How long does electrolysis take? This article bares in mind all that you need to know about electrolysis and how long it takes to remove hair from your body. Electrolysis is one of the few long-term options available for hair removal treatment, and when compared to other forms of hair removal, it offers the most convenience and the least hassle. Jump in here to get all you need to know about electrolysis and how long it will last.
One of the demanding things people want from any hair removal treatment is a long-lasting, effective method for removing unwanted body and facial hair.
Electrolysis is an extremely effective hair removal technique that works by sealing off the blood supply to hair follicles, eliminating its food source for growth. Electrolysis prevents opportunities for treated areas to re-grow and is accomplished over a series of treatments
So far that we have been into the hair-removal-awareness at mybeardgang.com, we’ve received a common question from people on “how long do hair removal treatments take?”
To start with, I’d like to draw the starting line by saying that an average person’s hair should be completely eliminated within one year if the hair treatment area is treated at least every 6 to 8 weeks.
“average person” should be considered as the better your body is at healing, the more treatments you will need.
Irrespective of the individual’s skin colour, Treatment can still be completed. With electrolysis, you can be assured that you will receive hair removal results that are permanent, allowing you to feel confident and beautiful in your skin.
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In addition, The faster your body heals, the quicker the hair follicle recovers and the more treatments you will require to rid the hair completely. Larger, thicker hairs, such as bikini line hairs, only take 6 to 8 weeks to return.
Also, do not underestimate the frequency of your treatments as it is of paramount importance. If you are getting bodywork done, a full treatment every 6-8 weeks is best. This will increase effectiveness and decrease the total number of treatments required, also minimizing both pain and trauma to the skin. If you are getting face-work done, it is most effective to have a full treatment every 2-3 weeks.
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So How Long Does Electrolysis Truly Last?
When it comes to permanent hair removal, electrolysis is the only method approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. That’s because it truly is the only real permanent solution to hair growth, and not even laser hair removal is as effective or long-lasting.
In fact, the FDA says that while laser hair removal can assist in permanent hair reduction, it cannot provide permanent hair removal. That means if you want hair to disappear forever, electrolysis is truly the only option.
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Factors that affect time to completion of Electrolysis treatment
The length of treatment needed to complete the process depends on many variables. Presented here are some factors to note.
Your skin condition
There has been no proof that one method works better than others in the long run, although you’ll certainly hear strong opinions for one method or the other.
If your skin is unhealthy or broken out, an electrologist may have to avoid an area until it’s healed.
Your preferred method of treatment
The different modalities of electrolysis (thermolysis, galvanic, and blend) all have their adherents and detractors.
Doubling up on treatment
Some places offer work done by two electrologists at once. Some get twice the hours of work for the same number of hours of their lying there being tortured so it’s much quicker to make progress. It definitely is worth asking around to see if any electrologists in your area work in teams.
So, as you can see, it depends. As mentioned earlier, figure it will take between 100 and 400 hours total to complete facial electrolysis.
If you have treatment primarily on terminal hairs, and then you deal with vellus hairs in another manner (shaving, trimming, etc.), this can make an enormous difference in treatment time.
The frequency/regularity of your treatment
Do as much as you can afford. The sooner you get hairs after they emerge, the less time they have to strengthen. Some people miss appointments because they forget, they can’t afford to pay that week, or they don’t want to deal with the pain that day.
It is vital that you maintain a regular treatment schedule set up by your electrologist. Sporadic treatment will greatly lengthen the time needed to finish.
How do you behave during treatments?
Now, if you fidget a lot or talk a lot (especially while you’re getting work done near your mouth), your movements will slow down the whole process.
If you stop frequently to take a break from the pain, to go stretch your legs, to smoke, or to go to the bathroom, you will be cutting into your treatment time.
The previous process of hair removal
If you have attempted to remove your facial hair prior to electrolysis, you may have made the task harder for your electrologist. Shaving shouldn’t pose a problem, but if you have plucked your hairs, the hair roots could be curved and distorted, making it difficult to insert the probe to the necessary point.
For people with light-coloured skin and dark-coloured hair, 4 to 6 laser sessions may help reduce time to completion. People with darker skin or blonde, red, or grey facial hair are not ideal candidates and will not see the kind of results an ideal candidate will have.
Your androgen levels
While there is no definitive study on this, it is generally assumed that hormones (more specifically, anti-androgens like spironolactone) retard facial hair growth (although they have no effect on existing hairs). You don’t have to be on hormones for electrolysis to work, but it probably helps.
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If you can, it is wise to get on a testosterone blocker like spironolactone before electrolysis.
Your age
Of course, there’s a certain age where your facial hair is probably as thick as it will get, but this varies widely. And in general, the younger you are, the more resilient your skin is. However, the general assumption is that the closer to puberty you are, the less your beard will have come in.
Your pain limits
The lower your pain threshold, the lower the machine must be set, and the longer it will take.
Your skin sensitivity
There is a limit to how much current your skin can take
For some people, this is lower than their pain threshold. Trying to use a setting stronger than the skin can handle may result in skin damage.
