Just bought a home electrolysis machine

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#1

It has been about a week since my purchase of the Clean + Easy Home Electrolysis machine (It looks just like the One Touch). I also bought a pair of reading glasses. It took me about about an hour before getting to a point where I felt comfortable using it. Although I am still improving upon my technique, I would say most of the need for improvement is in the magnification. At this point, I have cleared hundreds, maybe nearly a thousand hairs.

In my opinion, this is an extremely useful (and fun) device. So far I have cleared hair on my hands, arms, legs, nipples, and feet, yet I must admit that I am not planning to use it on my face until I have had a lot more practice. In the mean time, I suggest this device for use ideally on the body. One thing to consider though is that it’s a good idea to wax first. I have noticed many hairs that I removed initially did not have the papilla. Most likely they were in a shedding phase or it’s also possible that I mistakingly severed the hair above the papilla.

Surprisingly, it was not as hard as I would have thought to use my left hand with the needle. As a matter of fact, it is almost as easy to use my left hand as the right hand. I have also found that the 0 setting for about 5 to 10 seconds is 95% sufficient in killing most of the the hairs I come across. I think there were only a few hairs that really needed more seconds.

If any one here is considering getting one of these and you have questions, let me know and I will try to help you. Also if there are any long term users of the device, please let me know if there are any things that could do to improve my technique.

1 Like
#2

Does this thing really work? I was just looking at it online and it was for sale at like $39.99…from what I have been reading most do-it-yourselfers are spending thousands of dollars on their equipment.
Please let us know if you get satisfactory permanent results!

#3

I have to say that the One Touch really does work. As long as you use the device properly you will definitely get permanence. I cannot really say why there is a need to spend thousands of dollars on a machine unless you plan to use it professionally. The major difference between that and of the pro machines is that most of them can perform all 3 types of electrolysis and of course they are way better in quality.

#4

So how exactly does it work? The advert says that it can’t break the skin but I thought the whole purpose of electrolysis was to stick a needle into the hair follicle? Am I missing something here?
How long have you been using it now? Your certain that the hairs aren’t growing back?

#5

The way it works is that your needle follows the hair right down into the hair shaft. You are not really breaking the skin because the hair itself creates an opening. The needle is so thin that it can fit right down with the hair. Although you probably want good magnification to see what you are doing.

When the needle gets to the bottom of the hair it emits a current that causes a chemical reaction with the moisture in the hair shaft. This chemical reaction creates lye which then kills the follicle.

If you look at the diagram of a hair follicle, you will see something that looks like a little ball which is sometimes black but sometimes white at the end of the hair. That is the papilla. When you slide the hair out you should see the papilla. That means you have permanently damaged the hair follicle and it will not grow back. If you don’t see the papilla, that means the hair was already shedding in which case you will have to wait until it regrows, or you have sliced the hair above the follicle and it will certainly grow back again. That is a mistake I made the first few tries.

If you get one of these devices, then you will probably make mistakes, but keep practicing and you will get better. Also I recommend starting in an area of limited visibility in case of scars. Good luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#6

MorganPerry,

Your technique seems like it’s working.

These devices do indeed work, although they are not built to last very long.

There are some other useful tips at http://www.geocities.com/hairfreethere/

#7

Thank you NoHair,

The sponge technique as described in the article could be very useful. Anything more and I am too afraid to modify this thing beyond that. If this device should fail anytime soon, it has already paid for itself numerous times in comparison to a professional treatment. I would just go out and buy another one.

#8

When the needle gets to the bottom of the hair it emits a current that causes a chemical reaction with the moisture in the hair shaft. This chemical reaction creates lye which then kills the follicle.

Hi,
Thanks for all the info.
Just another quick question…How do you know when you have reached the bottom of the hair? Does the machine automatically sense this and set off the current, or do you set off the current manually? Seems like it would be difficult to know just how deep the bottom of the hair follicle would be?

Thanks again.

#9

The machine has very little sense to it. You press your finger on the band to start the current (or do the modification described at http://www.geocities.com/hairfreethere/ and step on the sponge).

