Electrolysis Hair Removal

Advantages of electrolysis:

• Since 1875, electrolysis has been and remains the only 100% permanent hair removal method recognised by government regulatory agencies.

• Electrolysis treats each hair individually therefore fine and white hairs that Laser can sometimes miss can be treated successfully.

The disadvantage of electrolysis:

• Electrolysis is an invasive treatment

• There can be sometimes be swelling and bruising

• Due to being invasive it is less comfortable

• Each hair is treated individually, therefore less hairs can be treated per session

We use Apilus and Sterex Diathermy and Blend methods. We choose which machine and method will be best for each individual client.

Typically electrolysis treatments have had a bad rap for being uncomfortable.

Apilus changes this however, and instead of having to hold the probe in the follicle for up to and over 15 seconds (which is the norm with other electrolysis machines), treatment on each individual hair is typically over within less than 4 seconds.

I liken it to saying, by the time you feel anything, the treatment on that hair is already over.

Although the treatment is not 100% pain free, it is a much more comfortable, gentle treatment than traditional electrolysis methods.

Apilus treatment is very gentle, and you’ll only feel a slight heat or pinch sensation in the area being treated.

It’s worth noting that individual tolerances do vary, and different areas on the body are more sensitive than others, but most people find the treatment completely fine.

If you have tried electrolysis previously, you will be very pleasantly surprised at the difference!

This comes down to personal choice, the reason behind why you want to get rid of the hair/cause of the hair growth, and the colour of the hair.

Electrolysis is the only proven method of 100% hair removal, compared to laser and IPL which is proven hair reduction, and waxing which is the most temporary hair removal option offered in-clinic.

Sometimes its better to have Laser treatments to reduce the hair growth and then electrolysis to treat the hairs that laser could not treat, such as light coloured hairs or hormone induced hairs.

Straight after your treatment, the skin might look a bit red and might feel a little tender, and this varies from person to person.

This usually subsides quickly, and you will be given aftercare advice to follow when your treatment has finished, to make sure you are looking after the skin and hair properly in between treatments.

Some people do find they may bruise.

Most people who follow the recommended treatment plan can expect to be completed or nearly completed within 18 months.

Some people are much less than this and can be cleared in 6 months to a year, but it’s important to realise that everyone is different.

Factors such as hair growth cycles, the quantity and structure of hair in the area, previous use of temporary hair removal methods, heredity, hormone function, medical history, certain medications and stress all influence the treatment programme for each individual.

As you can see, because there are so many factors influencing hair growth, electrolysis is not a one-off treatment and takes time and patience.

Please bear in mind that to start with, treatments will be close together, becoming more spaced out as time goes on.

It’s important in this time not to undo the work electrolysis has done by for instance, tweezing or waxing the hair. This will be covered as part of your aftercare advice.

Unfortunately not all treatments are for everyone. Please check our contraindications list to make sure you avoid disappointment.

• Pacemaker

• Epilepsy

• Heart conditions (uncontrolled)

• High blood pressure (uncontrolled)

• Diabetes (uncontrolled)

• Cancer (all forms)

• Undergoing chemotherapy or immune therapy

• Immunodeficiency

• Lupus

• Pregnant

• Varicose veins

• Active Herpes/cold sores (on treatment area)

• Moles

• Open lesions

• Infection

• Sunburn

• Depilatory creams (wait 2 weeks)

• Recent waxing/plucking (all electrolysis based hair removal treatments require there to be a follicle to target)

• Following your treatment, do not touch or scratch the area treated. Bacteria can cause a breakout.

• Do not wash or wear make-up over the treated area for 24 hours.

• Avoid perfume or alcohol-based products. They will dry out your skin. You can wipe the area with witch hazel, if needed.

• Avoid excessive sweating. Do not use a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi or exercise for 24 hours or until the redness has subsided. Exercise before your electrolysis appointment instead of afterwards.

• Avoid the sun for the next 72 hours to avoid pigment spots.

• Do not swim in a chlorinated pool for the first 48 hours following treatment.

• If small scabs appear, do not scratch them away. This can cause scarring. Allow them to fall off naturally. This is nature零 way of healing the follicle that we have treated.

• Occasionally one or more tiny bruises may appear in the treatment area. These occur when an electrolysis probe affects a capillary (small blood vessel) feeding the follicle. Expect the bruising to fade over a few days.

• Remember: Some re-growth is to be expected. If you will return when the first re-growth occurs, the roots are shorter and weaker and therefore can be treated more effectively.

• Do not tweeze or wax hairs in the treatment area in between treatments because this will delay the growth cycle and will increase the treatment time. Clipping or shaving is allowed because this method doesn’t interfere with the growth cycle.

• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

• Dehydrated skin means you will need more treatments to permanently destroy the follicle. Moisture is needed for better conductivity of the electricity. A daily application of very moisturising cream is recommended.

• Drink a lot of water the day before, day of, and the day after your treatments. Electrolysis relies on moisture in the follicle to be effective. Drinking lots of water the day after your treatment helps the skin heal faster.

• Use sunscreen every day. The fewer pigment cells there are, the less chance there is for hypo- or hyperpigmentation problems (the chance is very small, but we prefer to be on the safest side possible).

Only vegan products are used in this treatment.

There is little waste produced from this treatment and most is all recyclable, but we do use a sterile needle that has to be disposed of in clinic waste and if any blood is caused the cotton wool also has to be added to clinical waste.

Vicki Hexter

Estelle Brown

Steph Webb

Viktoria Zem

Find out more about each therapist at Meet the Team