I want to start !

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#21

James is right.

While there are some very talented DIYrs, for most people DIY-electrolysis is only really interesting if you’re doing it with an equally committed partner or if you’re planning to become an electrologist yourself.

There are SO many spots you can’t reach or you shouldn’t reach (like the face). Even working on the lower legs can become a challenge.

The Sterex SX-B should be ok. All modalities work on all hairs but you’ll find some better suited for certain hair than others. A variety of needles is necessary too.

I’d be a lot more worried about mastering insertions than whether a hair is killed or not. The latter is figured out eventually, but not everyone can quickly manage the former.

#22

And you are right too. Many of the Pros that are on this board started as DIYs. This is doubly true in States that have no licensing at all. You know: buy a machine, learn on your own … take a few private classes and then you are a
"Certified pro.” Practice makes perfect in any case. Hey, WHO certifies you are a “pro?” Oh yeah, the AEA. Well, sort of …

Actually, I had done electrolysis on myself for three years before I went to Hinkel’s school. At the time, I did flash thermolysis only: I had a Kree and an Instantron.

#23

lil.D, if I may ask, why are you looking to DIY electrolysis and what areas are you intending to treat?

I somewhat recently began doing DIY electrolysis myself, and for what its worth I would not recommend doing it in most cases. In almost all cases you would be better served going to a professional, or doing laser if it will work for your skin/hair type.

That is assuming of course that your intention is just to remove your own hair and not practicing to become a professional electrologist yourself.

#24

Thank you everyone for your help.

I bought the Sterex galvanic machine. I have not yet used it.

I would like to ask if it is safe to apply the current (pressing the finger switch) and at the same time holding the indifference electrode bar ? or is it unsafe ?

What is the best needle for galvanic in the market ?

I want to start doing electrolysis on my legs and then with the help of friend we can do it on each other.

I need your help.

#25

If you are doing galvanic you must be holding the electrode when you apply the current, else it will not work. (or rather, the electrode must be touching your skin somewhere… you don’t actually have to hold it in your hand)

You will need to get several different sizes of needles, different hairs require different sizes.

You will probably want to go with a stainless two-piece needle, they are more flexible than one piece needle which makes insertion easier. The precision brand probes are decent and are good for beginners since you can buy them in smaller quantity to see which sizes you need.

#26

Thanks. I tried on my legs without the current being on, just to how it goes and practise my insertions.

How do I know how much current should be applied on the hair ? It says in the manual that I need to start with 0.15 and then gradually increase up depending on my tolerance. What would you recommend for a medium thickness hair ? Is 0.30 for 60 seconds enough to release the hair ?

#27

Right now, if you are following our advise (not the advise that says, don’t try it at all, not the advise that says, get a friend and trade work on each other) you would be working in galvanic, and practicing the two handed technique, so that when the hair is properly treated, it just pops out on its own, and you can see the fully intact bulb, sheath and hair shaft.

#28

Did you get Michael Bono’s book too?

With blend I place the electrode in a damp pouch made of this material and strap it on an arm or a leg.

It’s actually a good idea to start with low settings and see how long it takes for a release. (With blend I try to aim for 10 seconds.) I kept getting terrible releases in that timeframe, even though I had a good insertion, and it turned out the settings were way too low because I’m a big chicken. :blush: :grin:

After a while 10 seconds can feel like an eternity, especially if you’ve tried the thermolysis (and particularly the flash kind), but everyone says you have to start with galvanic or blend and become really good at it before considering other methods, so that what I do.

#29

James; First I need to try on my legs before I get my friend involved. My insertions were not so bad for a first time I guess but I know I must practise a lot more.

notadelphin; I tried 0.25 for 60 seconds ! but couldn’t release the hair ! and that was on my legs but it could be the probe as I have the Sterex two piece short ?

And yeah question that I have always wanted to know its answer. Why some people experience pitting on the skin ? I quite don’t understand the reason behind such permanent scars !

#30

When working on oneself, one will have a better chance of feeling where the bottom of the follicle is, ASSUMING one is entering at the correct angle in the first place. The problem is, entering at the correct angle is difficult for a newbie working backwards or at a side angle.

If you need to, ask your mom to let you practice some insertions on a few leg hairs. Once you get to doing this right in the ideal conditions, you can go back and work on yourself and appreciate better what a good insertion is, and get down to working on proper placement inside the follicle for best treatment results.

Should you choose to ignore that advice, just set the galvanic at what ever treatment setting, and set the timing to 60 seconds or more, and do the two handed technique, where after inserting on the follicle, you hold onto the hair with one hand and keep the probe/needle in place with the other, and wait for the hair to fall out in your grasp. Take note of the time it took. If that is acceptable, reset the setting to that time. If you think that is too long to wait, retry this with a higher setting, while leaving the timing at 60 seconds, and take note again of when the time it takes to get release.

When you find an intensity and timing recipe that like, make note of it, and change the settings to reflect that, and go forward.

As for the pitting question, it happens because of many factors. Some, but not all are, improper insertions, too much treatment energy, cutting and slashing of the skin due to improper insertion or misapplied treatment energy.

#31

The problem is, entering at the correct angle is difficult for a newbie working backwards or at a side angle.

James is right again. In fact, it is can be a real PITA. But sometimes it’s just not possible to work on someone else, so you need as much going to your favor as you can. Like really good light/magnification & right needles.

What size is the needle? I use two-piece Sterex too, because I get a bad reaction to steel and their gold needles are only available as two-piece. But mine are regular length, which is just about right as I find those pesky lower leg hairs are deep.

#32

I have F35 short needles. I also use the two-piece Sterex which already came with the machine I bought.

James thanks for your advice regarding the time and the setting, so basically what you are saying is that there is no specific numbers that will help me know the right setting for this type of hair or area and so on ?

I would rather to be slow that to overtreat myself. Even if I spent 2 minutes on one hair and be able to release it I would
be happy. What would you recommend the setting for leg hair if the current was to be applied for 60 sec ?

My magnification has just arrived http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00545XX00. I should have asked for advice before purchasing it I guess but anyways it’s just the beginning.

#33

Is it possible to treat the hair without getting it out. What I mean just apply the current and that’s it. If tweezers would not be used, would they fall out on their own ? I have always wanted to know the answer of this question.