The current should not be manually applied until the probe is inserted to the proper depth. This is done by feel. If the probe won’t go beyond the skin’s surface, you’ve either missed the opening of the follicle or you’ve approached it at the wrong angle. If there is any depth to the follicle beyond 1 mm, then the probe should slide in fairly effortlessly. When you reach the bottom, there will the slightest increase in resistance. If you continue farther, you may feel a slight pop as you actually penetrate the skin beyond the bottom (and it may even sting a bit), which is to be avoided. This takes practice, good eyesight, good judgement on the angle and depth from treating surrounding hairs, and a very sensitive feel.

If you have the current on while inserting, you’ll just burn your way down and never be able to feel bottom or even if you’re actually following the follicle. Current should also be disengaged prior to removing the probe to avoid burning the skin as it’s extracted.

#10

This device is one of the few that actually work well. It sounds like you are being very successful with it. I am sure that you will do well when you do decide to do your face.

~ Megan @ Hair Removal [hair-removal-options dot com] A Guide to find the best hair removal option for you

#11

Like no hair was saying the basic idea is to hit the bottom of the hair shaft, but good visibility is crucial. Another thing you want to consider is getting high powered magnification. I am finding even with reading glasses and good lighting it is still difficult sometimes to get a proper insertion. I am buying an attachment for my reading glasses that will give me super high magnification so that even the babiest of hairs will look like tree trunks LOL.

Thanks NoHair. That is good advice, Actually I have been applying the current the whole time from insertion to removal. Although it does not seem to have created any burns, I have not had the needle above setting 1.5. Still, your technique is no doubt much safer.

#12

Hey Morgan, So I guess it’s been over a month now with your machine…how do you think it’s working? Definate permanent results? Just wondering if I should go ahead and purchase one myself…also is the Clean and Easy the best machine to purchase for do-it-yourselfers who aren’t intending to use their machine commercially? Or is say the One Touch a better option?
Any help from anyone on this would be appreciated.

Thanks :slight_smile:

#13

I do not wish to put a damper on anyones happiness, but first I need to pass some information along. This machine from the sounds of it is purely galvanic. Galvanic alone requires about 2 to 3 minutes for the galvanic to generate enough effect. Blend on an averate takes about 10 seconds but it also uses thermosis to heat the lye being generated, making the lye much stronger and able to get into pours much easier. The effect of heat on the lye multiplies its effectiveness by multitudes. However, with a purely galvanic machine, you are back to the technology used back in the 1880’s. But it will work if used for a long enough time. But 10 seconds, is just not going to cut it I am afraid.

Martha Montgomery

#14

As an added note:
Galvanic machines are very simple to construct. It is just a battery, a Variable Resister for adjusting current level and a probe and an electrode. You do need to make sure you get the polarity correct however, or you may end up with black marks on your skin from the steel probes. Another thing to consider when doing Galvanic is that Cataphoresis should be performed afterwards in order to bring the body’s pH back to the normal range. That requires a little more current and a roller and a reveral of polarity from using Galvanic Current. There are instructions on the web on making such devices, but I forget where I found them. Search engines should help in that regards.

As far as Thermosis machines are concerned, I am surprised that someone has not posted means of converting a CB radio for use with electrolysis. One of the frequencies is very close to an allowed frequency for electrolysis. Most however use a frequency that is very close to the amateur radio 20 meter band. Only requires about 4-8 watts and it is the ant lead that runs to the probe. The biggest challange would be the keying circuit and power control. But for someone who knows electronics, that is not difficult. Yes, units can be constructed a lot cheaper than buying a commerical epilator. However, as a professional, I had to realize, that I would have a difficult time keeping clients if I were using something that was home brewed. There is much more confidence in having something that was commerically manufactured for that purpose.
I spent over 30 years repairing electronics both home consumer and commercial aircraft. I do know exactly what is going on inside my machine, and will know right away, if anything is not working correctly. But yes, if it were just for myself, I could very easily make something very cheaply.
But I also would like to caution those who do not know what they are doing. You can also very quickly damage skin if you are not doing things properly.

