Consistency Is The Key

By Rita Reckas
RegisteredElectrologist

Electrolysis, especially the removal of the male beard, canbe a long process. But it doesnít have to be endless. The key isconsistency and spacing appointments as frequently as possible.

I know that when I tell clients that they should keep their appointmentsless than two weeks apart (once a week is really best) some might bethinking that Iím doing so for financial reasons. Actually, I am.

You see, the person who comes in on a consistent, frequent, basis spendsless over the long run than the person who comes in sporadically becausethe more consistent person will ultimately have fewer appointments. Thisis because of the way hair grows and the way electrolysis works in the real world.

While it is very possible to destroy a hair root in one pass, what oftenhappens is that the stronger hairs are only partially damaged by a typicaltreatment. We could, theoretically, destroy even the strongest and deepesthair roots in one treatment, but the amount of energy needed to do so can also create scars, which wedefinitely do not want.

A partially damaged hair regrows thinner and its root is closer to thesurface. It may take another treatment or two to completely destroy thishair's root, but because it is weaker the removal action is much quickerand less painful. Think of it as killing a weed with roots near thesurface versus one whose roots go deep. It is much easier and faster toget the weed near the surface.

On the other hand, if the hair is not treated in this weakened state andif it is shaved, plucked or otherwise stimulated, it can come back almostas strong as it was originally. That means it takes more energy, and time,to damage it again.

There is another variable in this process: the stage in which the hair isgrowing.

The Three Stages of Hair Growth

Anagen: This is the "magic" stage, the time when we want to destroy ordamage the root. During this time the hair is growing and when it isvisible above the skin, it can be treated. There is plenty of water andsalt available in the root area for the galvanic current to chemicallychange the water and salt to sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxidedestroys the follicle. This period for facial and body hair can be as longas two weeks.

Hair grows approximately Ω inch per month, This means the hair would beabove the skin in the Anagen (destroyable) stage approximately 2 weeks. Ifappointments are missed, hair removal will not be as fast since some ofthe hair will reach the shedding stage ge before treatment and thereforecannot be destroyed.

Catagen: The growth process has now reversed itself and the hair is readyto shed. The water and salt have dried up and formed a hard bulb. Follicledestruction is not possible. A follicle treated in the Catagen stage willstill produce another hair. This stage is extremely variable and can be asshort as two days.

Telogen: This is the "resting" stage. The hair is neither developing orgrowing. It is usually not visible above the skin, and therefore, cannotbe treated. This unpredictable phase can be as short as a few days or aslong as a few years.

Please note carefully the cycles of hair growth. Notice that the hair maybe in the Anagen (growing stage) and above the skin for a period of onlytwo weeks. Catagen (degenerative stage) can be as brief as two days.Telogen (resting stage) can last a few days or a few years. The extreme variability of these cycles can renderindividual patterns that are vastly different.

Electrolysis definitely works, but commitment is important.