Can Electrolysis Hair Removal be Done at Home?

These days, no woman wants to go through the pain of waxing, the increased hair growth by depilatory creams, or the irritation of the shaving burns every few days. The side effects of temporary hair removal methods are triggering women to

• Look for a gentle hair removal method
• Choose a semi-permanent or permanent hair removal option 

The top choice for permanent hair removal is electrolysis, which is the only method where hair never regrows back if it is done properly. However, most of us have heard that it is an in-office procedure. So, are you wondering, 

• Can electrolysis be done at home? 
• If yes, how so? 
• What is an alternative method to at-home electrolysis? 

If yes, this article has the answers to all your queries. Stay tuned for all your answers related to at-home electrolysis. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: What is Electrolysis Hair Removal?
• Part 2: How is Electrolysis Hair Removal Done?
• Part 3: What are the Prerequisites of Electrolysis Hair Removal?
• Part 4: What are the Risks and Benefits of Electrolysis Hair Removal?
• Part 5: Can Electrolysis Hair Removal be Done at Home?
• Part 6: Electrolysis Hair Removal; At Home vs. Clinic?
• Part 7: Which Semi-Permanent Hair Removal Method Can Be Done at Home?
• Part 8:Electrolysis Vs. At-Home Laser Hair Removal

1. What is Electrolysis Hair Removal? 

The word “electrolysis” is a combination of two words, 

• Electro means something related to electricity and current 
• Lysis meaning breakdown

Although this word is commonly used in chemistry to explain a chemical change caused by current, in the world of cosmetics, electrolysis is defined as, 

“The breakdown or killing of the unwanted hair follicles on the body and the face by passage of a micro electric current through the hair follicles.”

As the definition implies, it is a process in which electricity is used to help you get rid of unwanted hair. There are three types of electrolysis, 

• Galvanic electrolysis 
• Thermolysis 
• Blend/Mixed

2. How is Electrolysis Hair Removal Done? 

The procedure of electrolysis involves the following steps, 

• An electrolysis expert analyzes your skin first 
• He passes a small wire into the skin pores to reach the hair follicles (the device used here is called an epilator) 
• A micro direct current is passed through that wire 
• As the current reaches the hair follicles, they are killed 

In addition to the heat produced by electrolysis in thermolysis electrolysis, let us explore how current in galvanic electrolysis kills the hair follicles. 

• The currents stimulate an electrolysis reaction in the salt and water of the skin to produce hydrogen peroxide 
• The hydrogen peroxide produced deep in the skin is the cause of hair follicles’ death 

3. What are the Prerequisites of Electrolysis Hair Removal? 

Electrolysis is a safe hair removal method for permanent results as regarded by the FDA. Before electrolysis, here are some things that determine whether you can go for it or not, 

• You should have a normal skin type as electrolysis does not work the best for people with sensitive skin
• There should not be the presence of any open wound in the treatment area
• It is better to avoid electrolysis if you have a pacemaker or any other electric device inserted in your body 
• People with active and transmittable skin infections are not candidates for electrolysis 

Furthermore, note that electrolysis works for, 

• Different skin tones and types
• All hair colors
• Thick or thin hain

4. What are the Risks and Benefits of Electrolysis Hair Removal? 

Let us discuss some pros and cons of electrolysis as well. 

Pros 

The main advantages of electrolysis are given as, 

• It is the only permanent hair removal method approved by the FDA 
• It is a diverse hair removal method as it works for most skin types and hair colors
• Electrolysis is suitable for all areas of the body from head to toe 

Cons

The disadvantages and risks of electrolysis are given as, 

• It is a time-consuming process as you need to have each hair follicle treated separately 
• There are some changes in the regrowth of the hair even after electrolysis 
• It is one of the most painful hair removal methods 
• There is a risk of hyperpigmentation, folliculitis, and skin inflammation with electrolysis 

5. Can Electrolysis Hair Removal be Done at Home? 

Speaking theoretically, electrolysis can be done at home as several at-home electrolysis hair removal machines are available online. Below are the things you need to do your electrolysis, 

• FDA-Cleared Machine: Ensure that the electrolysis machine you are purchasing is as FDA-cleared as the procedure of electrolysis itself is. 

