How many electrolysis hair removal treatments will I need? - 2pass Clinic (2024)

Posted December 17th 2018

How many electrolysis hair removal treatments will I need? - 2pass Clinic (1)

Generally speaking, you are likely to require between 8 and 12 treatments. The average time from start to finish is about 12 months.

It can take anything from 8 months up to 2 years in some cases. The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person.But the unwanted hair that is gone will be gone forever.

We realize that this will seem like a very wide time-frame but it is just impossible to be more specific due to a big variation in response to treatment.

The amount of treatments needed is influenced by the following factors

  • Your skin — Skin type and skin sensitivity are factors that influence the result.
  • Hydration of your skin — Electrical current is conducted more readily in moist tissue than in dry. Moisture is vital for effective electrolysis treatment. In order to generate heat, the moisture molecules must vibrate and cause friction. Therefore, if the amount of moisture is limited, the heat will also be limited.
  • Thickness of your hair— Thicker hair is more difficult to remove.
  • Quantity of hair— It takes longer to remove hairs that are close together than hairs that are further apart.

How many electrolysis hair removal treatments will I need? - 2pass Clinic (2)

  • Area where the hair is located — Different areas have different growth cycles. Bikini hair takes longer to clear than facial hair because the growth cycle is longer.
  • Hormonal balance — A variety of biologic changes (puberty, illness, emotional upset) can lead to hormonal change that can alter vellus hairs to terminal hairs and activate previously sleeping hair follicles. Estradiol can act as a brake on hair follicle cycling by delaying initiation of growing stage and by prolonging the duration of the resting stage. There are some individuals who are extremely sensitive to changes in hormonal levels.
  • Pain threshold— The higher your pain threshold, the longer we can continue the treatment. At 2pass Clinic, you can use local anesthesia to reduce the pain. When using local anesthetics we can carry out longer and more intensive treatments.
  • Hair removal that you have already tried in the past—If you have previously had epilation or waxing, your hair follicle may now be deformed. This makes it more difficult to insert the needle. Also it is important to know that hair removed by plucking, waxing or failed electrolysis may not reappear until months later. The regrowth time for a plucked hair will vary with the body area, but the general rule is regrowth occurs 2 to 4 months after plucking.
  • Shape of your hair follicle — Curved hair is more difficult to kill as the insertion with the probe is hindered.

How many electrolysis hair removal treatments will I need? - 2pass Clinic (3)

  • Your cooperation— We advise for a fixed time interval of 10 weeks between treatments.
  • Your electrologist — There will always be a certain amount of regrowth, even when electrolysis is performed by a skilled operator. The average killing rate is 50-60 % with 60-75% being roughly the highest level possible. More information on regrowth after electrolysis.
  • Unknown factor — Individual unexplained variation in response to treatment. We still don’t fully know all factors that account for the difference in response to treatment. Our knowledge of hair growth has helped us to reduce our regrowth rate. There are still factors concerning hair growth that are not yet known to science. Hopefully, when those factors are discovered we can use this knowledge to even increase our killing rate. At 2 pass Clinic, we are obsessed by our killing rate. If we see we have a bad killing rate the next session we will do a patch test on your face. We will treat different areas with different techniques and settings. The next time we can then determine which program works best for you.
  • Safety margin — Remember that in electrolysis hair removal we aim for a fine balance between just enough destructive energy to destroy the hair follicle, yet not enough to produce undesirable side effects. We always err on the side of caution, even though this may result in some regrowth.

Related articles:

  • Is electrolysis hair removal painful?
  • Laser hair removal vs Electrolysis: what is the difference?
  • How Long Does Electrolysis Hair Removal Last?
  • How many hairs can be removed by electrolysis per hour?

We are doing our very best to keep this information up-to-date. In case you see anything that no longer seems accurate, or in case you have a question, please fill out the form below!

How many electrolysis hair removal treatments will I need? - 2pass Clinic (2024)

FAQs

How many electrolysis hair removal treatments will I need? - 2pass Clinic? ›

There are many factors influencing the number of sessions needed to clear an area, some of which are still unknown to us. To fully clear your facial hair permanently it can take anything from 8 months up to 2 years in some cases. The number of sessions needed varies from 8 to 15 sessions.

