the tip of which high-frequency radio radiation is applied, which causes local heating of the follicle. After 0.5-2 seconds the follicle dies. Since the needle is coated with a special polymer, its contact with the skin does not cause burns. It is best to use thermolysis in areas where the hairs are thin and have shallow roots. If the hair root is curved, thermolysis may not be effective.
Thermolysis is not the most pleasant cosmetic procedure. To reduce pain, your doctor may suggest a mild anesthetic. The irritation that appears on the skin after the session goes away after a few days.
Flash hair removal: more speed - less pain
The Flash method is a variant of thermolysis that uses a current of a different, higher frequency. A short, thousandths of a second, intense impulse causes almost instantaneous death of the follicle. Initially, this method was invented to destroy hairs with small follicles, but later the technology was improved, and now flash hair removal is also used to destroy large hair follicles.This hair removal method requires highly qualified cosmetologist: it is painless, fast and effective, however, if the power of the pulse is disproportionate to the size of the follicle, damage to the epidermis and the formation of small scars and cicatrices are possible.
Bland hair removal: new implementation of old technologies
Bland is the most modern electrolysis technology. It combines the advantages of thermolysis and electrolysis, while mitigating their disadvantages.The death of the hair follicle during bland hair removal occurs, as with electrolysis, under the influence of alkali. However, the chemical reaction time has been reduced from 2 minutes to 10 seconds: a high-frequency current, similar to that used in thermolysis, acts as an accelerator. The Bland method has proven itself to be effective when treating areas of the body where the hairs are coarse and have deep-set follicles. It is guaranteed to destroy 70-80% of unwanted vegetation forever.
The supplied pulse is controlled by a microprocessor, which is equipped with each bland hair removal device. Thus, the risk of side effects is minimized. Combining the methods of thermolysis and electrolysis also made it possible to reduce pain during the procedure.
Since the hairs on the body grow at different rates and can be in both the growth and sleep phases, to achieve good results, any of the described procedures must be repeated 3-6 times with an interval of 2-3 weeks.
