Electrolysis is a method of removing individual hairs from the body permanently.

Regardless of the cause - heredity, metabolic or hormonal conditions - electrolysis will permanently remove unwanted hair to reveal a glowing, confident you.

A professional electrologist inserts a very fine probe, no larger in diameter than the size of the hair being treated, into the natural opening of the hair follicle alongside the hair shaft. A tiny amount of electrical current is then applied using one of three modalities to create a chemical and or heat energy reaction to destroy the parts of the hair structure necessary for a new hair to grow. source: American Electrology Association

Learn more about how electrolysis works »

Medical electrolysis devices can destroy the hair growth cells with chemical energy, heat energy, or a combination of both. The method chosen by the electrologist is called the modality. There are three modalities in current use:

Galvanic is a chemical process. A DC (direct current) electricity passes through the probe charging the moisture (H2O) and salt (NaCl) naturally found in the follicle causing a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH) commonly known as lye. The lye destroys the hair structure components required for a new hair to grow by chemical decomposition. This is the slowest of the three modalities because it takes time for enough lye to build-up in the follicle to destroy and release the hair. Some clients find the galvanic modality more comfortable than thermolysis, but this is not the case for everyone. 

Thermolysis produces heat (aka short-wave). The AC (alternating current) electricity passing through the probe causes vibration in the water molecules surrounding the hair follicle which produces heat that destroys the hair structure elements in the follicle. A higher intensity current can be applied for less time in the follicle, or current can be used at lower intensity with longer timing. This is the fastest of the three modalities taking only fractions of a second to work.

The Blend Method combines the benefits of galvanic current with thermolysis current. A DC current is passed through the probe, producing lye, which is then heated up by the AC current. The heat spreads the lye around the follicle and increases the efficacy of the lye faster, ensuring proper damage to the hair follicle tissue. This is faster than Galvanic alone, but still more time consuming than Thermolysis. This combination has been found to be more effective in the rate of hair destruction over time. Both the Blend and Galvanic are go to modalities for some electrologists when working on resistant, coarse, and or curly hairs, and some clients find the blend and galvanic to be more comfortable than thermolysis, but this is not the case for everyone. 

All three modalities are effective and the electrologist usually selects the one with which they are most familiar. However, an electrologist who is used to working with Thermolysis may choose to use Blend or Galvanic if their client has coarse, curly, or wavy hairs and or a low-pain threshold when receiving Thermolysis alone.

source: American Electrology Association + Zap Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the ONLY FDA APPROVED method for PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL, which means your hair will not grow back after the completion of your treatment plan. However, it is important to understand that electrolysis can only destroy active hairs. It cannot prevent new hairs from growing. If new hairs grow years after your electrolysis treatment has concluded, it is most certainly due to hormonal shifts, medications, health conditions and or paradoxical hypertrichosis from laser hair removal. 

The following hair removal methods are not legally allowed to claim permanent results.

• Laser (Hair regrowth rates vary from person-to-person) - Can only legally claim hair REDUCTION not removal

• Waxing (Lasts 2-3 weeks)

• Tweezing (Lasts 2-3 weeks)

• Shaving (Lasts 1-3 days)

• Threading (Lasts 1-3 days)

• Sugaring (Lasts 2-3 weeks)

• Depilatory Creams (Lasts 1-3 days)

No responsible electrologist should recommend quote a specific number of treatments. For example, if you are recommended to come form 60 minutes every two weeks but only come for 30 minutes every two weeks then you end up needing twice as many treatments and your finish line gets pushed out further.

Everyone’s hair removal story is unique because there are many factors influencing your success rate including:

• Commitment to Treatment Plan

• Hair Density + Texture

• Hair Growth Phase »

• Pain Threshold

• Hydration

• Modality of Electricity

• Machine Settings

• Skin Sensitivity Characteristics »

• Other Hair Removal Methods »

• Hormone Function »

• Medications »

Your electrologist will design a treatment plan for you depending on these factors and if you follow it, your hair should be gone for good in 18-24 months; if the area is extremely dense like a bikini or beard, treatment will take closer to 36 months. It's important to remember not to compare your progress with others, because this can discourage you and diminish your own success metrics without the consideration of how everyone responds differently under different conditions.

Electrolysis is safe for all skin and hair types/colors, and for people of all ages and ethnicities. It’s even safe for tattoos, vitiligo, and moles. However, it is important to alert your electrologist of all your health conditions and medications because special attention must be paid to some including, but not limited to diabetes, pregnancy », pacemakers, and allergies to certain metals, latex, medications and ingredients »

Remember, it’s important to be completely honest when completing health forms whether visiting a medical provider or beauty specialist even if you don’t believe the information is relevant to your treatments. 

Faster? Laser is not FDA approved as a permanent form of hair removal because it does NOT destroy the hair growth components which is the only way to truly stop hair from growing. While laser is very effective for some, this claim is most likely being made by those with light skin and dark hair because it works best when there is significant contrast between foreground (hair) and background (skin). There is also great success sin non-hormonal arts like the lower arms and legs.

Even among those who claim its success, scientists state that the hair follicles have not been destroyed but have rather given up from growing back by going dormant. Therefore, it’s possible for those hairs to begin growing again in the future. Of course, you will never know if they will until they do, so you have to decide for yourself if it's worth the discomfort, or financial and time commitments today not knowing if it will last forever. 

As explained, since there needs to be great contrast between the skin and the hair for Laser to provide great results, laser does NOT work at all on grey hair, red hair, blonde hair, and has limited and inconsistent results on people with darker skin and brown to black hair. Electrolysis is still the only option for guaranteed permanent results given these hairs and skin types. Also, people with tattoos, vitiligo and moles can't get laser performed over the impacted skin or they will burn thus having to rely on other hair removal methods . While most other methods are safe for tattoos and vitiligo, electrolysis is the only one that can destroy the hair permanently.