How effective is one session of electrolysis? ›

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.

How many electrolysis sessions does it take to see results? ›

Clients Should Come for a Minimum of 10 Sessions

Another general rule of thumb is that most clients will need to come for at least 10-14 sessions before the full electrolysis results will kick in. However, this is just a minimum. Some people may have to wait 8-18 months to see the full results.

How many hairs are removed in one electrolysis session? ›

Electrolysis only destroys about 35 percent of hair follicles per session, says Elise, so it can take up to 18 electrolysis sessions spaced three to four weeks apart to completely remove hair from a single area, says Elise. Remember: Permanence takes time, especially when you factor in how your hair grows.

How many treatments of electrolysis do I need? ›

“On average, between 10 and 14 treatments are needed for extensive electrolysis in a particular area,” says Green. Each electrolysis session is typically done every four to six weeks. Therefore, the completion of electrolysis treatments can take a minimum of one year.

Why is my hair growing back after electrolysis? ›

Hormonal changes can affect hair regrowth after electrolysis hair removal. Hormones can stimulate hair growth, even in areas that have been treated with electrolysis. Hormonal imbalances, such as those caused by pregnancy, menopause, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can result in hair regrowth after electrolysis.

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.

How many electrolysis sessions for peach fuzz? ›

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. The number of sessions required to achieve permanent hair removal varies between individuals.

Is electrolysis 100% permanent? ›

Unlike other hair removal options, electrolysis is considered a permanent solution by the Food and Drug Administration. However, for best results, you will need multiple follow-up appointments. Most people need follow-up sessions every week or two.

What is the success rate of electrolysis hair removal? ›

Your electrologist — There will always be a certain amount of regrowth, even when electrolysis is performed by a skilled operator. The average killing rate is 50-60 % with 60-75% being roughly the highest level possible.

What is the best stage of hair for electrolysis? ›

Anagen - The Growth Phase. Period of active growth when the hair root cells rapidly divide in the matrix building length onto the hair shaft. Hair is at its greatest depth in Anagen thus in the most ideal state for effective electrolysis treatments.

Do you have to let hair grow for electrolysis? ›

Let your hair grow out to 1/8” or 2mm, and shave 2,3 days before your appointment. We need enough length to be able to grab the hair with tweezers. Please don't let the hair be very long. If the hair is too long slows us down during the treatment.

Does electrolysis work on chin hairs? ›

So, shave without fear — as often as you need to. If you're ready for a more permanent solution, electrolysis is your best option for getting rid of even the most prickly chin hair.

Is electrolysis permanent after one session? ›

You will need several appointments. The number of sessions needed to achieve permanent hair removal differs from person to person. Typically, you need an appointment every week or every other week.

How to know if electrolysis is working? ›

If you treat a hair successfully with electrolysis, in 6 weeks exactly (2-4 days either side of 6 weeks is ok) the follicle will be extremely moist and juicy! The method we use, (Galvanic) turns ALL that moisture into sodium hydroxide. THAT is what kills the hair!

Does electrolysis work faster than laser? ›

Slower process – The process of Electrolysis is much slower than laser hair removal treatments. Invasive – Due to the needle penetrating the skin, the procedure does have a risk of infection.

How do I get the best results from electrolysis? ›

Drink a lot of water during the full course of your treatment sessions and keep the treatment area well moisturized for best hair removal results. Try avoiding chocolate, caffeine and alcohol 24-hrs before treatment to promote further hydration. Always arrive to your appointment in good hygiene.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carlyn Walter

Last Updated:

Views: 6365

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carlyn Walter

Birthday: 1996-01-03

Address: Suite 452 40815 Denyse Extensions, Sengermouth, OR 42374

Phone: +8501809515404

Job: Manufacturing Technician

Hobby: Table tennis, Archery, Vacation, Metal detecting, Yo-yoing, Crocheting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.