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

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#21

Bea-

I am a newbie to this as well. My wife and I have been working on each other since Christmas or so. I am no where near as prepared as you! I’m seriously considering following in your footsteps! We bought a $500 machine and just don’t know enough about how to use it. I should pick up some of the books you ordered and maybe the machines and probes as well.

Anyway, I’m weighing in because I’m a dentist. I have Orascoptic loupes (2 pairs) and would recommend them highly. I have a set of 2.5 magnifications that were about $900 and a set of 4.3 magnification (cost is $1600). I also purchased a light that is mounted to the loupes for about $800. If you want details I’m happy to provide them. It takes some getting used to, but you definitely have good depth perception. I suppose I have an unfair advantage practicing with them every day at work :slight_smile: The depth of field decreases with higher magnification. I only get about 3 inches with my 4.3’s. You just have to get used to working at that distance.

When you get loupes fit to you, they measure the distance between you eyes, the angle you want to look down and your working distance (where you want your hands). The disadvantage of it all is that you may not have the same as someone else. They are custom made for you, so hopefully you’ll be able to share.

A dental convention would be perfect. Orascoptic is not a cheap brand but they have many others. I’m a dentist for the US Navy, so Orascoptic is the brand the gov’t buys from. I didn’t pay for my loupes out of my own pocket. Heine is a brand of loupes that are adjustable. It probably makes more sense for you if you want to share them with someone else. I’d probably avoid the expensive mounted light. It’s tough to see teeth since they are in the shadow of someone’s mouth, but the back/legs/etc would be easier.

Let me know if you’re interested in selling some of your books!

Robert

#22

I would be lost without my Orascoptic surgical loupes. I have a working distance between 13" - 16", so I can sit up nice and straight, as long as the client is positioned correctly. I am wondering about your working distance of 3" ? Did you mean 13"?

This company gives great customer service as well. I have never had a problem with requests or repair issues. If I need new nose pads, BOOM! I get them with no charge.

#23

Dee, what magnification X do you have? Thank you

#24

I have a pair of 4.8X glasses. I also have a pair of 2.5X. I mainly use the 4.8 magnification because I work on a lot of fine hair. I advise every new electrologist to purchase the highest magnification that will provide them with greatest field-of-depth and width-of-field possible. They are customized for my facial features and they are well worth the high cost. Don’t ever skimp on your eyes.

#25

Dee,

My working distance is 16-19", but my depth of field is 3". I meant that since you have to be careful to position your patient in a narrow 3" window. Most people are used to moving their heads closer to get a better view. Doesn’t work with those loupes!

I need to buy a technique book and a how to choose settings book. Any advice?

#26

Okay. Thanks for explaining that. No, you cannot move too close to the work area with these loupes, thankfully so!

Settings are based on intensity and timing. Start low and gradually move up on the intensity or timing. I usually tweak the timing. What is epilator are you using?

#27

Dee,

I’m using a AR Hinkel AC3+. Would you consider it “good enough”? I suppose my problem is my cluelessness. I should definitely have read more and not just tried the “trial and error” approach. I feel like I’m getting decent insertions most of the time, but our probes are Ballet F2 steel needles.

Is there an old thread you can direct me to on how to troubleshoot insertions and figure out settings? I am going to purchase some of the IBP’s in a few minutes. I’ll probably just get a few of each size to see which we like.

We’ve adjusted the settings, but don’t really know exactly what a successful insertion/setting is supposed to feel like or look like. When the hair is removed, should I feel any pain? I understood the hair is supposed to be removed, rather than pulled. Also, on average, how long should the heat be on for a successful kill? I need some real basic information. If you have a book or two to recommend I’d appreciate it! I got in over my head with the trial and error period. I think I’ve “cleared areas” by only plucking hairs after undertreating.

Part of the problem is that I live in Japan on the Navy base here and can’t go to an electrologist that can give me a crash course, or even just treat me. I can’t understand much/any Japanese.

Advice on books? Is my epilator sufficient? Will it work with Laurier IBP’s?

Thanks!

Robert

#28

For your DIY needs, the epilator you have chosen is fine. Size 2 probes may be too small. I do believe the Laurier probe will work, but the famous and gentlemanly Mike Roy can speak about that. He stays in touch here or you can PM hiim.

Barbara Greathouse recently posted excellent information about performing proper insertions. When you lift out the hair, it should be painless - not felt. The probe diameter should match the diameter of the hair. I always use the biggest probe possible

The Blend Method by Michael Bono would be most helpful

Energy levels = whatever intensity and timing you find that releases the hair with no traction and leaves the upper layers of skin in good shape. Start low and ease on up a little at a time.

#29

Is “The Blend Method” the book of choice, even for Thermolysis? It’s $330 on Amazon for a spiralbound book!? Is there another site I should check out? I will PM Mike Roy about the IBP’s fitting in my epilator.

My settings are clearly wrong. Since I was numbing my wife I think she just didn’t feel the pull of the hairs. I suppose that’s the disadvantage to having lidocaine at my disposal!