Your choice of electrologists
As mentioned above, using someone who knows what they’re doing is paramount. The better the operator, the more hairs treated per session. Plus if they’re good, the kill ratio is higher, and you’re done faster.
Your density of follicles
The more follicles, the more hair, the more time it will take.
Your facial hair coarseness
Some people’s facial hair is coarser than others. Coarser hairs may take more than one insertion to come loose and may be harder to kill.
You shouldn’t relent
Remember, it always takes longer than you think, but don’t give up hope. Some hairs will be killed on the first outing. Some may grow back 7-8 times or more before they give up. The hairs are on all different time cycles, too–some of them will come back in 10 days, some in 20, some in 45-60, etc. Also, about one-third of your facial hair is dormant at any one time — hence, there is always hair you cannot see that will need to be treated later.
When you’re near the end, the hair will all be fine long ones– the kind genetic women have treated. These require even less time and current. By this point, you should look presentable within a few hours of treatment, and new hair that grows between treatments won’t be noticeable to the casual observer. If possible, try not to shave between sessions.
Once you have gotten to the point where you’re clearing the whole face in a single weekly session, things just keep getting better. The time between when the redness subsides and when the hairs begin to appear again gets longer and longer. Soon, you aren’t spending as much money.
Frequently Asked Questions about Electrolysis treatment
In electrolysis, Most people require 1 to 5 hours a week in the early stages of clearing. While some are able to do even more than that, most are limited by how much they can spend or by how much treatment their skin can take. Most then reach a stage where they have one weekly session of thirty minutes to two hours or more.
In this last section of my article, we will dive into some faqs about electrolysis. I have also provided professional answers to them for you. Shall we?
Can you explain why Electrolysis Requires Multiple Sessions?
Electrolysis is only effective when performed during the hair’s growth phase, but because individual follicles follow their own schedule, it is impossible for the technician to know what phase each follicle is in at the time of your visit. You will need to keep returning until each follicle has been treated during its anagen phase.
Many people want to know why they must continue to get numerous electrolysis sessions if the procedure is supposed to provide permanent results. This occurs because each hair follicle has three growth phases – the anagen (growth) phase, the catagen (transitional) phase, and the telogen (resting) phase.
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What Can Influence the Permanence of my Electrolysis treatment?
Electrolysis is certainly permanent, but it’s important to consider the factors that might influence your results. Aside from the growth phase, other things that might impact your results include:
The area being treated.
Some areas of the body, such as the face, are more difficult to treat with electrolysis than others. Remember that electrolysis does work for all hair types, but it is most effective for people who have lighter, finer hair.
Hormone levels
Many patients find that when they have high levels of estrogen and low levels of testosterone, electrolysis is much more effective.
Electrolysis is the only means of hair removal that is truly permanent, and those who have completed their treatments can attest to the freedom of never having to shave, wax, or use creams for hair removal again. It provides an incredibly smooth and feminine result that cannot be duplicated with any other form of hair removal.
The technician’s skill
While there is little the technician can do to determine which growth phase each follicle is in, his or her ability to insert the needle to the proper depth and adequately remove the follicle will have a huge impact on your results.
Is Electrolysis Permanent? If yes, why?
Electrolysis differs from all other forms of hair removal because its primary goal involves killing off and then removing the hair follicle itself. The technician will insert a small needle into the follicle, send electric current through it, then remove the hair and the follicle with tweezers. Without hair follicles, hair can no longer grow. With laser hair removal, the follicle itself is not removed from the skin, which means it is not a permanent solution.
Now that you know How long electrolysis treatment takes
Are you interested in trying electrolysis? It’s a great deal that you’ll appreciate. Trust me.
Luckily for you, here at mybeardgang.com, we’ve got a plethora of the best electrolysis machine and kits for the home and professional use that you can buy at seemingly affordable prices.
Simply click on the link above to unleash an avalanche of these products and start on your journey to becoming hair-free for life!
We also have some electrolysis topics you should check out:
Review of Best Home Electrolysis Machine
The Right Hair Removal Machine For Men
Best Hair Removal Machines For Adults
Best Facial Hair Removal Device
I did electrolysis for a year every month. I had about 40 hairs on my face, mostly lip, chin, and in a scar from a mole. I had been plucking for years and decided to deal with it. As I was getting the treatment I noticed light hairs arriving that were not there before. I kept at it. COVID came and I had to stop. I did not pluck and I had about 20 stubborn hairs. I think they bothered me more than they appeared to others… I trimmed them. I started treatment again and then I got poison ivy. I am now stopped with COVID.
I am wondering why some hairs seem to return or are they new growth? The scar where a ‘former mole that lived on my face’ keeps growing hairs… I now have one black coarse hair. Normally my facial hairs are see-through. Are these hairs new and it is a natural course of ageing and electrolysis is just going to be ongoing?
I am lucky I have so few but it bugs me and I want to pluck and it is tough.