Blend Epilator Test

1. Blend Epilator Test From “the Blend Method” by Michael Bono Presented by: Vickie Mickey

2. High Frequency Test • Starting point is lowest point of output for face • Select proper needle to fit medium-size hair • Hold the inactive sponged electrode – testing with electrode gives duplicate working conditions. • Set HF dial to 0 • Insert into your follicle and turn on HR – there should be no current at all! • If you do the epilator may be calibrated to high, so be wary of the next step • With current, needle in follicle, slowly advance the HF • When you begin to feel current, turn off HF and try another hair

3. High Frequency Test • For each insertion, use a new follicle that hasn’t been numbered by the HF. • Increase HF until you reach the “feeling point”, mild current in 1-2 seconds • Keep HF on for a count of 20 seconds – hair should epilate easily with no overtreatment • If hair doesn’t release gradually increase HF until it does.

4. HF Test Results • Feel HF in 1-2 seconds • Current is mild not painful • Hair epilates in 20 seconds • No overtreatment • With these results you have found the starting point of face-technique • Write starting point down for future use

5. Test #2 Working Range • With starting point you can now find the entire face-technique working range • By finding the working range, it enables you to find entire face-technique range • Advance HF dial from the starting point to the next smallest mark on HF dial • Insert into a new follicle and turn on HF for 2 seconds – if setting feels about the same as the starting point, or a little stronger, continue applying HF for 12 seconds

6. Test # 2 Working Range • If hair doesn’t epilate in 12 seconds advance the HF and try another hair • Advance HF a small amount for each try until the hair epilates in 12 seconds. • At this 12 second setting you are in the middle-range of face-technique. Note settings. • Now use same procedure above however achieve epilation in 6 seconds. When you achieve epilation in 6 seconds you have your high range setting. Note settings

7. Test #2 Working Range Results • Each epilator is different • Do not expect HF numbers to match any other epilator. • Finding the face technique setting range affords you to know the working range, thus you will know if it is narrow or wide

8. Observations of test 1 & 2 • Did the DC meter react to the HF? • Did the meter move a little or jump when you turned on the HF? • If so the current may not be properly isolated thus interfering with each other. • Interference can disturb the current. • HF can cause inaccurate DC reading • DC can increase or decrease the HF output

9. Fading HF • Was the pain constant or did it fade? • Did hair epilate at greatly varying times or at the same settings? • Fading is symptomatic of an epilator that does not have enough power to maintain a constant HF output. • Endless grief can result from improper settings. • HF that is too strong or the working range is too narrow, the epilator is unusable. • Common problem with HF epilators is the manufacturers just add DC to blend machine without turning down the HF.

10. Test #3 Finding Body Technique • HF is administered in 1 second pulses • Little margin for error, this is tricky • Watch the HF and don’t get burnt • Test a 30-45 unit hair ( side of face, chin or arm hair) • Next test – note face range (3-5 seconds) now double for the body-technique • Check range of HF on meter • Is the setting in the 6-7 range or shadow zone?

11. Test # 3 Cont. • Now turn the dial back ½ half the distance of the Shadow Zone • This step is for safety • Insert need into follicle and turn on HF for one second • If skin blisters and hair releases without effort the current is to high • Reduce current until you can use 1 second of current without over treatment. • It should be in the (6-7) range or the Shadow zone

12. Test # 3 Cont. • Insert needle into follicle, turn on HF for 1 second • You should feel the current almost immediately • If hair release is effortless or skin blanches the current is too high • Reduce current until you can give yourself 1 second of current • You should be in Shadow Zone, skin will not over treat and hair will epilate easily after a 1 second pulse

13. Test #3 Cont. • Gradually increase HF • Again, you may end in the range of 7 • Advance beyond 7 if necessary • Continue until hair releases in 1 second without over treatment • Is you epilator weak? • Some epilators are too strong to work with in this range • Avoid epilators that are too strong

14. Direct Current Tests • Most epilators are capable of producing proper DC • Epilator must produce between 2-15 tenths mA (milliamperes) • Connect the inactive electrode to positive outlet • Needle cord to blend outlet and hold the sponge electrode

15. Direct Current Tests • Faradic effect- burst of DC • Muscles twitch • Establish a reference point of 10 tenths mA • Hold needle-holder to the wet sponge electrode • Turn DC on with footswitch –advance dial until the meter reads 10 tenths MA setting • Turn off DC keeping needle holder on the sponge • The meter should return to the 10tenths mA setting

16. DC Current Tests • Keep needle cord tip on sponge – turn DC on • Observe how fast the meter indicator rises • Does it take ½ - 1 second to reach 10 tenths or does it jump to the setting • Does it shoot beyond the setting, then sink back • Repeat this step several times

17. DC Tests • Keep DC current on, lift needle-holder tip off the sponge electrode • Quickly put it back on the sponge for ½ seconds, then 1 second, then 5 seconds • Observe the meter behavior for jumping or shooting beyond 10 tenths • Should this occur there may be a poorly designed DC circuit • Erratic behavior of the meter may result in shock • Test on yourself to make sure this is not the case.