#30

Yes. Mike’s book presents insertion technique. No matter the modality, you need to strive for perfect insertions. I haven’t purchased the new edition, so maybe you should PM Mike about if he kept the insertion information in the new and shorter version of his book.

Here is what Barbara said in a recent thread:

#92190 - Sun Sep 25 2011 01:01 AM Re: How easily should hair release (Q for pros) [Re: DIY’er]
Barbara_CPE

Top 10 Contributor

Registered: Wed Oct 19 2005
Posts: 864
Loc: Kansas
Having spent most of the past week with Kelly Morrisy-Stump, I have been given permission for quoting her Three Golden Rules for electrolysis. This is appropriate for professional treatments as well as DYI.

  1. You should not feel the insertion.
  2. You should not feel a tweeze.
  3. You should not hear the sound of sizzling bacon.

More…

The insertion should not feel like a poke, or cause a dent in the skin.

The extraction might have some traction, but it should not feel like the hair is being tweezed.

You might occasionally hear the sound of a high frequency blowout, but the electrologist should know that it means a technique evaluation on their part.

#31

More info:

http://www.bonoelectrolysis.com/books.htm

#32

Other helpful sources are:

Electrolysis, Thermolysis And The Blend - The principles and practice of permanent hair removal by Arthur Hinkel and Richard Lind. In Chapter 3, there are five pages worth of insertion technique.

Prestige Electrolysis and Texas Electrolysis have this book.

http://www.texaselectrolysissupply.com/cgi/cart.cgi?db=products5.dat&category=&search=book&method=all_words&begin=1&display=20&price=&merchant=

http://www.prestigeelec.com/cgi-bin/local-net/shopzone30.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=375&p_catid=49&sid=7glBmg2x-2ilC9I-44112600433.e8

Another book:

Cosmetic and Medical Electrolysis and Temporary Hair Removal by R.N. Richards M.D. And G.E. Meharg R.N. Chapter 8 has fifteen pages on the insertion technique. You can buy it used here. The price is very good.

http://www.prestigeelec.com/cgi-bin/local-net/shopzone30.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=389&p_catid=49&sid=7glBmg2x-2ilC9I-53112579633.d8

In both books, some of the information is outdated, but the insertion information is not.

#33

Emmabeahere, would you mind providing me with a link as to where you got Dr. Schuster’s videos? My mom and I are DIY’ers (on a Silhouet Tone Blend ST-250), but we also receive professional electrolysis, we just want to broaden our knowledge.

To the pros, (Mr Walker, Bono, etc…) my mother has gotten us the book “Cosmetic and Medical Electrolysis and Temporary Hair Removal” (by M.D. Richards and G.E. Meharg). Are you folks familiar with this book? It has a red cover and an image of a probe sliding into a hair follicle.

** EDIT: Ms Fahey, it seems like you have posted the link to the very book that I have! It’s the first Amazon link. Is it a good book?

#34

Prestige Electrolysis Supply carries both those DVD’s Connor.

#35

It is one of my favorites. Some things are outdated, but some concepts in the book never change.

#36

Thanks everyone, your help is always priceless!
On a side note, both of my hands are 95% clear of hair ever since DIY’ing. I’ve started on my mom’s arms and she’s experienced a 20-25% permanent reduction in hairs since our journey has started.

Thanks a lot everyone, yet again!

#37

Wow, I’ve been away from this thread and had no idea that it had taken off like this. I have been waiting to get my visualization issue resolved so that I can post questions and updates. The dental convention is coming up in less than a week and I am SO excited. I really hope that I will find what I am looking for. The cheapie loupes from Amazon are about as helpful as I expected them to be; no big loss.

Former Lurker: Thanks for weighing in. When I first started thinking about taking this on, I felt overwhelmed. I began to read so that I could decide on which machine to purchase. Did you end up getting your books? I bought the Senior II because of all of the programs that it has, in hopes of not having to manually adjust them myself. Did you decide on which needles to go with? Orascopic will be at the convention so I will definitely be speaking with them. Heine will unfortunately not be there. I think Heine would be a better fit for us because they are adjustable but I just can’t keep ordering online and hoping that it works out. With such great loupes, you are really on your way. I’m going to be right behind you. Have you tried looking up electrolysis videos on YouTube? I have had professional electrolysis of the axillae but was not able to see what she was doing. Hands down, Josefa has the best videos. I created a long playlist for myself with her videos along with several others that explain some of the concepts and show insertions. Let me know if you are interested and we can figure out a way so that I can share it with you. On a side note, watching her videos makes me wish I lived close enough to have her work on me. At more than $1200 for a round trip ticket plus the cost of sessions and lodging, it is just not economically feasible. I might have to play Lotto a few more times before I can do that.

Connor 15: Did you end up getting the videos? If so, did you like them? 95% clearance is fantastic!

dfahey: Thank you for posting the links to the books. I guess I should have done that in the beginning.