Since I am currently in Long Beach, I plan to visit Dectro supplier Aesthetic Systems USA to make some purchases. Has anyone dealt with them, and can recommend them (or not)? I figured purchasing in person may answer a lot of my questions, and give me more options at this juncture than a picture on a website.
Hawk, I think you may have a problem purchasing an epilator from them if you have no proof that you were trained in an electrolysis program?
Imagine how we pro’s feel. We are expected to make purchases of thousands of dollars based on work of mouth, and maybe a picture and write up in a magazine. If one doesn’t go to the few trade shows and seminars held in this profession, one has no chance of actually touching one of these things before laying your money down.
If you are lucky, you have a friend in the business, who can let you work on theirs to get a feel for it.
Dee,
I am sure you are correct; however, I am simply trying to order supplies/accessories, not the epilator itself. Do you think THAT will be an issue? I was going to get cords, needles, and such from them.
Thanks!
Dave
Most places are ok with selling you cords, probes, pre- and post-treatment supplies. It is the machines that they can get a little dodgey on selling you. (after all, there was a time, and today may still be that time, when you could buy a red cord with banana tip at any respectable Radio Shack Store)
Well, as handy as I am with electronics (I have made many devices in my heyday), I may decide to do just that, but I would feel better making that decision after I see a few in person. I am sure I could easily make the red/black ones, but most likely not the needle probes.
On that note, why are there 3 probes? Red, black, needle? Don’t you only need TWO to complete a circuit?
Great question. Here’s why there are three. There are actually two negative jacks and one positive, the needlecord and black jacks are negative and the red one positive.
Why two? Here’s why, according to the Bono book. You’ll notice the needleholder cannot be plugged into the negative jack because it uses something other than a banana plug (a BNC connector or other small connector.) This is intentional and very important because once upon a time, electrolysis machines only had two jacks and it was possible to accidentally plug the needleholder into the positive and the electrode into the negative. This results in hydrochloric acid being produced in the follicle and sodium hydroxide on the skin around the electrode, instead of the other way around. This results in “tattooing” of the skin!
The negative jack is used during cataphoresis (roller in negative, electrode in positive.) Doing anaphoresis, the roller is in the positive and the electrode in the negative.
Ahhhh, now the light bulb comes on! So basically, the third lead is an “extra”, allowing a quick application of a roller without having to change leads.
Thanks!
The newer machines have a selection for the roller to be in its normal cataphoresis mode, or, hit the selector, and it reverses the polarity of the machine so that the roller is anaphoresis without switching the cords. Of course, anaphoresis should never be used post-treatment. It is only of value (IMHO) as a pre-treatment measure.
Most practitioners never use anaphoresis for anything. Although many do use cataphoresis as a post treatment measure to reduce swelling, return skin to a more normal color, and push post treatment topical skin products deeper in the skin, many never use cataphoresis either.
What types of products are used in this post-treatment process? I have seen where folks use tea tree oil, witchhazel, and pure aloe gel, but are these items ok to use with cataphoresis?
What do you pros use? Nothing? Products with no cata? Product +cata?
TIA!
You can use electrode gel too, according to the Bono book.
If one is going to do catapherisis, one should at least use an electrode gel. If not an electrode gel, then something that will at least help conduct the electricity. If one uses something that helps the skin heal, all the better.
As such, I use a little tea tree oil, then go over that with aloe vera, then catapheris the area. It is perfectly acceptable to simply catapheris the area with no post treatment applications as well.
Does anyone know if Decro will sell an epilator to someone without a license? Or, someone who holds a cosmetology license but not an electrology one? Thanks!
You might contact them directly for the answer, as opposed to folks here “supposing”.
Their sales contact is john@aestheticssystems.com
Good luck!
Yes, you should contact them.
Of course, the answer to your question has a lot to do with the licensure status of the state in which the machine is delieverd.
In, say, Pennsylvania, any 16 year old is allowed to purchase one (and we assume you are at least 16 if you have a credit card) on the other hand, in a state like California, there is a very strict program a person must follow, and a two day testing process to get a license to practice.
James, what do you think of using tea tree gel for cataphoresis? As opposed to plain electrode gel?
The point of catapheresis after treatment is to put healing products deeper into the skin and reduce the swelling. If you only used electrode gel, you would only get the benefit of reduced swelling and redness.
As such, cataphoresis with tea tree oil, aloe vera and or anything else will be more effective than cataphoresis alone, and surely better than nothing at all.