I'm sorry to post this without reading much more on this DIY elec as I should have. I've read a fair amount before this and even used to dabble with one about 10-15 years ago..

But I just received 2 one-touch devices via ebay and read the instructions and did the first five insertions as stated. Yes, I do have an alcohol swab nearby when doing anything that may pierce the skin such as this.

The 5 insertions seemed to go fine considering the minimal, jerry-rigged equipment I'm using for light at this point in time(a little flashlight ;-).
4 out of the 5 hairs pulled out with no resistance at all and I saw the sodium hydroxide bubble out of most of them(forgot the other name). I'm thinking not bad for a first try..

But I now have about 5 welt-like bumps where I did the insertions. They were quite huge at first, but now after about 5 minutes have gone down somewhat. They are still pretty damn big though..

Is this normal?


(Don't worry, I promise to do much, MUCH more reading about this now that I got it. )

From one DIYer to another, and sounds like you are doing it right. They usually go down in about an hour or so. It is not unusual.

Do they bumps look like mosquito bites? I am using galvanic (just like the one touch uses) and I get raised bumps that look like bug bites; some parts of the body seem more prone to them, like the arms and ankle area. The first few zaps in one ares seem to cause them more often as well.

Make sure you do proper aftercare and keep an eye on the healing for a few days.

Yes, that is exactly what they looked like - mosquito bites! When I woke up the next day, they were gone - but they did last for over 4-6 hours or so. But the next day, I could barely even see where I had done them. Glad to know that it was normal, because I was kinda panicking when I saw them.

As for after care, I'm just using an alcohol swab.. Should I be using something else?
I haven't seen any scabs yet, as some people have mentioned. I figure I much rather under-treat a hair than to cause a scab and possible scar, even though I'm practicing in a non-visible area. I've read that a scab is likely a sign of over-treatment - is that correct?

Thanks.

Same here, the bumps just last a few hours For aftercare I use witch hazel, tea tree oil is also recommended if you can find it.

As far as scabing, I asked my pro electrologist about it, and she said the tiny scabs are normal on the body (she actually checked my work, she is such a sweetheart!)

The Bono book (pg 150) has pictures of acceptable and non-acceptable scabs; they were body-technic blend but I don't know if the same size scabs produced by other modalities are ok and won't result in scarring? I assume that is true but would love some feedback from the pros here. They are little dots about the size of the opening of the follicle, smaller than a pencil tip and do not connect.

The scabs on my hands and arms healed in less than 4 days and went away completely. I have some on my legs that are over a week old and have not cleared up completely yet, I think the legs heal slower the same as a cut would.

Does witch hazel smell in any way? Also, what is its purpose? The same questions apply for tea tree oil as well.. But if tea tree oil would work, what about some spent green-tea leaves?? Because I have PLENTY of those to go around right now! I've been turning into a green-tea addict lately - just had a new shipment come in. hmmm.. Matcha Gen-Mai Cha Kamakura - soooo YUMMY!

I'm now also wondering if no scabs means no treatment.. Or am I just that good! haha..

You might be that good

Witch hazel has a mild smell, it is actually an interesting smell. It has a woodsy/mesquite kind of smell, I like the smell personally. It doesn't persist.

I recently found 2 bottles of sunburn relief products - I got another while the other was lost, sort of thing.. It's called "Ocean Potion: Instant burn relief ICE" It's blue colored with bubbles in it.

It was very cheap, but it says it has aloe vera, lidocaine, AND tea tree extract! So that should work well for after care, I presume.

BTW - I did start to notice what COULD be considered scabs a couple days later or so - don't know though since I have no idea what they might look like. Also, after doing another 50 or so, I have noticed similar 'red dots' after doing them - with a possible kill ratio of 50-70%.

Can a 'One Touch' user tell me what the electronic beep/buzz means from this unit?

Not having had any success so far, did you use a magnifier at all to aid insertion?

I would guess the beep means the circuit has been completed, when the probe is inserted into the follicle and the electricity starts flowing. Or, it might mean a certain amount of time has passed since the circuit has been completed and the juice has been flowing. My pro unit can beep when the circuit is completed, or after a predetermined treatment time, or other things depending on the unit such as testing the needleholder.

A magnifier will make it much easier. Ironically, a good magnifying system will cost much more than the One Touch unit itself. Check eBay for some magnifying circle lamps, I got one for $60 and it works great.

I think I read in these forums about some 'deluxe' One-Touch models having a buzzer or beeping once the probe touches the end of the follicle. However, I also read that it isn't always the end of the follicle where it will beep - it will just start beeping/buzzing whenever electrical contact is made, regardless of the proper insertion point.
Fortunately, I don't have one of these models that makes a bunch of noise! An LED,I wouldn't mind - noise would be bad, though.

I have a magnifying light somewhere that I bought for about $50 or so quite a while ago - for soldering and dealing with tiny electronics - but can't find it now that I want it again. Go figure! It kind of looks like a computer desk lamp but has a magnifier in the middle. DAMN - I wish I could find that thing!

Until I find that thing, I decided to go to Walmart and get a pair of 2-diopter reading glasses for about $8.. It definitely does help! I should say it helps with seeing the hairs - not with how to know when a proper insertion has been made..

I noticed once I got the hang of lining the needle up with the pathfinder and initially inserting the needle into the follicle, I begun to be able to tell if an insertion is correct or not by the feel. If I made a completely bad insertion, I feel a prick sensation. But more than that I can feel if it is close but the the tip of the needle beginning to scrape the inside of the follicle and I then know to stop, back up a bit and try again.

I still haven't figure out what to make of the sudden "push-thru" sensation though.

One thing that concerned me about using this technique is that if I decide to go pro and someday work on others, I will have become overdependent on this technique, or develop other bad habits.

the push through sensation is probably the breaking through of the follicle wall.