Hair Growth & Phases

Hair has 3 different phases:

• Anagen: The active growth stage, when a new hair is created in the follicle and the hair lengthens. This stage can last several years for head hair.

• Catagen: The root bulb shrinks and moves toward the skin's surface. This stage is short and hairs are not shed.

• Telogen: The resting period before the hair is shed. This can last several months for head hair.

How many hairs come out of one follicle?

On average, one to three terminal hairs grow from a single scalp follicle; however, this can vary across different areas of the human body.

How many follicles and phases of growth for each area?

Electrolysis: 

There are 3 different techniques (application that applies electrical current) to perform electrolysis:

1. Galvanic: The oldest type of electrolysis, which uses a direct current to destroy hair follicles through a chemical reaction.

2. Thermolysis: Also known as advanced electrolysis or diathermy, this method uses an alternating current (AC) to create heat that destroys hair follicles.

3. Blend: Combines galvanic and thermolysis in a single treatment.

Steps:

1. Inspection & Cleaning: The Electrologist inspects the area to be treated and will apply a lotion/cleaner to ensure the follicles are able to accept a probe. During this phase ideally the hair is long enough to treat (long enough to determine direction of hair growth and can be grabbed by tweezers).

2. Probe Selection: The Electrologists selects a probe the thickness of the hair and inserts it into the follicle. The probe size is determined by hair type (fine, medium, coarse) and the treatment area on the body. A probe does NOT pierce the skin: it does not have a sharp tip and its not hollow (like a syringe needle). Probes are not resused.

3. Client Baseline: The Electrologist works with the client to determine: Depth of hair; Level of Electrical current to apply. The client needs to provide feedback to the Electrologist with regards to heat/pain. Electrologist will adjust machine settings for increased comfort (if settings are turned down - it will mean it takes longer to treat each hair.). Machine settings and other information is logged as a reference for follow-up treatments. Each hair is treated by applying an electrical current that treats the bulb and bulge area so that a new hair does not grow.

4. Hair Epilates (releases): The hair releases when treated and is removed with tweezers. The hair is removed with the bulb in tact and the various growth cells (this is how you can tell it was not tweezed) .

5. After Treatment: When a treatment is complete - After care is started to improve skin healing (we use a special process to get this started). The client should follow after care instructions (no sun exposure, no shaving, etc) as per the Electrologist. Ideally the area is red (similar to a sun-burn) but recovers over the next few hours. The client should communicate with the Electrologist so machine settings can be modifed for follow-up services.

How Many Treatments?

There are many factors that need to be considered:

Area: What  needs to be treated: Upper lip, chin, underarms, body, pubis

Hair Density & Thickness: Terminal (thicker, longer,darker - deeper in the skin); Lanugo (unpigmented, long & thin); Vellus (fine light color hair)

Speed: How quickly does a hair release given the machine settings and the comfort of the client (Numbing cream is used by some clients).

Amount of Growth: Even if an area is cleared. There are hairs that are below the surface and may not show up for several weeks/months. 

Surgery Ready: More time is required waiting for any-regrowth to ensure no after surgery complications.

Electrolysis Phases:

Clearing: This can be the first 3 months of the treatment plan. Frequent appointments to treat all of the hairs (frequency depends on client/area treated). Some hairs will not be initially treated since they are below the skin. No other hair removal techniques should be used so that the Electrologist can treat the hair. If you tweeze, wax, shave, the hair will not be there for the Electrologist to remove.

Control: Treats regrowth from the initial clearing phase. Expect a 50%+ reduction in hair. Appointments are less frequent and timed with the regrowth.

Maintenance: Expect 80%+ reduction in hair. Appointments are less frequent.