Tools needed for the trade

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#1

I’ve read the forum for several hours before finally deciding to post. It seems everybody on the forum has great advice for the beginning user, however all the information is so spread over numerous posts. I would like to have 1 post that we can “sticky” to the page for the newbies that explains the tools they will need to get started in home practice.

This post was one of the most informational reads, but it was also WAY too long: “looking to do it at home”

I am ready to get going, and would love advice for the essentials of the trade, just the basics for what it’s going to take. Thank you so much for all your help!

#2

You’ll need the following:

  1. An electrolysis machine (epilator), see the “legitimate machines on eBay” thread for more info. Buy a real professional electrolysis machine, not a cheap home unit or one of the many scam devices out there. If in doubt, ask in the machines on eBay thread and we can help you out.

1a) Make sure the machine has a footswitch, at least one needleholder, a metal ground and black wire for it. It is also nice to have a roller and red wire to do ana/cataphoresis.

1b) Make sure you buy extra needlecaps for the needleholder, they are easy to lose, and you should be able to change caps with every client anyway.

  1. Vision equipment, which can be a circle lamp, head-worn loupes or a surgical microscope. Keep in mind that the light source is a major part of the vision equipment, and get a separate halogen lamp (with fiber optic if you can) as the brighter the light you can put on the workspace the easier the work will be.

  2. Forceps/tweezers to remove the hairs

  3. Needles for your electrolysis machine in sizes 2 - 6, so that you have flexibility of treatment

  4. Vinyl or Latex Gloves, if you will be working on others, and a small sharps container

  5. A dedicated table is good to have, you can get a portable massage table which works well for less than $200 on eBay (Designated electrolysis tables like the Dectro/Apilus Stellar or Capella have many advantages over massage tables, but cost ten times more)

  6. A height adjustable stool or chair is also a good thing to have (this works even better when the treatment table is also height adjustable, and has a turning base)

  7. Tea tree oil, aloe vera and other post-treatment products

  8. Books manuals etc. to read and learn beforehand. If you get no other, get “The Blend Method” by Michael Bono and read it cover to cover twice. (Best if you find the original first edition, as it has more info than the massively edited second edition)

  9. An ultrasonic cleaner and autoclave, or dry heat sterilizer for your reusable items, like tweezers and such, so that you can resterilize the metal items, and resanitize the items that can’t be heated (like probe/needle holder caps) which are put into the ultrasonic cleaner. Metal goes first in the ultrasonic, and then into the autoclave, or the dry heat sterilizer.

You can get your books, supplies etc. from TES www.texaselectrolysissupply.com

Am I missing anything? (it is late as I write this) Anyone else have any suggestions?

#3

If you are in a regulated state, you need to contact the state board and find out what they require you to have.

#4

I think this is a do-it-yourselfer, Choice.

#5

That is what I assumed :slight_smile:

#6

Sorry, I guess I misinterpreted. I took it as someone wanting to set up a home business. I can’t imagine buying an autoclave or even a dry heat sterilizer for just working on myself or a friend. Just pop them in your kitchen oven.

#7

I can imagine the average teen trying to explain to her mother why she is cooking a few pieces of metal in the family oven for 3 hours without baking a cake.

My mom would scream to high heaven about wasting gas, and overheating the kitchen for nothing.

#8

Bake a cake at the same time. A counter top toaster oven can do the same job.

#9

I would think seeing all of the equipment I listed above all set up would freak out their parents first :slight_smile:

Which is funny, I had someone in my place the other day doing some work in the place, and with a puzzled look she (reluctantly) asked me what it was all for.

#10

The AEA sanitation team, and the state licensing boards seem to differ with that point of view :wink:

#11

For professionals, absolutely. For a DIY’er, why would you spend the money on professional sterilization equipment?