Hi everyone! First post here. Despite the title of this thread, I’m not actually worried about electrolysis being dangerous or negative–I’ve seen too many positive results online to think that. However, I’m curious about something: I had a test patch done recently, the area healed up just fine, but the hair in THAT EXACT PATCH grew back in much faster than the hair anywhere else (which I’d shaved). Is there something scientifically going on here or is it my imagination or a coincidence? I’m planning to continue with electrolysis and I know one needs patience for that… but it made me pause and think!
Good observation. The areas you describe would appear like that.
The key is to consider the physiology of a freshly-emerging “early anagen” hair. (An early anagen hair is one that is re-awakening from a “sleeping” follicle.)
The early anagen follicle is so active, and the cells replicate so quickly, that cells in the follicle look identical to cancer cells. The (natural) growth is incredibly explosive and yes, you would see hairs shooting-up dramatically. Wow! So, what’s going on?
In the cleared-off area, you are seeing no hairs except the early-anagen “shooters.” In the areas you have shaven, all the hairs have been cut down to the same size. Indeed, the “shooters” are still happening in the shaved area, but because of all the neighboring hairs, you are not aware of the fast-growing ones.
Dr. William Montagna once speculated that because electrolysis causes inflammation (more blood to the area) faster hair-return might be stimulated. This conjecture has never been studied but, even if such an event were taking place, this would have no effect on your treatment outcome.
Okay, thanks Michael! I just wrote that I thought the area treated also had more hair growing, but after inspection, I think I’m just being paranoid. All is well! Thanks for such a detailed explanation.
Sky I felt the same starting out cos I had never seen how many hairs I could have I just used to get one and pluck it so never had more than 1 or 2 at a time without plucking. Then all of a sudden I had 8 I was clipping with scissors cos I’d leave for 3 weeks between treatment.
I always thought the blood and stimiluation thing was for plucking with tweezers and the reason that wasn’t recommended.
somewhat related, off-topic maybe -
but does shaving hair stimulate ‘baby’ hairs to become coarser? or hairs that have never been cut before now becoming coarser?
No, but they may feel that way because the thickest part of the hair is near the skin’s surface. It does feel pricklier when it is cut straight across because it looses it’s soft, thinner taper at the end.
A good blood supply to the follicle and hormones make a hair coarser, not cutting or shaving.