Hair...now you see it, now you don't

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#1

Hi there. I’m pretty new here and will be starting electrolysis next week. My sister will be my partner. My brother-in-law is kind enough to let us practice on him as long as we do his back. I will be using

-an Apilus Senior II,
-Laurier IBPs http://laurierinstruments.com/ (I have a few now and will be ordering just as soon as I figure out which sizes to purchase. I will probably buy each size, I’m just not sure which sizes to buy multiple sets of.),
-and a Dino Lite AD7013MTL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3BKWufJFxI for magnification. It came in the other day so I’ve had just a little time to play around with it.

I also have all of the small stuff like witch hazel, ChloraPrep, sterile needles for ingrown hairs, cleaning supplies, etc. I just received my 2 Dr. Schuster vids (1. Blend and 2. Complications, Side Effects & Tissue Injury In Electrolysis [thank you Mike Roy for suggesting the series]) and will be watching them today. I have read The Blend Method, Modern Electrology: Excess Hair, its Causes and Treatments, Cosmetic and Medical Electrolysis and Temporary Hair Removal: A Practice Manual and Reference Guide, and Principles and Practice of Electrical Epilation. Aside from mastering insertions, I think the most difficult part will be manipulating the settings on my machine for best results. I know that it has programs for different areas of the body, but from what I have read, I think I might still need to adjust them. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks.

#2

With all your efforts, do you plan to be an electrologist in the future?

#3

You will get some great pictures and maybe video from that BigC, but I am not sure you will like not having any depth perception from your projected screen image.

It should be interesting though. You are off to a better start than many… maybe even most.

#4

Apply a bit of aloe Vera in the areas for a few minutes before start, then clean the skin. The current will work better. The back is not the best place to learn. I prefer the leg because the skin is very stretched. The best recommendation I can give you, is to try to keep very stretched skin. In my opinion the books not insist enough on this small (but important) detail. You can not make good insertions if the follicle is not dilated, and the risk of overtreatment is also higher.

Mucha suerte y como decimos aquí, al toro Bea!

#5

Yep, I tried using a similar usb microscope for DIY electrolysis and found it doesn’t work very well due to the lack of depth perception, a stereomicroscope is needed for this kind of task.

Also, while working on myself I found it difficult to stay still enough to keep from moving out of the camera’s range of focus when it was zoomed in far enough to be useful, and I had to keep adjusting the focus about every 30 seconds. All in all it was way too much hassle for me, I work much faster with a good mag mirror or a 5 diopter lens

#6

This may be controversial advice since most users here seem to love Laurier probes, but I would recommend trying different brands before buying a significant quantity of IBP.

The main reason I say this is because I find it is more difficult to do insertions with IBP compared to some other probes, they seem to have much more friction/drag than other insulated probes that use teflon insulation. For a pro this is not a huge issue since they know how to do insertions well already, but if you are just getting started then I feel it makes it more difficult to learn the proper feel of how to insert.

That is my experience anyways, I initially ordered several probes: pro-tec insulated, sterex insulated, pro-tec gold one piece and ballet gold two piece non-insulated. After reading about laurier probes on here I decided to get some but ultimately I found them frustrating to use while I was learning to do insertions. Now that I have a few more hours under my belt, I do not find them quite as frustrating but all things considered I prefer pro-tec insulated to any others I have tried. Regarding the insulation performance, in side by side comparison testing doing insertions on sensitive areas of my face (upper lip), I do find that IBP insulates better than pro-tec but not by a large amount. The IBP insulation is much more durable than the teflon insulation on other probes but that is not really an issue unless you plan on sterilizing/reusing the probes many times.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t try laurier probes but I would recommend trying others as well. I would definitely recommend you stay away from one-piece probes though, they are very unforgiving and not suited to the beginner. I had read that and then bought some anyways just to see, bad idea =)

And yes in my experience the default settings on my sx-500 are usually not ideal, however it is nice to have them there as a starting point. It is very important to understand the effects of probe size, insertion depth, current intensity and treatment time on the pattern of energy generated. Understanding the interplay between those factors is the key to knowing how to effectively adjust your treatment strategy/settings for different situations.

#7

Fabulous preparations! I’m a bit green with envy but also very glad for you guys. :slight_smile:

Josefa’s advice about starting with the lower legs is sound. t4ngent makes a good point about the probes. Personally, as a newbee, I find gold to be easier to work with.

My only addition would be to try and find a friendly electrologist, who’d be willing to spend a few hours going over the basics with you. (For a fee of course. It’s only fair.)

I did this with an electrologist I met here on Hairtell, and I will forever be grateful for the time she took for me, and the willingness to explain and show things. It really jump-started my learning process.

#8

I would agree on sampling many probes.

Personally, I liked one piece Ballet Golds best, when I started out, and now use both One Piece Ballet Gold and Laurier IBP’s

The more rigid one piece helps a lot.

#9

Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful advice.

Electrology as a career: I haven’t thought about doing this as a career. I’ve never really wanted to be a business owner either. I just have plans on being my sisters buddy and also doing my mom. I’m and ER nurse and totally love what I do. I plan to go to graduate school, so also doing more than just my mom and sister may be too much for me. But…never say never.

depth perception: I had originally purchased a stereo microscope but ended up sending it back. My sister would not have been able to keep her head in that position for such an extended time. The USB microscope should keep our necks from getting too stiff. After playing with it, I did see that any slight movement kills the whole picture, so I probably won’t be able to do myself. Using the Dino Lite is not set in stone. I may end up having to buy something different, but I hope that is not the case. I was hoping to get some loupes but I just felt that there were too many to choose from. I wanted to try a few out in person but don’t know where I would do that. I had seen an upcoming Dental industry convention but it was closed to the public. Will still keep a look out for the opportunity to try some. I also looked at maybe getting a Dazor but the higher the diopter, the significantly decreased focal length. I tried 3 and 5 diopter lenses in other brands locally but felt the magnification to be insufficient.

aloe vera and working on the back: Will give the aloe vera tip a go. We are using my brother as a guinea pig so that my sister and I can critique each other. He definitely won’t let us do his legs.

