Hi,
can anybody explain me the difference between insulated
and non-insulated probes? What are the advantages, disadvantages of both?
For what use are both?
Thanks and greetings,
Sabine
Hi,
anybody here, who can explain???
Insulated probes deliver current to the lower follicle and papilla only. A plastic coating covers the upper 2/3 of the blade, so that current flows only to the lower 1/3 of the blade. I don’t use insulated if I do the blend because we need the currents to rise in the follicle and insulated probes only allow for a fixed pattern of destruction. Ballet makes insulated one-piece probes that would be very helpful for shallow hairs on moist skin, but this probably wouldn’t apply to your legs.
I do most of my work with ballet gold probes because I switch back and forth using blend for some hairs and thermolysis for others.
Probes are a personal choice, so you should try different kinds. The probe you use should closely match the diameter of the hair.
Have you ordered the Bono book yet? Prestige had it a couple months ago. This would be an excellent source for you, sabine. The reading section above lists other books as well that are necessary reading when getting started.
Dee
Hi Dee,
thanks one more time for explanation. Yes, I orderd the Bono Book and as well “Modern Electrology”. Prestige (Jane) wanted to ship it yesterday or today - all a matter of time, until it arrives in Cyprus ;-))
In the meantime I managed to get a third of my calves free
of hair <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> and I hope the red little spots will disappear… My son is asking me every little time to work on him, but I am still not sure about the level I should use, or if I should use only electrolyis-, thermolysis or blend … For myself I find it from day to day easier, but with the pedal I can stop whenever I feel any pain - I am not sure if I manage this with somebody else…
Dee, as you mentioned gold probes - I thought they are only for people who are allergic or who react sensible with stainless steel probes?
Greetings,
Sabine
because I switch back and forth using blend for some hairs and thermolysis for others.
Dee, what about a hair makes you decide to use one modality or the other?
Depends on the area being worked on, the type of hair and how many hairs there are present. Sometimes an area has a mixture of hairs, some are very coarse mixed in with medium and small, long hairs . Some clients prefer one method over an another, too. So I will oblige them
For example, on a woman’s upper lip, she may have coarse, black, deep anagen hairs that look almost like cat whiskers. If I treat these first couple of hairs in a thermolysis program, but notice the hairs are curvey when they come out and a bit resistant, then I will switch to blend in order to get a wider pattern of destruction for these “whisker” hairs. When all the coarse hairs are eliminated, I will then return to a thermolysis program for the smaller hairs that seem to be straighter in the follicle. If there is a large area to clear initially, I will stay in a microflash thermolysis mode using special techniques to get one cleared ASAP. If the hairs are curvey, so be it. If some return in the next hair growth cycle they are then already weakened, newer and straighter in the follicle for easy zapping and elimination once and for all. At least the client can get a clearance and have a wonderful time not having to worry about temporary means, like shaving, to disguise any hair that remains behind. People want that first clearnace ASAP in the worst way and so do I!
I like Blend for deep, dark, thick mole hairs, too. That’s my first preferance and it works like a charm for the quickest possible permanent elimination for that type of hair.
It’s really nice to know how to do all modalities of electrolysis because we frequently need to strategize, using the best tools we have, in order to get the client to the end ASAP ORRR… they may give up in despair (or because of lack of money) and never realize their dream to be hair-free if the electrologist is too pokey for larger areas.
And Sabine, I use gold because I like the results I get after treatment as far as the clients’ skin reaction. The area looks pretty darn good after treatment and then they report back that all looked normal within a couple hours thereafter.
Dee
Hi Dee,
thanks for the explanation. Another question came up, which
I asked already in the thread “My treatment has begun”.
Lagirl said the treatment has to be painful otherwise the hair won´t killed. Why does it has to be painful? Let´s say, if I put a low level but repeat it very often doesn´t it has the same effect like having a higher level and a quicker (painful) treatment?
Also I don´t really understand the use of anesthetic creme. The creme works only on the surface - so it would help only for the insertion of the probe - which should be painless anyway, or? In my understanding all the anesthetic cremes cannot not act deeper, like in the roots of the hair or its tissue.
What do you think?
Greetings,
Sabine
With good technique, skill, modern equipment, and a subject who is well hydrated, practices good nutrition, and has a body free of caffeine and alcohol, good treatment can be done with sensation that runs anywhere from painless, to mildly irritating.
It is just assumed that if you are doing self work, you will not find the Nirvana of near painless treatment while maintaining effectiveness in the early going, if ever.
It is for the reason you have noted that I stopped using those creams on myself back when I was paying for treatment. They only seemed to work for feelings in the upper levels, and since the place where the most sensation was in the lower levels, It just seemed a waste of money to me at the time. It does, however, make things more comfortable for some people.
