“Consultation”- A case history is taken to assess area to be treated

• Is hair diffuse or localized?
• Previous methods used to remove hair
• How long concern has existed?
• Is reason for growth genetic (hereditary), hormonal (puberty, pregnancy or menopause), thyroid, pituitary, medically induced by specific medications (i.e. steroids, birth control which can stimulate or arrest hair growth and a number of prescription medications list hair growth as a side affect), or transitioning clients.
• To determine the need for a physician referral
• To assess the individuals pain tolerance level. It should be no more painful than tweezing. Some people fall asleep being quite relaxed, others are more sensitive and require some pain management with anesthetic creams and oral pain medication.

“Treatment”.

• Sanitize treatment area with an antiseptic solution.
• Assess filament size and currents
• Insert probe into follicle along the hair shaft, coming to rest at the base of the hair at which time the current is released on the cells responsible for hair growth
• Withdraw needle
• Test for Looseness
• Epilate treated hair
• Repeat
• When treating an area of growth not previously treated, the hairs will be at three various stages of growth. Anagen (living, growing stage of growth most vulnerable to treatment), Catagen (resting or dying off stage somewhat vulnerable to treatments),
  Telagen (dead hair with no chance of permanency)
• Hairs should be withdrawn with no resistance. If all the hairs feel like they are being pulled this is glorified tweezing, not a proper treatment
• Optimal time span between treatments varies according to growth cycle.
• Extensive time between treatments will not hinder progress achieved to date, but will slow down final outcome due to the stages in hair growth
• Hair becomes thinner, finer, shallower, less pigmented and the pores in the skin will become more refined with proper treatment

• For first treatments and clients with more sensitive skin antibiotic cream is recommended
• Try to avoid use of makeup for 24 hours. If makeup is necessary apply a pure moisturizer first because follicles are more vulnerable to infection
• Keep hands away from treated area
• Avoid tanning for 48 hours to avoid hyper-pigmentation (darkening of the skin)
• USE SUNSCREEN

• Not an actual laser treatment
• Not a permanent method of hair removal
• Used for Photoepilation the light targeting the melanin, penetrating the skin
• (also used for Photofacials)

Laser – According to scientific research, claims can only be made of “Long Term Temporary”

• Mayo Clinic Laser research suggests 40%-80% reduction in growth
• Can cause facial discoloration and stimulate hidden facial growth
• Restricted to clients with fair skin and darker courser hair
• Can cause dark hair to lose pigment therefore prohibiting treatment efficacy
• the laser light source is attracted to the darker hairs, heating the hairs.
• In the following weeks the treated hairs will fall out of the follicles leaving a cleaner appearance
• Cannot be performed on anyone with fine, fair hair, dark or tanned skin, certain skin conditions or anyone who has ever experienced any kind of seizure because of the pulsating light stimulation
• Some discomfort , depending on each individuals pain tolerance level. Pain management by use of cold Ultrasound gel, Emla (topical anesthetic cream), Ibuprofen and /or Acetaminophen

Epilation – removing entire hair from the follicle including the bulb

• Tweezing
• Waxing- Paraffin or Strip
• Sugaring- a form of Strip waxing using a sugar based formula
• Threading- technique using double cotton threads- quick twisting two hand movements hairs at a time
• Can cause hairs to become deeper, darker, courser and distorted, occasionally causing ingrown hairs particularly on the facial, breast, abdomen and bikini area
• Over a period of time, in a few cases, with repeated treatment, trauma to the follicle can occur arresting future hair growth

Depilation– removal of hair at the surface of the skin

• Scissors
• Shaving
• Depilatories-i.e. Neet, Nair
• Will not stimulate hair growth because there is no alteration of the follicle structure

1875 – Dr. Charles E Michel, St Louis, Missouri, Ophthalmologist recorded use of the Electrolytic Current (also known as Direct Current or Galvanic ) by means of a fine needle (also called a probe or a filament) inserted into the hair follicle to destroy infected ingrown eyelashes in a patient.

1924 – Dr. Henri Bordier, Lyon, France developed the Thermolysis Current machine (also known as an Alternating Current, Shortwave or High frequency)

1968 – Arthur Hinkle and Richard Lind published the Blend concept, the use of Galvanic and Shortwave currents used in conjunction

1980– Mark Van Orden, Fischer and Company, California developed the first programmable, Computerized, epilator machine

“Temporary Methods” -1928 Dr. Mildred Trotter, Washington University, School of Medicine confirmed findings.