Hair removal has been around as long as mankind. There is evidence that cavemen shaved their faces with sharpened rocks. Removing unwanted hair has existed in every culture since then. The ancient Greeks and Romans both shaved. The use of depilatories has also existed in history since ancient times. Today people continue to remove unwanted hair by several methods. Shaving continues to be used as a quick easy solution. Modern electric razors make it easy. Hair removal creams are available from many manufacturers. Electrolysis and laser hair removal are modern additions to the types of hair removal.
The first person to use electrolysis for hair removal was Dr. Charles E. Michel in 1875. Electrolysis uses an electrified needle which is inserted into the base of the hair follicle while the patient holds a rod which serves as an electrical ground. A chemical reaction takes place which destroys the hair growth tissue. A hair treated by electrolysis does not grow back. There are two drawbacks of electrolysis. A needle must be used so it does involve some pain. It is also expensive. Electrolysis treatments can cost $60 per hour and each hair must be treated individually.
Battery operated devices
There are several battery operated devices on the market today. The battery powered devices put out only about 1/4 W of power and usually operates on radio frequencies. These devices cause a slight rise in temperature inside the hair shaft that can theoretically travel down into the hair follicle and after holding the hair for approximately 10 minutes produce enough heat to actually cause some damage to the follicle. This means that you can potentially remove 6 hairs per hour and hope that those hairs do not grow back.
Radio Frequency Devices
Radio frequency devices work on the concept that radio frequency (RF) energy gets transmitted by the electronic tweezers down the hair shaft. RF energy is similar to the energy produced in a microwave which causes a heating effect. There is some heating of the actual hair that is in contact with the tweezers due to friction heat caused by spinning water molecules. Heat can potentially travel down the hair shaft but none of it will actually reach the hair follicle. This is due to the fact that these devices have an FDA assigned frequency of 27.12MHz and a power output of 1.5 Watts. This wattage is so low that it takes 60 seconds of RF energy to increase the temperature of the hair follicle by 2?F. Now consider the following; it takes at least 108?F to cause any kind of damage to the hair follicle. With the normal body temperature of 98?F, you will have to hold each hair for at least 5-6 minutes, one by one, to see any kind of result whatsoever.
Vector Electrolysis Hair Removal System
Although the Vector System costs more than the battery operated or radio frequency devices, it is the only system that delivers the power necessary for electrolysis in the home. A patch electrode is placed on the body to provide an electrical ground. The system uses conductivity gel applied to the hair shaft. The hair is gripped with tweezers that are connected to the system. A foot pedal is used to turn the unit on and off so the tweezers only have electricity when the foot pedal is pressed. Each hair is held for six to thirty five seconds depending on the comfort setting selected on the machine. Hairs properly treated will not grow back.
Wayne Guttersohn has marketed hair removal devices and hair removal creams for ten years. His website Home Electrolysis Hair Removal is the leading distributor of the Vector Electrolysis System. | |
