Technically, Electrolysis is the name of the field, and there are three primary methods used to treat hair: Electrolysis, Thermolysis, and “Blend” methods.
All three methods require inserting a very thin probe into each individual hair follicle. Energy is applied to the tip of the probe, and the germinative cells that create the hair are destroyed. The detached hair is then removed from the follicle with a pair of tweezers. Each hair is only attached to the body at the base of the hair follicle which is the primary target of destruction along with the secondary cells in the bulge area. Below is an simplified history and description of the three methods.
I do not use “needles”, though many electrologists still use them. I only use the ProTec line of “probes” because they are the very best tool for this job. The stainless steel shafts are cylindrical, mechanically rounded at the tip, micro-polished, and then coated with a layer of Teflon to protect your skin and focus the treatment energy with accuracy at the base of the follicle where it kills the stem cells that enable the hair to grow.
Electrolysis (“Pure Galvanic”)
Electrolysis is the original technique and was invented in 1875, nearly 150 years ago. It was the first effective method to permanently remove hair, originally used to successfully remove ingrown hairs from a patient’s eyelids. Electrolysis uses direct current (DC) and the body’s own saline moisture to create a chemical reaction to safely dissolve and kill the cells inside the hair follicle.
Thermolysis
Thermolysis was developed over the next few decades to speed up the process and is generally recognized as having been invented in 1924, over 100 years ago. Thermolysis uses a very small amount of alternating current (AC) instead of direct current (DC) to create friction that produces enough heat to cauterize the cells near the tip of the probe. The application of energy happens in milliseconds instead of minutes and offers the most comfortable method of hair removal.
When performed properly by a skilled person, Thermolysis is just as effective as pure Electrolysis or the Blend method, and I can treat much larger areas in the same amount of time. The latest computerized Thermolysis machines operate at much higher frequencies with precision, so they are not as “hot” as the older machines. I have had many clients fall asleep on my table when using this method due to the speed and decreased level of pain.
The “Blend” Method (aka “Combined Currents”)
Shortly after Thermolysis was invented, a machine was created in 1948 that combined both techniques in a single system. The technology is formally called “combined currents” and informally called the “Blend” method where both Electrolysis and Thermolysis are performed simultaneously. Blend requires leaving the probe in each follicle for 6 to 8 seconds minimum, and the reaction continues to take effect for several seconds after the probe is removed. It is slower than Thermolysis, but for some people, it is the only effective treatment.
Summary
The original pure “Electrolysis” technique is the oldest and slowest, so it is rarely if ever used today. The “Blend” method is much faster than pure Electrolysis but also much slower than Thermolysis. Blend is generally more painful than Thermolysis due to the length of time the probe is in each follicle. Thermolysis is extremely fast and is generally the least painful method using today’s advanced electronics, so it is favored by many electrologists–including me.
My Strategy
Because Thermolysis is the fastest and most comfortable technique, I always start with Thermolysis. If there is a compelling reason to use an alternative method, then I can switch to the Blend method. A few of my clients actually need Blend on certain areas of their body, so I usually start with the toughest hairs then switch to Thermolysis.