• Some Skills: You have to find the hair follicles to insert a probe into it and it requires some skill. So, only go for at-home electrolysis if you have the skills and courage to do so. 

• High Pain Tolerance: Electrolysis is a painful procedure and electrolysis experts take measures to reduce that pain. However, it still causes some sort of discomfort. As the pain of electrolysis done at home can be more, you need high pain tolerance. 

• Suitable Body Area: While you can perform electrolysis easily on your arms and legs, doing it on your face, pubic area, back, and armpits is difficult. 

Considering the factors mentioned above, at-home electrolysis can be challenging because, 

• There is a high risk of missing the hair follicles and consuming 10 times more time than in-office electrolysis due to a poor technique 
• You might get skin inflammation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation caused by poking the skin improperly multiple times 
• There are chances of hair regrowth by at-home electrolysis 

6. Electrolysis Hair Removal; At Home vs. Clinic? 

Now that we know electrolysis can be done at home, let us compare it with in-office electrolysis. 

Cost

At-home electrolysis hair removal machines are available in the price range of $200 to $800. In contrast, in-office electrolysis experts charge $100-$200 per hour regardless of the body hair. 

Therefore, the cost of in-office electrolysis is definitely much more than at-home electrolysis. 

Need of Expertise 

You need to be an expert in DIYs to perform electrolysis hair removal without prior knowledge and experience. Without it, you will only cause yourself skin damage. 

On the other hand, electrolysis experts have 

• Degree
• Experience 
• License 

The things mentioned above help them perform such a delicate hair removal method. Thus, it is better to go to the expert for your hair removal. 

Number of Treatments

In-office electrolysis requires 3-9 sessions in general over a single area of the body and each session is spaced at an interval of 3 to 6 weeks. When it comes to at-home electrolysis, the number of treatment sessions required is double, if not more. 

This is because, 

• The intensity of the current used in at-home electrolysis is lower
• The lack of skills makes it difficult to poke the hair follicles accurately 

Convenience

Minding convenience and maintenance of privacy, the obvious winner of in-office and at-home electrolysis is DIY electrolysis. This is because, 

• You do not have to travel a long distance to reach your salon
• There is no one you have to keep privacy from
• You can schedule your electrolysis treatment in your free time

Comfort 

The thought of poking your skin with a thin needle and then applying current can be appalling, right? In comparison, in-office electrolysis experts, 

• Calm your nerves by counseling 
• Applying local anesthetic gels

Consequently, clinical electrolysis hair removal is more comfortable. 

7. Which Semi-Permanent Hair Removal Method Can Be Done at Home? 

In-office electrolysis can be inconvenient and at-home electrolysis is ineffective plus uncomfortable. So, would you rather like a semi-permanent hair removal method than painful electrolysis? 

If yes, IPL hair removal can be your go-to option. Especially with devices like Ulike Air 10 IPL hair removal handset, IPL has become a preferred choice for both men and women for attaining silky smooth skin. 

8. Electrolysis Vs. At-Home Laser Hair Removal

Let us compare electrolysis and at-home laser hair removal devices side by side. 

Electrolysis 

In electrolysis, electric current is used to destroy hair roots. 

Pros

• Permanent results 
• Works for all skin types and hair colors 

Cons

• Time-consuming 
• Painful
• Risk of hair regrowth 

At-Home IPL Hair Removal 

IPL hair removal works on the principle of selective photothermolysis. Light burns the hair follicles in IPL hair removal. 

Pros 

• Relatively painless 
• Relatively economical 
• Long-lasting results 
• Convenient and comfortable 
• Quick
• Suitable for sensitive skin 

Cons

• Not suitable for black skin and hair colors like grey, white, and red

Also, note that you can prolong the results of IPL hair removal and make them permanent by regular follow-up sessions. 

Conclusion

Permanent hair removal at home sounds like an exciting option to ditch the recurring cost of temporary hair removal methods. Electrolysis hair removal can be done at home with an FDA-cleared electrolysis device, skillful hands, and good pain tolerance. However, the question is whether it should be done at home. 

Well, the factors mentioned above are the the reasons why it is not recommended to do electrolysis at home even if you can do so. 

Rather, a better option is to invest in in-office electrolysis for comfortable hair removal or go for at-home IPL hair removal as it is more affordable and convenient as compared to electrolysis.