Secrets of Your

Skin & Hairsweat glandmusclesubdermis

dermisepidermis

hairbyMichael Bonowww.bonoelectrolysis.com

1

2

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

Preface ...

I’ve been in the business of hair removal (electrolysis) since1975 and have seen countless fraudulent hair removal products come and go — many are still being used. Some of these
are inexpensive little gadgets that don’t work. Other methods
involve elaborate devices that promise permanent hair removal; yet don’t deliver either. Estimates say that people spend
several billion dollars each year on hair removal — usuallywasted on worthless procedures.
I have known too many ripped-off consumers thathave spent hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on methodsof hair removal that didn’t work! I have met numerous consumers that tried legitimate permanent hair removal methods
and, because of the operator’s substandard technique, eventhat didn’t work.
This booklet is intended to give you some idea of the“secrets of the skin” so that you can ask important questions
when you decide on a hair removal technique. Use this booklet as a simple “guide” on the subject. Before you commit yourself to a technique or device, search the internet. Techniques
and new devices are being introduced all the time.
The internet is your best source of information. Check
the websites of national associations and the websites dedicated to providing consumer information and advice. A simple“google search” will bring up hundreds of sources. However,be diligent, not all of these websites are designed for information. Many are designed to lure you into buying worthless
products or questionable therapies! Be an informed and inquisitive consumer!

You may contact Michael at:
website: www.bonoelectrolysis.com
email: mikebono@cox.net
phone: (805) 962-5431

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

3

4

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

Your Skin

The skin is one of the largest organs of the human body.
The skin protects us from the outside environment and carriesout biological functions essential for life. Although the skinhas an amazing healing ability, it is vulnerable to outside agents
such as heat, cold, light and chemicals. Before trying hair removal procedures that use such agents, you must consider thatproblems can result.
Don’t blindly trust authorities. Certainly, science has
provided us with many beneficial advancements. However,many procedures and medications once thought to be beneficial were later proven harmful. Remember the case of thalidomide (1957-1961), a “morning sickness” pill that caused morethan 8,000 horribly deformed babies. Between 1940 and 1975,
doctors prescribed the drug DES to millions of women to stop
miscarriage. The drug was ineffective and, by 1972, shown tocause breast cancer. The drug later caused vaginal cancer inmany of these women’s female children. Consider the controversy and litigation regarding silicone breast implants — it may
take decades to resolve this disturbing health issue.
Each year, hospitals infect more than 2,000,000 Americans with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. More Americans diefrom infections contracted while in the hospital than die fromtraffic accidents. As late as the 1940s, doctors recommended
cigarettes to patients to “calm the nerves” and “stimulate digestion.” Times have certainly changed that view! In the 1950s,
doctors used X-ray to treat acne. For some patients, these treatments resulted in thyroid cancer. In 1997, the diet drug “fenphen” was shown to damage the heart and was removed fromthe market. After years of trusted use, the laxative “Ex-Lax”
was temporarily recalled (1997) because one of its ingredientswas shown to cause colon cancer. And yes, until 1957, hair removal “experts” and doctors used X-ray for permanent hairremoval. Years later, those women who had X-ray treatments
developed assorted cancers. Sadly, it often takes years to showthat a drug or procedure is unsafe. By then, numerous unsuspecting people have been injured.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

5The Human Cell
Our lives depend on countless individual cells performing complex operations at the molecular level. Altering
the functions of even one cell can bring about disease. For example, those performing X-ray hair removal gave little thought
about affecting the blood. Yet, X-ray caused genetic damage towhite blood cells and caused leukemia in many patients.
An adult human is composed of about 60 trillion cells.
Several thousand cells, such as those found in the skin, could
easily fit inside this “o.” More has been discovered about human cells since 1980 than in the preceding 350 years. Cells are
far more complex and dynamic than earlier believed. For example, research shows that almost any human cell, if separated and put in a nutrient bath, takes on an independent life.
The orphan cell moves around like a one-cell animal and displays a will of its own. If provided a healthy environment, somecells never die. Scientists say that cells have “eyes” (centrioles)
and “brains” (centrosomes) that achieve a kind of consciousness. The cell moves, eats, breathes, “thinks,” metabolizes andreproduces — the cell is life itself!
So many new structures have been discovered inside
the human cell that the term “protoplasm” is now obsolete.1
Biologists found that cells are packed with countless structures,
each with a specific task. Cells are filled with endless “highways” that move molecules around by specialized “motor molecules.” Cell membranes have complex receptor sites that allow
only certain substances in and out. And of course, each cell inyour body carries your complete genetic code in its DNA. In asense, every individual cell in your body is a miniature modelof you. Yet despite all these discoveries, or perhaps because ofthem, much of what happens at the cellular and molecular levelof the body still remains a mystery.
Because the biology of cells is extremely complex, hairremoval procedures must use proven technology and do minimal damage. The system should be like a “smart bomb” thattargets the hair follicles only and has little effect on surrounding cells. Consumers must demand guaranteed safe hair removal methods that can never result in skin damage.

1) Protoplasm: transparent “jellylike” substance that fills a cell. Earlier, researchers wereunable to see all structures in the cell. The cell was said to be filled with “protoplasm.”

