Tugging during Electrolysis Trial

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I received a trial session today where around 8 hairs were treated. My electrologist used both the blend and thermolysis method to see which method I was more comfortable with.

However, I felt some tugging when the hairs were removed. She is using very low settings for me because I have pre-existing hyperpigmentation on my upper lip from excessive threading/tweezing.

Should the hairs slide out without any tug whatsoever, or should a small tug be expected? It’s not the same feeling as when a hair is plucked, but there is still a little bit of resistance. I have very thick hairs and have been plucking for 10 years so the hairs may be distorted.

Also, I am wondering if we should increase the settings. I barely reacted, meaning the redness went down within a hour. I know this is a good thing, but am worried the treatments will take too long (I need them done asap so I can allow my hyperpigmentation to heal asap). I just had treatment today so will see how my skin reacts over the next few days.

Does anyone have a recommendation of what settings to use for thermolysis? I think she is using 24 but I will double check next time, I could be wrong.

Many thanks.

#2

Aww hell I’ll take a shot at this one.I must be a glutten for punishment

Ideally you should not feel any tugging and the hairs should slide out of the follicle like they are greased up with butter. It is occasionally ok to have minnor resistancce, you should not ever feel that telltale sting as the root rips.If there is some resistance, there is a better chance you may see some regrowth as all the gerination cells may not be completely destroyed.

In my opinion, thermolysis would not be my first choice for these hairs. As you said you plucked for 10 years, and some of the follicles and hair shafts might be somewhat distorted. Galvanic or preferably blend is better in these situations because the lye that is produced gets everywhere in the follicle, whereas the probe can only go strait down. It is sometimes possible for the follicle to distort into a J-shape and in such cases you would not get at the root with the probe using thermolysis and it may not be successfully destroyed, which might explain some of your tugging.
You wont find me, (or anyone else) recommending machine settings for removal.Every machine is different an the numbers from one brand wont relate to another. The best machine settings to use, are the ones your practising electrologist recommends and is comfortable using.

As always, someone will jump in and say here “Seana! You’re wrong!” . Ya they are probably right.

Seana

#3

Hi Seana,

My hairs definitely didn’t slide out that easily. I didn’t feel a sting at all when it was plucked, just a bit of pressure when the hair was being pulled out. She said she will increase the settings in a couple of months when my skin gets used to electrolysis. I didn’t have any scabs and am extremely relieved about that. She is certified and is very nice. I hope to stay with her throughout the process.

I’m not entirely sure if they are distorted. Whenever I used to pluck they were all straight hairs. I will ask my electrologist if they are. She said she can either use blend or thermoloysis. We tried both and I think we had better luck with thermolysis. She said to start with thermolysis and finish with blend when the hairs are weaker and easier to treat.

She said it will take 6 months to start seeing a difference. Do you think this is reasonable? My hair is thick and I have PCOS so it seems resaonable to me. Especially considering we are going with lower settings due to do my hyperpigmentation issues.

Thank you for all of your help :slight_smile:

#4

6 months is a reasonable time to see a difference if you are going regularly It wont be anywhere near all gone but you should be able to note some difference by then. Thermolysis is fine as long as the probe can get at the root . I believe Dee gave you advise on this in another thread, and has way more experience than I do.

Seana