Hair Removal – Alkaline Wash

The Alkaline Wash system is a treatment designed to reduce fine, downy hair on the face, neck, arms and thighs. This type of hair is very difficult to remove because it is usually quite dense, making it unsuitable for electrolysis, which treats one hair follicle at a time. It can be used in areas where there is both fine and coarse hair; the fine hair is treated this way first, and then the remaining coarse hair can be treated with laser or electrolysis.

An alkaline powder is mixed to a paste and applied to the skin for up to ten minutes. The rise in pH digests the protein, keratin, in the hair, dissolving it and part of the underlying follicle.

After the first treatment, the hair will grow back at the normal rate, but as treatments progress, the rate of regrowth becomes slower and the hair becomes finer, usually resulting in permanent hair loss over time as the hair follicle is finally completely destroyed. As such, the frequency of treatments required is reduced; some clients can go for several months between treatments. The number of treatments required for permanent hair removal depends on many factors, such as how long the hair has been there, reasons for hair growth and how it has been treated previously. Your practitioner will advise you at the time of consultation.

Alkaline Wash is a pain-free treatment; however in some cases the area can appear red and warm afterwards, and some may experience dryness, and sensitivity. If you are prone to acne, it may cause a mild outbreak. These side effects are normal and subside in a short period of time. A patch test is carried out on the area before treatment to ensure that your skin is suitable. Some clients are concerned that hair will grow back more coarse than before, but this is impossible because of the dissolving effect on the hair follicle. There is no downtime but it is recommended to avoid UV rays from the sun or a sunbed for 48 hours and to avoid using make-up for 12 hours. Your practitioner will recommend aftercare products to inhibit hair growth and reduce side effects.