Electrolysis Has Changed: How the Apilus xCell Pur Compares to Older Machines
Ask someone who had electrolysis decades ago, and you may hear about long appointments, a lot of discomfort, and a slow road to results.
Those stories have kept plenty of people from trying it. Electrolysis technology has come a long way since then. At Laser Affair in Tampa, we use the Apilus xCell Pur, a professional-grade device that delivers energy faster, adjusts to each hair, and is built around client comfort.
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“It's not your grandma's electrology machine.”
Our electrologist at Laser Affair
This guide explains why electrolysis earned its old reputation, what has changed, and how the Apilus xCell Pur compares to the machines many people remember.
Why Electrolysis Had a Reputation for Being Painful
Most people who remember electrolysis as painful are thinking of treatments from the last century. From the 1920s onward, the technology improved in steps, but for decades the experience often stayed uncomfortable.
Thermolysis arrived in the 1920s and used heat to treat the follicle in a few seconds per hair. The blend method followed in the 1940s, pairing heat with the older galvanic current. Galvanic treatment on its own could take anywhere from 15 seconds to several minutes per hair, so appointments were often long and tiring.
For much of the 20th century, many salons worked with manual machines. Energy was delivered in longer bursts, settings were adjusted by hand, and a lot depended on the electrologist's guesswork about how much power each hair needed. If you or someone you know had electrolysis in the past, it may well have been on equipment like this.
Longer bursts of energy meant more time for heat to spread into the surrounding skin. That is a big part of why many people remember electrolysis as uncomfortable, and why some still hesitate to try it today.
Electrolysis Then vs. Now
Electrolysis still uses a fine probe and a small amount of energy at the base of each follicle. Over the decades, the speed and precision of that energy have improved dramatically.
| Factor | Older Electrolysis Machines | Apilus xCell Pur |
|---|---|---|
| Time per hair | Several seconds to several minutes | Pulses can be as short as a fraction of a second |
| Radio frequency | Lower frequencies, or direct current only | High 27.12 MHz frequency |
| Settings | Adjusted by hand, based on experience | Suggested by the device based on the area, hair size, and probe |
| Techniques | Often a single method | A range of thermolysis and blend techniques |
| Heat spread | Longer bursts, more heat in surrounding skin | Shorter, focused pulses with less heat spread |
| Comfort | Often remembered as uncomfortable | Designed around client comfort |
Faster Pulses and a Higher Frequency
The biggest change you'll feel comes from how quickly energy is delivered. Apilus devices are known for their 27.12 MHz radio frequency, which is double the 13.56 MHz used by many earlier thermolysis machines, including Apilus's own previous generation.
A higher frequency allows energy to be concentrated at the base of the follicle and delivered in very short pulses. Some thermolysis techniques work in hundredths or even thousandths of a second. With less time for heat to travel, less of it reaches the surrounding skin.
Dectro, the company behind Apilus, reports that the xCell is 35% more powerful than its Apilus Junior 3G. More power delivered in a shorter, more focused pulse is a large part of why today's treatments feel so different from the ones people remember.
Smarter Settings for Every Hair
On older machines, the electrologist set the intensity and timing by hand and adjusted as they went. Results and comfort depended heavily on trial and error.
The Apilus xCell Pur takes much of that guesswork out of the process. Your electrologist enters details such as the treatment area, the size of the hair, and the probe being used, and the device suggests appropriate settings. From there, the electrologist fine-tunes for your skin and comfort level.
For you, that means each hair receives an amount of energy matched to it. A fine upper lip hair and a coarse chin hair are treated very differently, which helps keep treatment both effective and comfortable.
Finer Probes and Modern Hygiene
Probes have improved alongside the machines. Modern electrolysis probes are extremely fine, typically just a few thousandths of an inch wide, and are made in a range of sizes so each one can match the hair being treated.
Today's standard is a presterilized, single-use probe that is opened for your appointment and discarded afterward. Combined with a smooth, precise insertion into the natural opening of the follicle, this helps treatment feel cleaner, gentler, and more consistent from one session to the next.
A Different Class of Equipment
Electrolysis machines vary widely in what they can do. Many entry-level devices offer one or two basic techniques and leave most of the work to the operator.
The Apilus xCell Pur sits in a different class. It represents several times the investment of a standard electrolysis machine, and that investment shows up in its speed, its range of techniques, and the precision of its settings.
Choosing a studio that invests in this level of equipment says a lot about its priorities. At Laser Affair, we chose the Apilus xCell Pur because our clients' comfort and results come first.
Who Should Give Electrolysis a Second Look
If an old story or a past appointment has kept you away from electrolysis, today's technology may change your mind. It is especially helpful for a few groups.
- People who tried electrolysis years ago. Faster pulses and smarter settings make for a very different experience than older machines.
- Anyone with white, gray, or light hair. Laser struggles with hair that lacks pigment, and electrolysis treats it directly. Learn more about electrolysis for white, gray, and light hair.
- People managing PCOS-related hair growth. Coarse facial hairs respond well to electrolysis. Read more about electrolysis for PCOS.
- Laser clients with leftover hairs. Electrolysis can finish what laser leaves behind, including fine or light hairs.
For a full walkthrough of how treatment works, what sessions are like, and how to care for your skin afterward, read our guide to electrolysis with the Apilus xCell Pur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is modern electrolysis less painful than it used to be?
For most clients, yes. Shorter, more focused pulses of energy give heat less time to spread into the surrounding skin. Many clients describe the sensation as a quick flash of warmth, though comfort varies by person and treatment area.
Does the Apilus xCell Pur work faster than older machines?
Yes. Older galvanic treatments could take 15 seconds to several minutes per hair. Modern thermolysis techniques on the Apilus xCell Pur deliver energy in a fraction of a second, which can make appointments shorter and more efficient.
Are the results still permanent?
Yes. Electrolysis is recognized by the FDA as a permanent hair removal method. The technology has become faster and more comfortable, and the goal of permanently treating each follicle remains the same.
I had a bad experience with electrolysis years ago. Should I try again?
Many people with past experiences are pleasantly surprised by today's technology. A consultation is a good way to talk through your concerns and see whether electrolysis is right for you now.
What makes the Apilus xCell Pur different from other electrolysis machines?
It combines a high 27.12 MHz radio frequency, a range of thermolysis and blend techniques, and settings matched to the treatment area, hair size, and probe. It is a professional-grade device in a different class from many standard machines.
Experience Modern Electrolysis in Tampa
If the old stories have held you back, we'd love to show you how far electrolysis has come. Your free consultation is a relaxed conversation about your hair, your goals, and any concerns from past experiences.
You can also learn more about our electrolysis services in Tampa.
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