Question:
It is my understanding that electrolysis works by causing the
production of sodium hydroxide surrounding the hair follicle
which destroys the follicle. Commercial depilatories such as Nair
and Sally Hansen's are basically dilute solutions of sodium hydroxide,
so far as I can tell from looking at the bottles. My question is:
If the sodium hydroxide produced by electrolysis results in
permanent hair removal, why doesn't the sodium hydroxide in
depilatory creams and lotions do the same? Does absolutely none of it
reach the follicle? It seems to me that some small amount would
move down into the space between the hair and the surrounding skin.
Answer:
-Just got out my bottle of Sally Hansen's - it's not sodium hydroxide,
it is calcium hydroxide. Please don't confuse the two. They are
both bases, but not anywhere near the same strength. Sodium hydroxide
is very bad stuff, not to be messed with at all. -Just a wild guess here, but perhaps the sodium hydroxide solution has to
be at a specific strength before it'll affect the follicle. Perhaps
Nair and other depilatories don't contain enough sodium hydroxide to
even affect the follicle. As I said, it's just a guess on my part.
