Electrolysis - Types of Electrolysis - Its Advantages and Disadvantages

Electrolysis is a means of removing unwanted hair with electric current applied to the roots of hair follicles. Electrolysis devices, called epilators, destroy the growth center of the hair with a short-wave radio frequency. A very fine probe is inserted into the hair follicle at the surface of the skin. The hair is then removed harmlessly with forceps.

Electrolysis or electrology is permanent hair removal by the process of inserting a fine, solid, pre-sterilized needle (wire, or probe) into a hair follicle and applying a small amount of electrical current to permanently destroy the hair growth cells. This is not laser hair removal.

Types of Electrolysis:

There are 3 methods of electrolysis. These are as:-

Galvanic ,Thermolysis ,and Blend.  All three methods involve inserting a small needle into the hair follicle. 

Galvanic Method

The galvanic method was the first method developed for removing superfluous hair. This method removes hair through chemical decomposition. This method uses galvanic electricity commonly referred to as direct current (DC) to create a chemical action in the follicle. When the DC from an electrologists needle interacts with body salts and moisture, a minute quantity of lye is produced. Galvanic refers to galvanism or galvanic cells. It is the sodium hydroxide, or lye, which is the source of follicle destruction in the galvanic method. The galvanic method is basically a chemical process.

Thermolysis Method

Thermolysis, also called shortwave method, high frequency method, or diathermy, destroys the hair follicle by heat or electrocoagulation. The thermolysis method is not true electrolysis since no chemical action is involved. It does, however, provide for permanent hair removal. Thermolysis is often referred to as electrolysis. This method - also known as high frequency (HF) diathermy, radio wave, or short-wave uses alternating current (AC) electricity to kill hair growth cells with heat. The HF current delivered by the electrologists needle (in just a fraction of a second) agitates the follicle tissue and produces heat that is high enough in temperature to effectively destroy the active area receiving the treatment. Thermolysis is ideally suited for thin, shallowly rooted hairs. It is a straightforward approach, and requires a minimum of operator training.

Blend Method

The blend method of hair removal combines both of the electrical currents described
above. When alternating current (thermolysis) is added to the galvanic (direct current)
process -- either simultaneously or sequentially -- it quickly raises the heat of the lye
created by the galvanic process, thereby greatly accelerating its normally slow reaction speed.

Advantages of Electrolysis:

The important advantages of electrolysis includes:-

• The major advantage of electrolysis is that it is the only permanent method of hair removal.

• It is a painless procedure of hair removal.

Disadvantages of electrolysis:  

The disadvantages of electrolysis are that it is:

• It is a time-consuming process.

• Electrolysis is expensive method of hair removal.