Laurier IBP: I have read really great things about them so I’m hoping to get the same great outcomes. Some of Josefa’s pictures comparing needles show fantastic results. I think that if I learn with them, I will get use to them. Even if there are easier needles for insertions, I won’t be able to tell because this is what I’m use to. I also like that the tip is bulbous so hopefully that will keep me in the follicle. I’m more worried about going in too deep than having a difficult time getting in.

local electrologist: I have had some hours of electrolysis on myself in the past. I don’t think that she would be willing to instruct me. She talked about having taught in the past and gave me reasons as to why she didn’t do it any more. I have also been looking at a ton of videos on YouTube. I know it isn’t the same as actually being there but it is the next best thing and will have to do for now.

This is my weekend on so I won’t be able to start until next week when my brother-in-law comes home from work. Again, thank you all and keep it coming.

#10

Although the Dental industry convention is closed to the public, I am sure that Designs for Vision and the other vision equipment suppliers would be happy to show you their wares, and talk to you either while the dentists are in classes, or even during normal vendor hours.

You know, I know many a seasoned Electrolysist who only intended to work on themselves, and then a loved one, which became friends finding out they did it and then friends of friends, and so on. I see one of these people every time I look in the mirror. Good luck escaping the profession :smiley:

Too bad I don’t go to Texas much anymore. I used to spend my winters in places like that. We could have met up for lunch and some pointers. Where are you located?

#11

Interesting that you liked the rigid one piece probes as a beginner. My initial forays with one piece gold probes mostly involved poking myself and bleeding or inadvertantly bending the probe, maybe I am just clumsy =)

Yep, you will have people coming out of the woodworks once word gets out that you are doing electrolysis. I did some of my wife’s eyebrows just the other day and already there’s about 5 other women asking if they can be next in line. It seems most of them had never heard of electrolysis before or knew of it but never considered using it on the brows. I guess electrolysis is just not that well publicized these days among younger women, not surprising I guess given the ubiquity of laser hair removal and the waxing/threading salons who have incentive to keep their clients minds away from permanent brow shaping.

James, if you’re ever in the Houston area give me a shout… I’d love to buy you lunch in exchange for some pointers =)

#12

You will have to send me your info, as Houston was once one of my second homes :wink:

#13

Rigidity is not always a good ally. Sometimes it is just the opposite. A rigid probe in inexperienced hands pierce the walls and take a wrong direction. In contrast, with a flexible probe you will have more idea of collision when presented an obstacle. The peculiarity of the Laurier is that it is very flexible but at the same time is very tough. It is very difficult to bend by poor insertion. The follicle is also flexible, and bulbous tip of the probe acts as an umbrella that prevents you go “out” of the follicle, and deposit the heat out of the target.

I still I have trouble selecting the correct size in the bikini line, but I have not tried anything safer for a deep hair beard man or fine hair of a woman’s upper lip.

#14

Sounds like fun! Best wishes and remember patience is the key!

#15

Ugh. I have had a setback. Magnification/visualization will be the death of me!! We have set everything up and have been working for the last 2 days but the microscope just is not working in our favor. We have set it up every which way but the slightest movement throws everything out of focus. I feel like I am back at square one with this. Now plan C. There is a dental convention, http://starofthesouth.org/ , at the tail end of March. It is closed to the public but I am going to try to make my way in. I called their office and explained that I am not in the industry and that I just wanted to go to the exhibit hall and speak with some of the vendors. They told me that I can gain entrance by paying a $75 entrance fee, ouch. If it has to be that way, I may still do it. This is my second microscope. The first one was a stereo microscope. It also had trouble with the slightest movement. I’m hoping that loupes will be the way to go. I don’t mind spending money on good, quality equipment. I just need to make sure that it will work for us. I hate having to wait almost 2 months before I can start up again. On the upside, my sister is still really excited about this project. She saw how bummed I was with the microscope and really made an effort and kept on trying. I am going to take iLikeDIY’s advice and try to have more patience.

James and t4ngent, I’m in Houston (Go 'Stros).

#16

What kind of stereo microscope did you use the first time?

#17

Bea, the spec that concerns you the most is “depth of field” This is found more on microscopes intended for parts inspection rather than a medical application. I’m sure James can expand more on this. Look at scopes with an “industrial” application.

The dental field is extremely closed to outsiders, might I suggest talking to your dentist and ask if you can attend as his/her representative :wink:

#18

You need to be more patient.
The reason I like stereo scopes better than loupes is that they are stationary. If you can keep your subject relatively still, the treatment area will remain in focus. It takes some getting used to, for the mind to adjust to its field of vision being reduced down to 2 square inches, but you will find that better than loupes, where any movement by YOU also takes it out of focus. I do hope you get to try out some loupes so you can compare, and find what works best for you.

Maybe you, your sister t4ngent and I will have a good ole fashioned Houston reunion some time soon. :wink:

#19

What kind of stereo microscope did you use the first time? [/quote]

This is the first microscope I bought

In the meantime, I have ordered cheapie loupes for another project. I doubt that they will work for this though.

On a more positive note, yay, my needles came in today :D. I bought a couple of boxes of 2s, mostly 3s and 4s, and one box of 5s. Can’t wait to give them a proper go where I can really see what I’m doing.

#20

When you receive your Light Head Magnifying Glass, please, write the feedback- how do you like it?