It’s really hard to gauge how effective electrolysis is in the short term because you need a few appointments to start seeing progress. During this period you might be tempted to ask yourself, “Can electrolysis cause more hair growth?”. Once you stop tweezing or shaving your hair it will seem as though there is a lot more hair on the surface of your skin than you’ve ever seen before.
There is a phenomenon I’ve noticed which seems to occur at about the mid-point of the treatment schedule.(Treatment schedule is the term I use to refer to the frequency and duration of appointments needed to complete the treated area within a specified time frame (about a year or slightly more)).
Once clients see a reduction in the overall number of coarse, dark, thick hairs they begin to notice the finer undergrowth that was invisible to them before. This another reason that some people come to the conclusion that electrolysis might stimulate hair growth.
I’ve said it before that no matter how much you’ve studied your face, trust me, you’re looking at different hair!
I am currently clearing a woman’s legs. We’ve cleared almost the front half of both legs below the knee. She started out with coarser-than-average hair that had never been tweezed or waxed in her 40-something years. Once the coarsest hairs were removed her legs looked amazing, however, she now noticed the soft, downy hairs that had been obscured by the more noticeable longer and coarser hairs. I saw the downy hairs under the microscope from our first appointment but my client said, “don’t waste time on the invisible ones, just get the ones we can see!”
Although my client was expecting the finer undergrowth, she was still surprised at how much she could feel it even it isn’t noticeable. If I hadn’t warned her it was coming, she might be tempted to say that electrolysis either didn’t work very well or had encouraged this finer hair to grow.
Electrolysis works pretty much the same on every colour skin with every texture of hair. Electrolysis does NOT cause more hair to grow ever. On the other hand, laser often causes more hair to grow on the face, arms and body, particularly on women of South Asian/Eastern ethnicity.
Here is the second half of this post titled “Does Electrolysis Increase Hair Growth
No. Electrolysis Does Not Increase Hair Growth.
But you’re definitely not the first person to have asked the question. Plenty of people who start receiving electrolysis wonder if it’s actually making things worse because in the first few months there seems to be far more hair sprouting up than you’ve ever noticed before. Most likely this is because you’ve been good and followed the advice of your electrologist to stop tweezing or waxing the area, thus, you’re not regularly removing every little black dot that pushes out of the skin. You may notice 2 or 4 hairs in a spot where you’re certain you only had one before you started treatment!
Don’t worry, you’ve always had multiple hairs, but you just didn’t realize it because they were on different growth cycles. Since you’ve started electrolysis treatments you may also be a little more attentive to the state of your hair growth because you want to see improvement fast. It is completely understandable that you would stop and ask yourself, “Can electrolysis increase hair growth?” when it seems as though more hair is coming to the surface than you’ve seen before. It’s hard not to obsess over such this major undertaking in your life. It takes time and resources to achieve your hair removal goal, and both are valuable commodities that you don’t want to see squandered.
Talk to your electrologist about your concerns. She will probably tell you something similar to what I’ve written above and reassure you that your hair removal process is moving along according to plan. Hopefully you have an electrologist who has provided you with a treatment schedule with a fairly clear end in sight, so this may be all the reassurance you need to keep your faith that you will be hair free.
Please keep in mind that the real wild card in permanent hair removal is not the electrolysis method itself, it’s finding an electrologist who will provide you with a solid treatment schedule and a guarantee of effectiveness.
Further reading:
Electrolysis Didn’t Work For Me
Electrolysis Regrowth
How Do I Know If Electrolysis Will Work For Me?
Electrolysis Body Hair Removal Is Absolutely Possible
Electrolysis Regrowth
Electrolysis Success!!!
Electrolysis Ethics
FAQs
Electrolysis works pretty much the same on every colour skin with every texture of hair. Electrolysis does NOT cause more hair to grow ever. On the other hand, laser often causes more hair to grow on the face, arms and body, particularly on women of South Asian/Eastern ethnicity.
What is the regrowth rate of electrolysis hair? ›
Electrolysis can be expected to kill 50 to 60 percent of hair follicles during any one session. Therefore, you can reasonably expect a 40 to 50 percent regrowth of hair in the following weeks or months (assuming all growing hairs are successfully killed). That's true of every session.
