Playing a little with my microscope to show some various needles tips. If you would like me to do a specific photo, let me know. I was particularly trying to find out why the Ballet-tapered are not as easy to insert as are the Hinkel-tapered, or the regular Ballet needles. I think it’s obvious?
My little microscope
Top: Ballet K5
Bottom: Ballet Tapered-medium
Top: Laurier IB5
Bottom: Pro-Tech 5
Lauier IB5 showing there is no “lip” where insulation and bare needle join:
Very nice pictures, Michael!
I can’t thank you enough!
That’s pretty cool Mike. Can you take some photo’s of other insulated brands to compare to the Laurier IBP?
Hey Mike - nice work…hope you are doing well…I was just out your way, but had a full schedule. Take care, my friend…Lorenzo
Sure Gretchen … here are a couple more. First photo is a Ballet-5 insulated and the next photo is a Laurier-5 insulated.
Below:
Ballet-5 insulated:
Above:
Laurier-5 insulated
Lorenzo … you STINKER!
Hey, Mike, can we see what a Hinkel tapered probe looks like? Isn’t that your preference or maybe not?
Hi Dee,
Gosh, I only have 6 Hinkel-tapered left and that’s it. I’m starting to switch to insulated and find that they work almost as well.
All my beard cases are now insulated for the first clearance … catching the early anagen returning hairs is not as critical so a regular needle seems just fine.
I will try to remember to save a “used” Hinkel-tapered to photograph (I hate to use a new one since I’m “down to the wire” now).
Sort of odd, because “everybody has QUIT on me!” I suppose that’s telling me something?
Groovy, how about a comparison between the insulated Protec and the generic prestige insulated compared to the Laurier. I have to ask, next to your microscope it appears that there is a really old answering machine? To bad you can’t actually see the insulation on the probes.
ha ha … yes OLD, but it’s my old Bang & Olafsson receiver: it still works perfectly!
I’ll check to see if I have any insulated Protec? I have some TERRIFIC CTI needles that were made in Holland (no longer made. but I have hundreds of them). These were gold and still the best ones I’ve ever seen for the REALLY tiny hairs. I will take a shot of these too. The guy stopped making these because he got a new girlfried in Norway! Anyway, that’s what he told me. Probably a lie? SURE “blame everything on WOMEN!” Do guys do this? Well, yes they do! Not me, of course! (Okay, maybe a little.)
If you’re a woman, you have to “clean everything, and everything’s your fault!”
Mike, I bet Mike Roy can make you some custom probes that are close to Hinkel’s taper. He would probably need one to examine it - a used one, of course.
I would send you some protec probes but I hated them so much that I sent all of them back at my cost. I do have insulated Prestige probes if you want some?
I’m pretty sure you can’t even buy tapes for that answering machine anymore 
Gretchie, at first I was sure that I didn’t like the Pro-Tech probes. I definitely don’t like the size ones. Well, I went back for another try and used the other sizes for thermolysis modes on the xCell Pro. I actually liked the comfort part for my clients and I got good releases. My stock is really low right now, but I plan to order some more from Dectro.
You’re right Gretchen I can’t buy tapes for “that answering machine,” because it’s not an answering machine. It’s my old B&O stereo receiver. This model is still on display at the NYC Art Museum … and the reason I bought it: I’m a sucker for modern design. Well, now it’s not modern at all … but I think it’s still beautiful … and works perfectly.
I have a ton of Ballet and you may send needles you want photographed. Ciao
I’ve been worked on with Ballet, Laurier insulated and current electrologist uses Protec. When I noticed that my current zapper uses Protecs I was skeptical of her work and efficacy at first. (My bias came from this site where Protec is not popular with zappers.) But going into my 3rd clearance soon, I do notice visual results. And this is my fastest zapper so far. She uses 2 protecs in a session because she is so fast and needles bend on her. The only downside to Protec (or any bare needle) is skin reaction and longer healing.
The Pro-tech probe do seem to be more delicate than the Ballet and Lauriers. You can’t get too relaxed when doing insertions or they will bend. One of my colleagues felt that they don’t hold up well for marathon sessions, but I haven’t tested them long enough to develop an opinion on that.
They’re not tapered like ours Dee.
Dee that’s why I got rid of them, to flimsy and not enough sizes.
That’s funny Mike, of course you can’t buy tapes for it