I’m curious as to a possible difference in epilators from the UK to the US. There was a recent statement (and I’ve read others in the past) telling a consumer that they probably had thermolysis because the use of a hand held electrode would indicate blend treatment.
There are many US epilators that have a timer delay option, where the client holds the electrode and the electrologist does not have to use a foot switch - and the modality is thermolysis alone.
Most people say that because one MUST be in contact with the inactive pole to receive blend treatments, while one need not be in contact with the inactive pole during thermolysis unless one does have a newer machine, and the electrologist is using the autosensor/autodelay mode.
Of course, older machines don’t even offer this feature, so many people have never encoutered such a machine, and many practitioners (some who even own machines with this option) don’t use it.
The epilators here are almost all fingerswitch controlled with no electrode for thermolysis, and no auto sensor either. The Apilus seems to be the only one on the market that has these options. Since the vast majority of electrolysis is done in beauty salons the most popular machines are from Sterex, Carlton, Silhouette (not the VMC company), Uniprobe and Bioclinique. Some machines have a digital timer, but it’s only a bleep that tells you when to take your finger off the switch.
Flash machines are just starting to take off, hence the small number of people with blistered faces and weeping sores coming to me to fix the mess (not a swipe at flash fans, just at those frigging idiots who haven’t learnt to use it properly).
My owning an Apilus Epilator means I do have all of the neet features available to me. However, that does not mean that I always use those features. The inactive electrode started being used for Galvantic and then blend because both of those methods use Direct Current and need a complete circuit for the current to flow. Newer machines have found that by using the inactive electrode, that they can sense the change in resistance and allow for auto mode without needing to activate a switch. Sometimes I find myself fighting to keep the footswitch where I need it, and find that I can concentrate more on insurtions when I do use auto mode, but at other times, I can work faster with a foot switch rather than having to delay to make sure my insertions are at the right location. It works out almost 6 one way and a half a dozen the other way, and becomes largely personal preference. But it is nice to have available even when I am not using those features. Some clients like finding out how many hairs as well got zapped, and the newer units have an hair counter as part of the options.
From a technical point of view, there are problems with a switch on the probe and how that switch affects the impedence of the device. Mismatch of impedence, can cause reflected energy to be sent back to the epilator possibly causing damage to the unit, but also that means that not as much energy as could be is being delivered to the probe. So for those reasons I like my probe to be well engineered from an RF standpoint. The probe can be concedered very much like the antenna of a radio transmiter. Poor shielding can cause the RF energy to be almost lost before it even reaches the probe. But then again, I come from an Electrical Background having worked in Research and Development for a very long time.
It sounds as if the epilators there are older manual adjustable units. Yes, they do work, but after using an Apilus, I would not want to go back to them. Flash Epilators are much faster, but it also means that one if not properly trained is using that mode, that one can be burned much more quickly. But in skilled hands, it can actually cause less skin damage the thermosis. But probe placement becomes extremely important.
I’ve often wondered about the finger switch option. Having used a curved or bent needle holder, I’ve wondered if the finger switch causes the same problem as the curved - on occasion it tended to roll in my hand, causing a control problem. Is the switch in such a place that the needle holder MUST be at the same place all the time? …I’ll go look at the pictures!
Here’s a typical needleholder http://www.ellisons.co.uk/BBG/electrolysis/electrolysis1.htm
I have to admit I wish the vmc had a fingerswitch holder, as I just feel more comfortable with it. But if I’d trained with a foot pedal in the first place I’d probably find it awkward to start using a fingerswitch.
You can re-train yourself to use the auto sensor mode with your new VMC. It’s all there for you and you will wonder why you resisted after you see how easy it is. I used the footswitch option for a long time on my other epilator, and of course the older epilators I used at my school. Making the switch was not a daunting task. Your comfort level will come surprisingly fast. Work on a “guinea pig” first if that will help.
I never use the footswitch anymore and can’t see a situation where I ever would need to do that. It is too fatiguing and cumbersome. I can’t even imagine using a switch located on the probe holder.
Pam,
If you wish to try the push button instead of a footswitch, it is possible to use one by using auto mode and as close to zero delay as you can. The Machine will then sense body connection as soon as the button on the probe is pushed.
For myself, I find as small a probe holder as I can find works best for me, especially in confined areas. I do sometimes resort to auto mode myself, and a couple of my clients actually prefer to use that method.
I just wanted to let you know that it is possible, without a lot of work to utilize such a probe if desired.