18. DC Current Test • Note that the meter may be slow or fast in response to the current flow, not actually representing the DC • DC meter may not be connected to the DC circuit • Touching the needle cord tip to the inactive sponge electrode can cause needle to rise faster than it would with patient load

19. DC Current Tests • Faradic shock sensation is caused by sudden flow or stop of DC current • Nearly all modern epilators have a delay function in the DC circuit • Insert needle into follicle • Have assistant turn DC control dial to the point of 3 tenths mA on meter reading • Turn DC off and on with footswitch • Do you feel a shock? • This shock may not feel severe on a upper lip • Next turn your DC intensity to 6 tenths mA and repeat the steps above • Note any shock or electrical surge

20. DC Current Tests • Higher DC setting – greater potential shock • Low setting may only produce a tingle

21. DC Current Tests • Delay function can be controlled only by the footswitch on certain units • Delay function should be used anywhere the DC circuit can be broken • If patient drops sponge (breaks circuit) when they grab it they may get a shock • Likewise, it you accidentally slip the needle out of the follicle without turning off the footswitch the patient may get a shock when you reinsert the needle

22. DC Current Tests • Warning! This next test may result in a nasty shock if the epilator is malfunctioning!!!

23. DC Current DC Tests • Ways to confirm potential shock: • Place sponge electrode under your hand of the arm you are going to treat • Insert into follicle –have assistant quickly set the DC meter to 6 tenths mA • Keep DC on and lift hand completely off sponge to break DC circuit- keep off for 3 seconds • Keep DC current on and place hand back on the sponge electrode • No shock or surge this epilator has the delay function. • If you felt a shock this epilator is not recommended

24. DC Current Tests • Most epilators have a constant current feature • Place needle holder on sponge electrode • Turn on DC (with footswitch) and turn intensity to 10 tenths • Lift needle holder tip off sponge • Keep DC on, place tip directly on bare metal shaft of sponge holder • Observe DC meter, if the meter returns to 10 tenths when you touch the metal shaft, you have a constant current feature • DC increases greatly when the epilator does not have constant current

25. DC Current Tests • HF interference affects DC • With HF only, achieve an epilation time of 10-12 seconds on your arm hair • Have assistant turn DC output to 5 tenths mA • Apply both currents to area in normal blend manner • During the 10-12 seconds epilation period, turn HF current off and on with footswitch • Do for several seconds and observe DC meter • HF interference will cause the DC meter to fluctuate when the HF is turned off and on

26. DC Current Tests • If there is only a slight change or 1-2 tenths mA do not be concerned about the interference • 3-6 tenths mA the epilator is not acceptable

27. DC Current Tests • Body-technique the epilator must attain 15 tenths mA to perform body-technique test • If you cannot tolerate this amount of current do not use this • Plug the cataphoresis roller into the negative outlet • If your epilator does not permit connection to the negative outlet you cannot perform this test • Hold sponge electrode (connected to the positive outlet) in you hand • Connect the cataphoresis roller to the negative outlet • Place roller on your skin, turn DC on, make sure the roller has wet cotton at the point of contact

28. DC Current Tests • Turn DC current to 15 tenths • Don’t be concerned about “prickly” sensation • If epilator attains 15 tenths ms it has passed • The next test must be performed if you did not pass this test. • Some epilators will only test on the next test

29. DC Current Tests • Set HF to body-technique output • Treat your arm hair with one 1-second pulse of HF current, leave needle in follicle, turn on DC with output at zero mA • Turn DC up to 15 tenths mA very quickly • If the epilator achieves 15 tenths mA on your arm it has passed • Unable to achieve this setting, the epilator is not recommended

30. Conclusion • Shocks from an epilator is a no–no! • Too low or too high of HF current output cannot obtain the 15 tenths millamperes • Current interference • All reflect failure in the function of the epilator • Slight design variations will not create major problems • Just be sure the epilator tests well in these areas