Quote from: Ms Grace on December 16, 2016, 03:03:20 PM
Which type of electro are you having? Galvanic or thermolysis. Galvanic is usually multi probe while thermolysis is single needle. Personally I swear by galvanic...almost 100% permanently cleared after about 130 hours (over two years), but I didn't have a particularly thick or heavy beard to start with. I know of people still going with thermolysis hundreds of hours later.
I had thermolysis and after about 125-150 hours, was done on my face. Though, previously, I had already had 6 laser sessions. Left no scars and no hair growth to speak of years later.
QuoteSome of it is also down to the skill of the tech, if they only ever fire up the machine for you and old granny chin hairs then they may not have the skill to deal with full beard removal. My tech has many trans clients over many years and thousands of hours so she really knows how to get in there as effectively and efficiently as possible.
My tech was also quite skilled and experienced with transpeople. The right amount of "firepower" was used, not too much, not too little and a microscope was also used to help see things accurately. When the hair is removed, you SHOULD NOT FEEL IT. This indicates it was effectively targeted.
Quote from: Michelle_P on December 16, 2016, 03:06:00 PM
At this point your tech has zapped a whole bunch of hairs that were in their mature, active Anagen phase.
Hopefully, as only these hairs can be effectively destroyed.
QuoteAnagen phase lasts 2-8 years, often longer!), and meanwhile, a bunch of hairs that were "resting" in catagen phase (3-4 weeks) or telogen phase (9 months) have woken up, repopulating your beard.
These phases differ by body region and even on the face, by area.
Gurpreet S. Ahluwalia (ed.), Cosmetic Applications of Laser and Light-Based Systems, 3-35, 2009 William Andrew Inc."The duration of hair cycle stages varies in different body areas. Human scalp hair
follicles have the longest anagen phase, which can last up to several years; they also display
a relatively short catagen phase (1-2 weeks) followed by a telogen phase lasting several
months. The majority of scalp hair follicles are in anagen (80-SS%), with the rest either in
catagen (2%) or telogen (10-15%). The anagen phase of follicles in other body regions is
substantially shorter, for example on the arms, legs, and thighs it ranges from 3 to 4 months
[26]. It is clear that anagen length generally determines hair length; long scalp hairs are
produced by follicles with anagens over 2 years, while short finger hairs only grow for
around 2 months [91]."
It can also vary according to season.
"Winter beard and thigh hair growth rate were low, but increased significantly in the summer (Fig. 1. 6)."
"Testosterone changes probably alter beard and thigh hair growth rate, but they are less likely to regulate scalp follicles as seasonal changes also occur in women."
In this study (The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1970, Vol 54, No. 1), it was found that anagen lasted from 4 to 29 weeks in the mustache area, showing great inter-individual variability and even increasing with age. The phase lasted longer in the scalp (VERY long), pubic (quite long) and leg areas but was shorter in the arm and finger regions.
