Electrolysis: From Energy Production to Hair Removal (2024)

Electrolysis is the name of a scientific process that can derive hydrogen fuel from water. It’s also the name of a cosmetic procedure that uses electricity to remove unwanted hair from the human body. Although both procedures have the same name, they’re used for very different things and require different tools and training.

Let’s take a look at how electrolysis is used in energy production, as well as what you should know if you plan to use electrolysis to treat unwanted hair growth.

What Is Electrolysis?

Electrolysis has multiple uses, so we’ll start by considering what electrolysis means in a scientific sense. In short, it’s the process of using an electric current to cause a chemical change in a substance, such as a liquid or metal.

Electrolysis can be used to purify metals or extract them from a solution or break down substances into their individual components. For example, a sodium chloride solution can be turned into chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide, while the electrolysis of water produces hydrogen gas and oxygen.

How Does Electrolysis Work?

Electrolysis of a substance requires two different electrodes: one of them is positively charged (the anode) and the other is negatively charged (the cathode). The electrodes attract negatively- and positively-charged ions, which go through a chemical reaction (such as oxidation) and result in different combinations of the precursor substance’s elements or molecules.

In order for electrolysis to be effective, the substance must be able to conduct electricity, and it must be in liquid or molten form so that the ions can move freely.

Why Do Electrolytes Conduct Electric Currents?

Electrolytes are substances that conduct electricity through ions, whereas electrical outlets and wires conduct electrical energy via electrons. Ions are dispersed evenly throughout the substance, enabling them to transmit an electric current.

Electrolytes include substances like soluble salts and acids, including sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Electrolytes are important for electrochemical reactions in the body, which is why you’ll find them in nutritional supplements and energy drinks.

What Type of Electrical Current Is Required for Electrolysis?

Electrolysis requires direct current (DC) and won’t work using alternating current (AC). That’s because the polarity of the cathode and anode needs to stay consistent. If the polarity changes continuously (as it would with an alternating current), then neither electrode will be able to attract ions and electrolysis won’t occur.

Does Electrolysis Use Current or Voltage?

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Current refers to the flow of energy, while voltage is the total amount of potential energy stored in a system. This means that electrolysis requires both flow and current.

The voltage determines whether or not electrolysis will take place at all. For example, the electrolysis of water requires at least 1.23 volts, whereas the electrolysis of sodium chloride requires 4.07 volts. The current determines how long electrolysis will continue and the rate at which it will take place.

According to Faraday’s Law of electrolysis, “the amount of substance produced at each electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of charge flowing through the cell.”

How Is Electrolysis Used in Hydrogen Production?

Since electrolysis requires an electrical current to occur, it may seem counterintuitive to talk about electrolysis as a renewable energy solution. How is that possible?

In short, electrolysis is used to separate water into its component parts: hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can then be used as a fuel source in electric cars and other energy storage devices, reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency.

If electrolysis is powered by renewable energy sources like wind or solar power, it can produce hydrogen fuel without the need for fossil fuels. Vehicles that run on hydrogen fuel cells don’t produce any tailpipe emissions other than water vapor.

What Is the Downside of Electrolysis?

The downside to using electrolysis in this way is that the power grid is still too reliant on fossil fuels to make it viable as a wide-scale solution. If the electricity used to produce hydrogen comes from natural gas or coal, then it isn’t so green after all.

Plus, the cost of using electrolysis to produce hydrogen fuel is higher than the cost of many other green energy alternatives.

To address these problems, the U.S. government has launched a Hydrogen Energy Earthshot program aiming to “reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade” and increase its role in the green energy mix.

What Is Electrolysis For Hair Removal?

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For those of us who don’t work in energy research, we’re much more likely to encounter electrolysis in a different form: as a cosmetic hair removal method.

Although this kind of electrolysis also uses an electric current to induce a reaction, the process is entirely different from the electrolysis of water or sodium chloride.

Cosmetic electrolysis treatments are performed by professional electrologists, who use a device called an epilator to run an electrical current through the hair follicle. In addition to removing the hair that’s currently in the follicle, the epilator damages the follicle in such a way that it inhibits future hair growth.

What Are the Three Different Types of Electrolysis?