There is increasing conversations around the safety of laser on the face. EBL does not claim to be an expert on this matter so, we highly encourage you to do your own research and check with your physician before getting Laser, especially if you are considering face treatments. However, everyone has a light coating of fine, soft (vellus) hairs on the body, and Laser has been known to stimulate their growth. When this happens, these hairs become terminal (active), thus becoming dark, coarse hairs not previously evident in any given area. This is called paradoxical hypertrichosis »

Cheaper? Individual treatments for laser are pricier than they are for electrolysis but laser covers more surface area in a single session. So, depending on how responsive the client is to laser without needing unforeseen repeat visits, the price can average out to be about the same by the end of a treatment plan. The challenge is, laser can stimulate new hair not previously visible to thicken and grow which then forces the client to seek other hair removal options. In this case, laser has not only cost the client money for a service that did not work, it also added more hair that the client will have to pay to remove using a different method. Also, since laser is only a method of reduction, there is a great chance that maintenance will be required for years to come increasing the overall cost of laser hair removal. It is scientifically impossible for electrolysis to stimulate new hair growth and scientifically certain it will  permanently remove all active hairs as log ac you complete your treatment plan. 

More about Laser Hair Removal »

NO! Waxing, tweezing, threading and sugaring are highly discouraged because they can not only cause ingrown hairs from follicle  distortion, but they also they rip the hair from the root.

When hair is pulled from the root, the body classifies it as an injury and immediately kicks into protect and repair mode triggering all the body functions necessary to repair the area and regrow the hair. But first that hair goes dormant for many months and, as a result, that specific hair would not have grown long enough to treat effectively by the next time you visit. We now have to wait for that hair to regrow, thus pushing the treatment finish line beyond your original end date. The body's repairing process also triggers thicker, deeper hair growth making it harder to destroy the entire follicle in a single session, this also slows down the electrolysis process.

Instead, try shaving, clipping, bleaching, or depilatories between appointments. Just remember to allow enough time for the hair to grow long enough so your electrologist can see it and maneuver it with tweezers without having to dig at the skin. Learn more about other hair removal methods »

There is no easy way of saying this … yes, there will be some discomfort. Of course, pain tolerance varies from person-to-person, but everyone usually experiences some degree of discomfort in the form of a small shock, a heat tingling or building sensation, or a combination of the two depending on the modality used. Rest assured there are techniques used by the electrologist that can help reduce this discomfort by adjusting the machine settings, using a different electrolysis modality and by helping you keep your mind off of it. 

There are over-the-counter numbing creams that can reduce pain and you can also ask your physician to prescribe a slightly stronger one. You can also take a pain-relieving tablet to take off the edge, but take only as directed on the label.

Electrologists do not use a needle. They use what is called a probe. A needle is hollow inside in order to allow blood to transfer from the body and therefore must be larger in diameter than a probe. A probe is only as large as the size of the hair being removed and is significantly shorter than a needle because it only needs to penetrate the skin, never beyond it. Check out this blog post » on probes to learn more.

There is a small risk of a blemish when administering an electrical current through a probe inserted in the skin. This is why it is important to go to a licensed and or certified professional electrologist who knows how to select the best modality and probe for your hair type, select the proper machine settings, make an accurate insertion, and knows how to prevent over-treatment and minimize hyperpigmentation. It is also important to be honest on your health assessment form, especially if you're prone to conditions like keloids.

Absolutely! In fact, many clients who get laser treatments have to go to an electrologist to remove the hair covering their tattoo because a laser would otherwise burn the skin. It is important to work with an experienced electrologist to prevent blanching, a kick back of heat upward towards the surface f the skin and burns it. This can damage your tattoo if done repeatedly. 

There are two types of currents used in electrolysis, Thermolysis (AC electricity) and Galvanic (DC electricity). Galvanic passes a current through the body which is then returned to the device via a cathode or ground source, and since the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby acts as a conductor of electricity, in the very least, galvanic current should be completely avoided during pregnancy. Given both Galvanic and the Blend both us DC electricity, all professionals are in agreement that these two modalities should never be used on a pregnant client.

Where professionals disagree is with the use of Thermolysis on pregnant women. There are some electrologists who are comfortable with treating clients while pregnant. However, because there aren't any studies that validate the safety of any method, EBL recommends avoiding electrolysis while pregnant, especially with the already high risks associated with maternal health. If you do choose to get electrolysis, we recommend you consult your physician first but EBL will not treat you until after you deliver.

Note: It is also worth being mindful of electrolysis if nursing your baby. We recommend dumping if you are getting electrolysis during this time and we still recommend avoiding the Galvanic and Blend modalities.

Electrolysis Is Permanent.

Unlike many other hair removal methods, electrolysis is designed to permanently eliminate unwanted hair. Treatments such as waxing, sugaring, threading, shaving, and even laser hair removal typically require ongoing maintenance, which is why promotional pricing and package incentives are common throughout those industries.

Our philosophy is different.

We don't build our business around keeping you as a client forever—we build it around helping you reach the finish line.

Because successful electrolysis is permanent, our goal is for you to eventually no longer need our services. While your treatment journey may span 2–3 years as we work through your natural hair growth cycles, the destination is lasting freedom from unwanted hair—not a lifetime of maintenance appointments.

Rather than offering temporary discounts, we invest in exceptional care, advanced training, modern equipment, and treatment plans designed to achieve permanent results.

Our greatest success is graduating our clients—not keeping them indefinitely.