I Built My Own Hair Electrolysis Machine

8 hours ago

The author built a DIY galvanic electrolysis machine to permanently remove body hair, motivated by personal preferences and cost savings over professional treatments.
Galvanic electrolysis works by inserting a needle into a hair follicle and applying a DC current to generate lye (sodium hydroxide), which kills the follicle, with the process requiring precise control of current over time measured in Lye Units (LU).
Initial prototypes used a car battery and improvised electrodes, but evolved into a custom-designed, automated device featuring a microcontroller, charge pump for voltage boosting, and current DAC for accuracy, with safety features like current limiting.
The final version includes a 3D-printed electrolysis pen, foot pedal control, automated current ramping, and a user interface with an OLED display and rotary encoder, all powered by a battery.
Hardware iterations addressed issues such as component failures and measurement inaccuracies, leading to a refined design using MOSFETs, dedicated DAC/ADC chips, and improved board layout.
The project is open-source, with the author noting risks and emphasizing it's a DIY endeavor not for general recommendation, but aims to contribute to community knowledge, particularly in transfem circles.

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