There are three different ways of performing electrolysis. Galvanic electrolysis uses an electrochemical reaction to remove hair, while thermolysis relies on heat. There’s also the option of using a blend of both methods.

Thermolysis is faster, with less time spent on each follicle, but it requires more precision and is less effective on coarse or damaged hair.

Does Electrolysis Remove Hair Permanently?

Yes, in fact, it’s the only method of permanent hair removal that’s recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Other methods, including laser hair removal and electric tweezers, may remove hair temporarily but not permanently.

Waxing is considered semi-permanent because it removes the hair at the root, but the hair will eventually grow back because the follicle is still intact. Chemical methods such as liquids and creams are also temporary and may have more serious side effects.

Who Can Get Electrolysis Treatments?

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Electrolysis is available to nearly anyone who has unwanted hair. Common sites of hair removal include the upper lip and the bikini line, but some people may use electrolysis to remove hair from their back, underarms, or toes.

Electrolysis is a good option for people who have unwanted hair due to hereditary or medical issues, such as women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hirsutism.

There are no serious side effects to electrolysis, so teenagers may also consider it to address excessive hair growth after the onset of puberty.

How Long Does It Take For Electrolysis to Permanently Remove Hair?

Electrolysis may be permanent, but it isn’t instantaneous. In most cases, you’ll have to return to your electrologist for multiple treatments to remove all unwanted hair.

That’s because different hair types grow at different rates, and even individual hairs can be at different points in their growth cycle. Your electrologist needs to treat each hair at the right time in order for electrolysis to be effective.

How Often Should You Get Electrolysis?

The number of treatments you’ll need will depend on how fine or coarse your hair is, how large of an area you want to treat, and other individual factors.

Most people need to attend electrolysis appointments on a weekly or biweekly basis, and the entire process can take a year or more. Each session should take less than an hour and may be as little as 15 minutes.

Does Hair Come Back After Electrolysis?

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No, once your electrolysis treatment is complete, the hair follicle has been permanently damaged and it won’t be able to produce any new hair. This is in contrast with other methods of hair removal, like waxing, which only remove the hair temporarily but don’t prevent new growth.

How Painful Is Facial Electrolysis?

Since epilators produce an electric current, you can expect to feel a tingling sensation when it’s applied to the hair follicle. It might feel uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be too painful. If it is, you can ask your electrologist to apply an anesthetic cream first. Each hair follicle only needs to be treated for a few seconds.

For most people, electrolysis is less painful than waxing, which involves hot wax and topical creams, which can irritate the skin.

What Should You Do After Electrolysis?

You don’t have to take any major precautions after an electrolysis treatment. There’s no recovery time, so you can simply go on with your day.

You should take basic skin care precautions for the next day or two and avoid tanning beds, excessive sunlight, and makeup. Electrolysis has few side effects, but you may notice some red skin or irritation that should go away on its own.

Scarring and infection are only a concern if the equipment isn’t sterile or if you try to perform electrolysis on yourself using an at-home device.

How Do You Choose an Electrologist?

Although complications from electrolysis are rare, it’s important to choose a professional electrologist with valid qualifications in your state.

Be sure to visit an electrology center or dermatology clinic for a free consultation before your first treatment. This is your chance to ask questions, find out how many treatments you’ll need, and confirm that the clinic is clean and hygienic.

You’ll also want to make sure that the clinic uses actual electrolysis equipment, and isn’t simply using electric tweezers while claiming to perform electrolysis.

Does Insurance Cover Electrolysis?

Because electrolysis is usually considered an elective procedure, most health insurance policies don’t cover it. However, if electrolysis is considered medically necessary, such as to treat gender dysphoria, it may be covered by some insurers. Without insurance, you can expect electrolysis to cost anywhere from $30 to $100+ per treatment.

The Future of Electrolysis

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Electrolysis may sound futuristic, but it’s been around for longer than you might think. In fact, people have been using electrolysis for hair removal for over a decade. As for its use in chemistry, Michael Faraday identified the laws of electrolysis back in 1833.

Hopefully, the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot will pay off, and hydrogen fuel cell production will play a role in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. In the meantime, you can switch to a green energy plan to ensure that 100% of your home energy use is powered by renewable energy sources. Just enter your ZIP code below to find out more.

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