What happens if you stop electrolysis? ›
It is therefore very important that electrolysis is performed upon the detection of re-growth. Left untreated, hair will reconstitute itself to its original diameter and depth. Once a treatment program begins, it is important that appointments are kept to the predetermined schedule set at the beginning of your program.
Does electrolysis ever fail? ›
Is electrolysis permanent? Yes, it is. Electrolysis stands alone as the permanent alternative to lifetime maintenance. No other hair-removal solution can claim the universal acceptability and success offered by electrolysis treatments.
What is a downside to electrolysis? ›
Electrolysis Cons
It's a time-consuming procedure requiring multiple sessions. Skin discoloration is a possibility. The electricity in the device can actually destroy the capillaries in the surrounding areas. It can be very painful. It is not recommended for people with rosacea since the skin is so easily irritated.
Can electrolysis trigger more hair growth? ›
Electrolysis works pretty much the same on every colour skin with every texture of hair. Electrolysis does NOT cause more hair to grow ever. On the other hand, laser often causes more hair to grow on the face, arms and body, particularly on women of South Asian/Eastern ethnicity.
Can electrolysis stimulate new hair growth? ›
Once a hair follicle is destroyed it can no longer grow new hair. There can be anywhere from 500 to 1000 hair follicles per square inch, depending on the part of the body. So, you may think that electrolysis is causing new hair growth but of course it is not!
Why does my hair keep coming back after electrolysis? ›
Generally, multiple sessions of electrolysis are needed to target all the hair follicles in the treated area. Skipping sessions or not completing the full course of treatment can result in incomplete hair removal and an increased risk of hair regrowth.
Is electrolysis 100% permanent? ›
Traditional Electrolysis
Regardless of the cause – heredity, metabolic, or hormonal conditions – electrolysis will permanently remove unwanted hair to reveal a glowing, confident you.
Why don t more people do electrolysis? ›
With the introduction of various lasers, from IPL (intense pulsed light) to the Nd:YAG (beneficial for darker skin tones), electrolysis hair removal fell out of favour among those looking to minimise unwanted hair growth.
Hormones and medicines can cause unwanted hair growth, and can continue to do so even after electrolysis sessions. In some cases, hair removal history and failure to follow your treatment plan can lead to unsuccessful electrolysis as well.
Does electrolysis really remove hair permanently? ›
Yes. Unlike other hair removal methods that offer a temporary solution, Electrolysis is permanent and is the only FDA approved method of permanent hair removal.
Who should avoid electrolysis? ›
Absolute Contra-Indications – Requires a Doctor's Note: Diabetes, heart condition, hemophilia, pacemaker, seizures, transplant, surgery.
Is electrolysis bad for face? ›
Electrolysis hair removal is clinically proven to be a safe and effective hair removal method for all hair and skin types, including sensitive skin. You may expect to feel some discomfort during the treatment due to the brief heat sensations, but this is only temporary.
What is the lump after electrolysis? ›
Occasionally, bumps on the skin will last longer than expected. This is not a frequent side effect, nor is it alarming. Keep skin clean without overusing products and do not pick, scratch or squeeze the bumps. A day or so after treatment, a scab may form at the treated follicle's opening.
What are the permanent side effects of electrolysis? ›
Skin damage
Going to an inexperienced electrolysis technician can cause permanent skin damage. Because electrolysis involves permanently damaging the hair follicle, it can damage other parts of the skin if the probe is placed incorrectly. Sadly, it's one of the most common side effects of electrolysis.
How many electrolysis sessions until hair is gone? ›
The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person. On average, it takes around 12 months to complete 8 to 12 electrolysis sessions. However, the duration may range from 8 months up to 2 years in certain cases.
Does electrolysis permanently stop hair growth? ›
Yes, electrolysis safely and permanently removes hair from all skin tones. It is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal treatment. Because electrolysis permanently destroys the growth cells in the hair follicles, the hair will not grow back.
How long does it take to see results from electrolysis? ›
How long does it take to see results? Electrolysis takes some patience but it's absolutely worth the wait as the effects are truly permanent. Most patients start to have noticeable results after several treatments, however, it can take on average 8-18 months for full results.
