Home electrolysis is any method of using electricity at home to remove hair from the body. Electrolysis is a chemical decomposition reaction produced as an electric current is passed through a solution that contains ions. Home electrolysis uses a variety of commercially available devices that may be classified according to the specific method they use to remove hair.
Hair Matrix Cells
All electrolysis devices (epilators) use a metal probe that's between 0.002 and 0.006 inches thick. The probe is inserted into the hair follicle until it reaches the cells that produce the hair. These cells are known formally as the dermal papillae and more commonly as the hair matrix cells.
Galvanic Electrolysis
Galvanic electrolysis is a technique that uses electricity to produce sodium hydroxide (NaOH) from water. Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic substance that kills the hair matrix cells. The probe of a galvanic epilator is inserted into the hair follicle, and the current is turned on. This produces a chemical reaction (2NaCl + 2H2O + electricity ' H2 + 2Cl + 2NaOH). A galvanic epilator uses an electrical current of up to 3 milliamperes. Modern devices maintain a constant current by adjusting the voltage automatically.
Thermolysis
A thermolytic epilator uses heat to destroy the hair matrix cells. These devices are very weak radio transmitters that produce heat with radio waves. The radio waves have a frequency in the range of 13.56 megahertz (MHz) with a power of less than 8 watts. The tip of the probe must heat the hair matrix cells to about 118 degrees Fahrenheit to kill them. This means the probe tip must be within about a millimeter from these cells.
Blend Method
Some epilators use both galvanic electrolysis and thermolysis to remove hair. The blend method is generally more effective than others since it uses two processes.
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