What are appointments like?
At the start of your appointment, we’ll discuss the area you’d like to work on and any questions or concerns you have.
Once treatment begins, I work through the area one hair at a time. A very fine probe is placed into each hair follicle, a small amount of electricity is applied, and the treated hair is removed with tweezers.
When we’re finished, I’ll clean and soothe the treated skin and go over aftercare instructions with you. Some temporary redness or swelling is normal and usually settles down fairly quickly.
What is electrolysis?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes electrolysis as the only approved method for permanent hair removal.
Electrolysis permanently removes hair by treating each follicle individually with a fine probe.
There are three main types of electrolysis:
Galvanic is the original form of electrolysis. It uses a small electrical current to start a chemical reaction inside the hair follicle, producing a small amount of liquid lye. This lye travels throughout the follicle, destroying the cells responsible for hair growth. This makes galvanic especially useful for treating thick, curved or distorted follicles, however treatment times per follicle are longer.
Thermolysis uses high-frequency current to generate heat rather than lye. It is commonly used in flash thermolysis, where a high-intensity pulse of energy is delivered to the tip of the probe for a fraction of a second. This allows hairs to be treated much faster than with other methods. Flash excels at quickly treating shallow, straight hairs across larger areas, but can be significantly less effective when treating thick, deep, curved, or distorted follicles.
Blend combines galvanic and thermolysis in a single treatment. Like galvanic, its primary mechanism is the lye produced inside the follicle, which damages the cells responsible for hair growth. The heat accelerates the action of the lye, allowing blend to treat each follicle more quickly than galvanic alone, though not as fast as flash thermolysis.
Does it hurt?
Everyone experiences electrolysis a little differently, and some areas are more sensitive than others. Most people describe it as a quick feeling of heat, a sting, or a pinch.
Comfort is important, especially during longer sessions. We can take breaks, adjust the pace, and talk about numbing or other comfort options if you need them.
How should I prepare?
Ensure you have enough hair growth so your hairs can easily be grasped with tweezers; for most people this is between 2–4 days.
Try to come in well hydrated and limit caffeine before your appointment if you can; this makes the treatment faster, more effective and less traumatic for the skin. The area should be clean and free of makeup or heavy products. Use a gentle unscented moisturizer the night before and morning of your appointment.