Electrolysis at a glance
- DeviceApilus xCell Pro
- Hairs treatedAll colours
- Session15 min to 1 hour
- AnaesthesiaNone or numbing cream
- Social downtimeNone to 48 hours
- Price€60 to €180
Electrolysis (electric hair removal) destroys each hair one at a time: a very fine probe, slid along the hair into the follicle, delivers a current that destroys the cells responsible for regrowth. Unlike the laser, it works whatever the colour of the hair and the skin: it is the solution for white, grey, blond or red hairs, and for isolated hairs that resist laser treatment. Sessions last from 15 minutes to 1 hour, with an Apilus xCell Pro device; they are performed by Marlène, a state-registered nurse, at the Silkeen centre, 101 rue d’Antibes, Cannes.
Price: from €60 (15 minutes) to €180 (1 hour) per session.
How does electrolysis work?
A probe as fine as a hair is inserted into the hair’s natural opening, without piercing the skin, down to the bulb. A very brief current destroys the cells that make the hair grow back; the freed hair is removed with tweezers without resistance.
- 1The probe, as fine as a hair, slides into the hair’s natural opening, without piercing the skin
- 2At the bulb, a very brief current destroys the cells that make the hair grow back, whatever its colour
- 3The freed hair is removed with tweezers; the destroyed follicle no longer produces hair
The Apilus xCell Pro device, made in Canada by Dectro, offers three modes, chosen according to the hair and the area:
- thermolysis: a high-frequency current heats and coagulates the follicle in a fraction of a second; fast, suited to fine hairs and the face;
- galvanic (electrolysis in the strict sense): a direct current produces a substance in the follicle that destroys it; slower, effective on deep or curved hairs;
- blend: combines the two, for thick, resistant hairs.
Like the laser, electrolysis acts on hairs in their growth phase: several passes over the same area are needed to treat the hairs that appear later.
Who is it for?
Electrolysis is for women and men who want to remove:
- white, grey, blond or red hairs, on which the laser has no effect;
- isolated hairs that persist after laser treatment;
- facial hair: upper lip, chin, neck;
- hairs that need to be removed precisely, for example to shape the eyebrows.
For large areas of dark hair (legs, back, bikini line), laser hair removal is faster. Where excessive hair growth has a hormonal cause, tests are carried out in parallel.
Laser or electrolysis?
| Laser hair removal | Electrolysis | |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Light, absorbed by the hair’s pigment, destroys the follicle | A current, delivered by a probe, destroys each follicle |
| Hair colour | Dark hair only | All colours |
| Skin colour | All, with the appropriate laser | All |
| Area | Large areas, several hundred hairs per minute | Hair by hair: small areas or isolated hairs |
| Sessions | 6 to 10, 4 to 10 weeks apart | Frequent and short at first, then further apart |
| Price | €30 to €250 per session depending on the area | €60 to €180 depending on the length |
The two often complement each other: the laser for most of the hair, electrolysis for the remaining light-coloured or resistant hairs.
What happens during a session?
- ConsultationBefore the first session: check of the hair, skin, current treatments and contraindications; choice of protocol.
- PreparationDo not shave the area in the 2 to 3 days beforehand, so that the hairs stick out by at least 1 mm; no waxing or tweezing in the weeks before.
- SessionFrom 15 minutes to 1 hour, under an illuminated magnifier; each hair is treated and then removed with tweezers. It feels like brief heat or tingling; a numbing cream can be applied one hour beforehand to sensitive areas.
- AftercareA soothing antiseptic lotion is applied at the end of the session.
How many sessions are needed?
The number depends on the area, the number of hairs and their thickness. At first, sessions are close together (every 1 to 4 weeks); they become further apart as the hairs become sparser and finer. A complete treatment generally lasts 6 to 18 months depending on the area. Between sessions, only shaving or trimming the hairs is allowed.
What happens after the session?
- Redness and small swellings around the treated hairs, for a few hours to 48 hours.
- Possible small scabs, which fall off by themselves within a few days: do not scratch them.
- For 24 to 48 hours: no make-up or perfume on the area, no sauna, steam room or swimming pool.
- Sun: total sunblock on exposed areas for one week.
What are the contraindications?
- an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator;
- pregnancy, for the abdomen and chest areas;
- infection, herpes, eczema or a wound in the area;
- moles: hairs growing from a mole are not removed without medical advice;
- poorly controlled diabetes or a healing disorder: medical advice beforehand.
What are the risks?
The usual effects are minor and temporary: redness, small swellings and small scabs. More rarely: infection of a follicle, a dark or light patch, especially on olive skin or after sun exposure, or a tiny pitted scar if the setting or technique is not appropriate.
Choosing a qualified, experienced and reputable surgeon reduces these risks, and can even eliminate some of them.
How much does electrolysis cost in Cannes?
| Session length | Price |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | €60 |
| 30 minutes | €100 |
| 45 minutes | €140 |
| 1 hour | €180 |
Prices per session, from the Silkeen centre’s price list. Aesthetic procedures are not reimbursed by French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie).
Book an appointment: Silkeen centre on Doctolib or on +33 (0)4 93 68 86 68.
Frequently asked questions
Is electrolysis permanent?
A hair whose follicle has been completely destroyed does not grow back. Some treated hairs grow back finer and need to be treated again; this is why a complete treatment requires several sessions.
Does electrolysis work on white or blond hairs?
Yes: the current destroys the follicle whatever the colour of the hair. This is its main indication, where the laser has no effect.
Is electrolysis painful?
You feel brief heat or tingling with each hair, more marked on the upper lip. A numbing cream can be applied before the session.
How many electrolysis sessions are needed?
It depends on the number of hairs: a few sessions for a few isolated hairs, a treatment of 6 to 18 months for a denser area.
Can electrolysis be combined with laser?
Yes: the laser treats most of the dark hairs, electrolysis the remaining light-coloured or resistant hairs.
Should you let the hairs grow before an electrolysis session?
Yes: do not shave the area 2 to 3 days beforehand, so that the hairs stick out by at least 1 mm; no waxing or tweezing in the preceding weeks.
Can you wear make-up after an electrolysis session?
It is better to wait 24 to 48 hours, until the slight redness has disappeared.
How much does an electrolysis session cost in Cannes?
From €60 for 15 minutes to €180 for 1 hour, at the Silkeen centre, 101 rue d’Antibes.