Martha Montgomery
Puget Sound Electrology

#15

Marthajoy,

The instructions for making one’s own galvanic device were posted previously in this thread: http://www.geocities.com/hairfreethere/

Also, you are not quite correct in stating “Galvanic alone requires about 2 to 3 minutes for the galvanic to generate enough effect.” I’ve removed thousands of hairs, both with the One Touch and my own “home made” device. Never have I exceeded 60 seconds, and it’s usually 20-30 seconds. If one were to turn the power setting so far down that one could not feel any tingle at all, then one could possibly spend 2 to 3 minutes on each hair, but I’ve never needed to go that low. Some shallow, thin hairs at a medium setting (5K ohms with 12V) only take about 12 seconds and not what I would call painful (although everyone’s tolerances are different). And it’s been a few years now, so yes, the results have been permanent.

Using the “One Touch” or “Clean + Easy” at a 0 setting (10 K ohms resistance with 9V) for only 5 to 10 seconds does sound a bit low to be effective on anything other than fine hairs. A setting of about 3 or 4 for 15 to 30 would be more expected.

An advantage of building your own as described in the link above, is that you would be using a professional stylus and probes. It is much easier to work with than the One Touch, the probes don’t bend nearly as easily and the probes are 50 for $20 instead of 2 for $5.95, so much cheaper in the long run. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to go back to a One Touch/Clean + Easy device.

#16

Amen!

#17

NoHair,
For time wise, I was relying on textbook information regarding galvanic. As well as information from manufacturers of Multi-needle galvanic units, and you are very correct in that everyones reactions are different. Most multi-needle galvanic units I have seen, are set to 0.2ma, which by your setting is very low. But then with multi-needle, you are always busy, moving and changing probes.
It is certain that your homemade device will work. My only concern is the fact that the body resistance is not a constant. It does vary during electrolysis. A digital meter is slow to up-date its readings as well. But that may just be my own personal concerns. What you get in modern commercial electrolysis Unit however is circuits that have current limiting. When something is set to 0.2 ma, that is what you get. From measurements on my personal Apilus machine, the voltage is in the neighborhood of 45Vdc. Far above the 9 vdc or even 15 vdc that units without limiting have. I regard that fact as safer for clients. But again that is my personal perspective.
I am wondering if you are interested in also posting information on Cataphoresis or Anaphoresis. Since Cataphoresis is good for after care, and anaphoresis is sometimes used prior to galvanic as a means of opening hair pores.
Anaphoresis uses the same negative lead as the probes does, but the currents range from generally .6ma to 2.0ma.
Cataphoresis uses the Positive lead for a roller and again uses 0.6ma to 2.0 ma. It looks to me as if the same circuit could be used with little modification. Up the voltage is one way of increasing the current levels.
Anyway, just a little idea you may wish to pursue.
P.S. I do think that you have done a good job with your design. For people on tight budgets it does offer them far more hope than the junk units out there. But as I say, I still prefer the safety of a commercial professional unit.

Martha

#18

Marhajoy,

Be aware that I am a DIYer, not a pro by any means. I do agree with you that body resistance varies (as stated in the web site article) and is also not the same within different people. I gave those numbers on the web site as a base reference for users to work with various resistance settings (0-10 as on a One Touch, which is 10K ohm to 0K ohm of resistance in the circuit). Generally users of these devices should choose the dial settings based on their pain tolerance and duration required for a complete kill. However, having those numbers gave you something to reference to when comparing this practice to a textbook.

I would disagree that a digital meter is slow to update when working within the range of 10 to 60 seconds. It would be useless for measurements when doing flash electrolysis where treatment is possibly under one second, but not galvanic.

Most DIY users do not have access to 45V DC power sources. 9 volts to 24 volts seem to work just fine, as I’m sure 45 would also, when used with the proper resistance in the loop and proper durations. I can’t see how having 4 times the voltage is inherently safer; current limiters can be built for any voltage source. Besides, it’s current (amperes) that affects safety and this is controlled with the potentiometer no matter what voltage one chooses.

Again, a DIY user that is using a One Touch or similar home made device is only controlling the resistance and duration. Since you have a professional machine, you have the computerized options to also control the current limit. However, just like cars would be safer with a governor on them to limit the top speed, most users are able to drive safely by judging their speed by simply pressing a pedal by various amounts.

