This could well end up being a long post.... Because in the hair removal industry myths abound ☹ The first one that springs to mind surrounds "Flash" electrolysis. In time this one will fade into obscurity but for the time being I have noticed it keeps popping up and here's why. It's quite simple really
Flash electrolysis is only possible with some electrolysis machines. These are the top end machines that cost Considerably more than those that are found in your average beauty salon. As part of their inner workings they will have microprocessors to control the electronics and specifically the timing of the release of energy within the follicle. Some electrologists who don't have this capability with their own machine will be all to quick to criticize "Flash" electrolysis because they don't have a machine that is capable of doing it. This is not to say that anyone not having the latest machine won't be offering effective treatment, not at all. There are no doubt some very capable electrologists out there doing good work with older machines but I am confident in saying "They would be doing better work with a modern machine" The Flash modes of electrolysis mean that the energy can be released within the follicle more precisely and much quicker than would be the case without it. This equates to less sensation and potentially less post treatment reaction because the energy can be kept within the follicle. This is possible because of the speed with which the energy can be released, it means it has less time to dissipate away into the surrounding tissues.
Something else, which just sprang to mind, another Myth ☺ Trolls living under bridges.... No hang on that's not it.... Oh yeah now I remember. You'll hear people saying the needle gets hot during flash. This isn't the case, it might end up slightly warmer but certainly not hot. The needle is merely a tool for depositing the energy into the right place. The energy itself is what disables the follicle. It does this by exciting the molecules within the moisture in the follicle. These molecules start bouncing around and ultimately creating friction and heat and this is what does the work. Sometimes a small pop or crack can be heard as the moisture turns to gas and try's to find it's way out of the follicle quick time. Similar theory to a bullet leaving a gun but without the projectile and the misery and sadness that guns can bring about..... This popping or cracking shouldn't be heard on every insertion because it can mean that a follicle is being over treated but because over treatment and adequate energy are close relatives it does sometimes occur. Leading me swiftly on
Treatment/over-treatment
I'm only going to touch on this because it's potentially quite vast and opinions vary greatly so this is just mine, both from my own observations and those of others that I trust and who have vast experience in this field. Where to start....
Depending on the size of the hair and ultimately the follicle a certain measured amount of energy Must be used to prevent another hair from forming (first hit kill). Sometimes as a result of this a degree of post treatment reaction can be expected. This does not mean an individual can expect to be scarred in order that they receive effective treatment. It can mean that sometimes there will be signs that treatment has taken place. This can range from redness lasting more than an hour or two and some localized swelling to small pinhead sized scabs that slough within a week or sometimes two. Sometimes even when the scabs have gone a treated follicle might still be visible depending on the area being treated. For example on fingers and toes these marks may persist for some months but they will eventually disappear. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THESE SMALL SCABS ARE LEFT ALONE TO HEAL AND THEY SHOULDN'T "EVER" BE PICKED OR REMOVED PREMATURELY. NO EXCUSES
When scabs are picked or removed prematurely they can result in scars. As everybody knows I'm sure, scabs are natures Band Aids, they protect the area underneath so that it can heal properly. The skin is very competent at healing itself, certainly from tiny injuries from electrolysis. With minimal intervention a treated area will return to normal in time. Quite often as with the face the area will look better because once open and active follicles shrink and leave the skin looking "smooth"er
as a result.
I think the reason peoples opinions vary so much in this area is that not everyone is convinced that a hair can be killed first time. In some instances, for example in the late "catagen" stage of hair growth it is unlikely that a follicle will be killed first time. However when the hair is new and growing away strongly it should be expected that with adequate energy a follicle will be disabled first time. It is unfortunate for electrologists that they are up against a school of thought that basically says that post treatment reaction should be gone very shortly after treatment. In some cases this can be the case but where the hairs/follicles are strong as are beard hairs this just isn't the case. It's an uncomfortable truth for someone embarking on beard removal but the reality of it can be that successful treatment requires energy levels that can result in some 'Temporary" post treatment reaction and a degree of uncomfortable sensation/pain. I personally found it to be more annoying than painful but it's different for everyone.
As a result of the differing opinions, some electrologists are reluctant to use adequate energy to get the job done first time. They fear post treatment reaction that may result in them being labelled incompetent or aggressive where as in reality post treatment reaction is normal and can sometimes be expected. It holds them back from using necessary energy and as a result of this treatment can take considerably longer than it needs to.
The other thing to consider is that they might not have a machine that is capable of delivering the energy quickly enough to balance the sensation against the success of the treatment. The quicker the delivery of energy, the less time for the nerves to react and register any sensation with the brain. It potentially hurts less. I would add to this that where there isn't a degree of pain involved the treatment may prove to be not as successful as it might be. The description of "pain" should not frighten people off. It's a very open ended word and has different meanings for everyone. My wife is always telling me "you're a pain" I have no idea what she's talking about ☺ I believe she actually used the word a few hours ago when I stumbled upon this forum and couldn't help myself from getting involved. I was actually wondering around this time what I would do with my afternoon but being as how it is now gone I don't need to worry. Don't I waffle ☺
I think I'll leave it at that for now as my fingers are getting sore but feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer them. It's a minefield trying to sort out the myths from the facts as I know to my cost so I'll try to help where I can.