Nothing less than a shot, or gas would render a painful treatment painless. That is why you have to maximize your possibilities for good treatment in the ways you can:
Good hydration, no nutrient deficits, good rest, and a good practitioner working with the equipment that allows the most comfortable, reliable, repeatable treatments done as fast as possible.
Hi James,
thanks for your answer - I will see how many hair will grow on the treated area in order to see if the treament by myself (on myself) was correct (hopefully <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) or if I had no pain because of doing everything wrong <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
So far I did not use anesthetic cream because I managed to insert the probe without any pain (at least one success).
Greetings,
Sabine
I’ve done work on myself, removing thousands of hairs, and most are painless to nearly painless, doing Galvanic with non-insulated steel probes. Sometimes it’s so painless, I let off the switch and hit it again to feel that little buzz at the start just to make sure the thing is working.
If it’s painful, I usually turn down the current for the next hair and treat longer if need be. If pain starts to occur mid way through a treatment (typically 20 to 30 seconds), I’ll stop as I’ve probably already hit the treatment point for that hair.
Everyone has their own thresholds and variances in pain, but it shouldn’t be more painful just because it’s not being done by a pro. Too much pain could be an indicator that you’re causing unwarranted damage.
Thanks a lot NoHair - that makes me feel much better and hoping that I am doing the treatment correctly <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Greetings,
Sabine
Hi Sabine,
Here’s another few aspects of treatment vs discomfort that you might want to consider. One relates to the anatomy of the hair follicle, one to the probe type, and the third to the modality or manner in which the hair is treated.
In a lot of the deeper, darker hairs the germinative tissue is below the level of the nerves. If thermolysis is used, especially microflash, the regenerative tissues can be destroyed without the heat pattern reaching the nerves.
This process can also be augmented by the selection of a probe like the Pro-Tek insulated thermolysis probe. I know that a lot of electrologists do not like this probe type as the insulation covers a larger portion of the probe shank. This keeps the heat pattern deeper in the skin, but this can also be offset in effectiveness if the insertions are not right on the money. However an insulated blend probe can be used to good effect as well and gives the operator a wider margin of error as a larger amount of the probe shank is uninsulated.
One other thing that can affect the comfort level of a treatment is not only the amount of energy, or units of lye required to properly epilate a hair, but the manner in which that energy is released into the hair follicle. I have found out that some of my clients who are extremely uncomfortable with a single pulse of microflash can tolerate the same amount of energy released in 2 pulses. Additional comfort may be also had by increasing the time interval between the pulses as this allows the bloodstream to carry away some of the heat. This is fine as long as the hairs come out like they are lubricated and with the bulb and inner root sheath attached.
When using blend technique, some people respond better with a lead of microflash, followed by the galvanic current and some respond better with a lead of galvanic current and finishing off with flash thermolysis. We all vary in our hair structure and what works for one person will not be so well received by another person.
As far as topical anesthetics go, they do work if properly applied at least 1/2 hour prior to treatment and then covered with an occlusive (plastic wrap held in place with adhesive tape or some other means). In these cases The occlusive should be left intact until the treatment starts. As each area under the occlusive is ready to be worked, the operator must remove only that portion of the occlusive and clean off the excess anesthetic, disinfect and work that area as quickly as possible. It does work, but any of the good local, topicals are expensive and require a prescription from a physician in California where I work. I can not recommend any form of anesthetic; oral, topical, or injection to my clients as, in California, that is tantamount to practicing medicine without a license. Some of my clients make arrangements with their doctor or dentist to have local anesthetics injected just prior to coming to see me.
Generally speaking, the only areas that are really sensitive are the upper lip and on males the middle sides of the back as well (I know the knees and other areas are up there, but not as bad!). However one other thing should be considered. Anytime work is being performed on the centerline of the front of the body, the likelyhood of discomfort is magnified as this is the area where nerves coming from both sides of the spine overlap, producing a doubling of sensation.
This can be alleviated somewhat by starting work a bit away from the centerline and working inwards towards the center. This produces a phenominum known as synapse fatigue. Just as a shower or bath can feel too hot when you first get in, after a few moments the brain starts ignoring the increased level of sensation and the water becomes comfortable. This also works with electrology.
Hope this helps,
Joanie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Hi Joanie,
thanks a lot for your post - it makes me feel better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.
I think I did not absolutely wrong, because the hair comes out very softly (butter like). But of course the result will show in the regrwoth …
You are absouletly right, the body is getting more or less used to pain. I usually start with “easy” hair before I go to the sensitive parts. But so far I treated only my legs.
I really appreciate all the answers I get here, especially because I have nobody around here in Cyprus who is doing electrolysis or willing to have kind of exchange.
Its encouraging me a lot - and helping me not to give up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Thanks a lot,
greetings,
Sabine