I have no information to post on cataphoresis or anaphoresis. Years ago when I started DIY, I asked on this forum and others about cataphoresis and no one would shed any light as to what it was for or how to do it (I presumed the pros didn’t want to let out all the secrets and hope that DIY users would become disillusioned and go to a pro). I have since learned that it is to stop the action of the lye so that excessive treatment does not occur within the follicle post treatment. My own DIY solution was to treat the follicle like a pimple and squeeze out the remaining lye so that there was no longer a chemical remnant to do damage; this seems to have worked very well.

Since you are doing professional work, then I can certainly understand your preference for a professional unit. Not everyone can find a pro unit that fits their budget. These simple galvanic devices are another alternative and when used properly are probably safer than a pro unit when being used by the untrained user that would start experimenting with flash and blend modalities.

#19

NoHair,
I am sorry that when you asked previously, that no one would let you know about anaphoresis and cataphoresis. I seem to understand however, that you do understand electronics, which is why I have been bringing this up to you. I agree totally that your homebrew epilator will work.
What I mean by current varying, is that while epilation is going on, the bodies moisture level changes which also affects the bodies resistance. As this resistance changes, so does the current that is flowing through the body. If one moment the resistance is 7k ohms, and the body changes to 3k ohms, you can calculate the effect on the current.
With professional units - regardless of the voltage they choose to use, the safety factor is that the unit has built in electronic circuits that keep the current level constant even when the bodies resistance changes.
You might also notice that if a source voltage is high, it also means the resistance in the box has to also be raised to keep the current at the same level. You might at that point also note, that a change in body resistance, has less of an affect on current changes than that of a box with only 9 volts being used. So without adding a lot of parts, it is possible to somewhat level out the current changes.
Cataphoresis, also has the effect of bringing the cells pH levels back to normal as well as shrinking the bodies blood vessels helping to return the body to normal coloring verses being very red. What I was really trying to do, was to encourage some modifications to your design to show how Cataphoresis and Anaphoresis can be performed as well. That is why I posted the Current evels in my previous post. That being about 0.6 ma up to 2.0 ma. However most professional units will allow 0 ma up to 2.0 ma.
If you would like more information as to these processes, I will be glad to pass information to you. I have basically just be trying to get you to expand your vision a little bit is all. If you choose to not take on this project, that as well is perfectly fine. I did not mean to upset you, just challange you a little bit.

Martha Montgomery
Puget Sound Electrology

#20

The resistance of the human body in a galvanic electrolysis circuit is going to be much more dependent on the contact points than the actual resistance of the body. You’d have a hard time convincing me that the body’s moisture content can vary to such an extent that within a few moments it would change from 7K ohms to 3K ohms. If that actually happened, then those body fat scales that measure body fat based on the body’s resistance would vary wildly; I’ve been using one for several years and I’ve not seen a daily fluctuation of more than 6% which is far different than the 133% you postulate. So if 6% is a daily maximum, how dramatically can it vary during a treatment period?

Users that could locate a 45 volt power source (not a typical transformer or battery pack that’s easily available, although one could string multiple batteries together), it would be possible to just use a higher rated potentiometer. However, since I think your premise of the body’s resistance varying to such large extents is flawed, there seems to be little need for this complication. However a 45 volt source would allow higher current settings for cataphoresis and anaphoresis.

On the other hand, I could see a contact sponge drying out such that it no longer has a good contact with the body and thus increases the resistance of the entire circuit by quite a bit. In this case, the resistance would be going up, not down, and thus the current would weaken, so safety should not be affected.

One advantage of galvanic DIY is that you can feel the tingle of the treatment; direct feedback to the practitioner. If somehow the body miraculously dropped it’s resistance by more than half, you’d feel a lot more tingle (pain actually) and it would be easy to then stop the treatment due to discomfort and reset the resistance setting or bear with it and treat for less time, time being the other important factor in the equation along with current. So there’s an automatic safety valve right there. More advanced modalities do not have this feature nor does working on someone else unless that person discloses their discomfort verbally or through body language.

I think all of us could benefit from more education on cataphoresis and anaphoresis, it’s benefits and application techniques. It would seem to require more power than that available from a typical battery or small appliance transformer, so it definitely would complicate a DIY machine or require a separate unit for that purpose.