Electrolysis: Rocky Mountain Laser College

Electrology uses a low-level electrical current to remove hair permanently. The current is delivered into the dermal papilla (the source of nourishment for the hair, located at the base of the follicle) and the bulge area (the area between the papilla and the erector pili muscle).

Electrolysis has been around since 1869 when it was invented by Charles E. Michel. The true pioneers of electrolysis were people like Henri St. Pierre, Arthur Hinkel and Walter and Helen Kunze. St. Pierre and his family started in the early 1890', Hinkel started in 1938 when he invented the blend technique (combining both AC and DC currents / electrolysis and thermolysis) and the Kunze's started in 1948. Helen worked as an electrologist until she was 80 years old.

Remember, Anagen is followed by catagen, a period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. Ultimately the hair follicle enters telogen, when the follicle is in a so-called resting state.

Diagram to the left shows regression of an anagen hair follicle. On entering catagen the dermal papilla condenses as the cells become inactive. With the lack of dermal papilla cell stimulation, the hair fiber and root sheaths stop growing. In telogen the dermal papilla can become isolated in the dermis and sit dormant for a long period of time.

Normally this cycle of hair production will continue for the duration of the individual's life, however other factors can influence, promote and inhibit hair production.

Although physicians devised the first two modalities used for hair removal, the third came into being because of the idea of a California Electrologist named Henri St. Pierre and the practical work of Arthur Hinkel, an engineer with the General Electric X-ray Corporation and part time service repairman for electrolysis machines. Hinkel and St. Pierre were relatives of Helen Kunze the mother of Lorenzo Kunze, M.E. (Principal of the Rocky Mountain Laser College - Colorado). There were devices used in the early days of hair removal that utilized both direct and indirect current for hair removal. These combination devices allowed hair removal specialists to offer either current the client wanted.

It was not until Henri E. St. Pierre conceptualized the use of both currents concurrently and Arthur Hinkel, with his technical abilities as an engineer, devised the first epilator that "blended" the two currents that the positive aspects of both currents were used.

Together they perfected the blending of both currents and applied for a patent on July 27, 1945. U.S Patent Number 2,444,173 was issued to St. Pierre in June of 1948 for an epilator that could superimpose currents, stating that his objectives were improved permanence, less sensation and quicker skin recovery compared with shortwave alone.

This development of the blend is believed to be the direct response to Henri's brother John St. Pierre's knowledge of blending two types of high frequency current for electro surgeries. It is believed that he also labeled this new modality "the blend".

Over a period of years, Henri St. Pierre and Hinkel, both of whom became practicing electrologists and both of whom operated schools in Southern California tried many different ways of applying the electrolysis currents. In addition to his Wilshire Schools, Hinkel operated more than 30 offices and manufactured blend epilators. Hinkel is also the author of "Electrolysis, Thermolysis and The Blend", published in 1968. Hinkel's book has been used as a standard textbook in the profession for many years.