6

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

The Human Skin
The skin is not just a pretty covering for the body, but
is made up of billions of highly specialized cells that are critically important to our health. The following is a brief description of the cells, structures and functions that form our skin.
As an outer covering, the skin prevents the body fromlosing vital fluids. We would dry out and die in minutes without the skin. The skin barrier protects us from chemicals, microorganisms and impacts to the body — and it contains cells
that make up our immune system.
Yet, the skin is not impenetrable. Certain natural andsynthetic chemicals, such as solvents, are absorbed by the skinand enter the bloodstream. Some pharmaceuticals take advantage of this permeability to deliver drugs to the body throughthe skin. For example, stick-on patches can administer medications for seasickness and smoking control.
Nerves in the skin give us our only “touchable” contact with the outside world — every sensation from pleasure
to pain. Human skin is more sensitive than the skin of any
other animal (contains more nerve endings per square inch).
Skin is also the main object of sexual attraction, which probably explains our obsession with keeping it beautiful and hairless. The skin’s keen sensitivity plays a crucial role during sex.
Absorbing sunlight, the skin produces Vitamin D
which is essential for human life. Likewise, only a few minutes of light per day initiate complex biochemical reactions inthe skin that stimulate and regulate the endocrine (glandular)system. For example, sunlight helps regulate blood pressure
and sex hormone production in both men and women. If awoman is deprived of sunlight for a long time, her hormone
levels can become so low that she is less able to get pregnant.
The skin has three main subdivisions: the epidermis(upper skin), the dermis (the “true skin”) and the subdermis(underlying skin). Although the skin functions as a unified
whole, let’s explore each layer separately.
Epidermis: Only about the thickness of a sheet of paper, the epidermis is the top layer of the skin.2 Cells of the epidermis are packed tightly together and resemble kernels of cornon the cob. Glued together like a brick wall, epidermal cells
prevent all but the smallest molecules from penetrating into
the skin. The epidermis contains no blood or blood vessels,
2) The epidermis is much thicker on the soles of the feet and palms of the hand. The
epidermis and entire skin are thicker on the back of the body than on the front.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

7EPIDERMIS

but is nourished by blood vessels (capillaries) of the underlying dermis. Countless nerve endings extend upward into theepidermis, helping to make our skin extremely sensitive.

horny
layer
hardeninglayersDERMIS

basal
layer
capillaries

The epidermis is made up of several layers. The verybottom layer — called the basal layer — is only one cell thickand is the key growth layer. The basal layer is also called thegerminative layer, because it “grows” the epidermis. The individual basal cells are sometimes called germ cells. The basal
cells divide and move upward, forming various layers as they
become increasingly harder and drier. Eventually, they form
the stratum corneum layer or outer “horny layer.” This outerlayer of dead cells is only one-thousandth of a millimeter thick.
Along with the entire epidermis, the horny layer is our“thin line of life” against chemicals and microorganisms. Without this layer, we would be invaded by viruses and bacteria.
Most burn patients that die actually succumb to bacterial infections due to the loss of this ultrathin skin barrier.
Every day, billions of dead cells are sloughed off (shed)from the horny layer, but are eventually replaced by the basal
layer in a virtual frenzy of cellular growth. (We shed so manyskin cells daily that as much as 50 percent of the dust in an
average home is made up of dead skin.)
Sandwiched between the epidermis and dermis are cells called melanocytes [Greek: melas, black + kytos, cell].
Melanocytes resemble black spiders. The
cell bodies hang just below the epidermis.
MELANOCYTE
The dendrites (legs) extend upward andsurround and encompass the cells of the epidermis. The ratio
is about 1 melanocyte to 15 - 35 basal cells.

8

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

This photograph shows the spider-like melanocytes
as they appear from the underside of the epidermis.

EPIDERMIS

When stimulated by sunlight, melanocytes produce
pigment called melanin.3 The pigment is pushed out the endsof the dendrites. The basal cells, and other epidermal cells, then“take up” the pigment into their own cell bodies. Once inside
the epidermal cells, the melanin is positioned just above thenuclei — like tiny parasols. In this way, the pigment protects
the cells’ genetic material from excessive sunlight. This resulting darkening of the skin is, of course, a suntan.

nin
a
l
e
e
m
rit
d
n
de
m

basal cells
capillarytecyonMelanocytes produce pigment called melaninela
to protect cells of the epidermis from sunlight.

Dermis: Sometimes called the “true skin,” the dermis
underlies the epidermis and is much thicker: about threeeighths of an inch thick. Unlike the epidermis that consists entirely of cells, the dermis contains fewer cells and is mainly
tough connective tissue. Indeed, leather is tanned animal dermis with the epidermis and subdermis (fat) layers removed.
3) Human skin color depends on the type and amount of melanin (pigment) produced.
Dark-skinned people produce eumelanin (black-brown pigment); fair-skinned people makepheomelanin (yellow-red).

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

9The dermis has a vast network of blood vessels. Fromthese vessels, capillaries loop upward and nourish the epidermis. These tiny capillaries are housed in nipple-like structures
called papillae (singular: papilla). Blood in the dermis also regulates body temperature. In a hot environment, blood rushes
into the dermis; sweat forms and evaporates. This evaporation cools the skin and blood, and lowers body temperature.
In a cold environment, the blood moves out of the dermis andinto the internal organs to protect them from the cold.

dermisepidermis

papillapapillacapillaryDermis and epidermis: Notice the different layers of the epidermis. See the blood vessels of the dermis that nourish the epidermis. (Photo courtesy of William Montagna, Ph.D.)

Collagen is the main connective tissue of the dermis.
Made of elongated protein molecules, collagen fibers twist andform long, rope-like structures. In this way, collagen makes
the skin tough yet pliable. So-called elastin fibers are intertwined with the collagen. More like rubber bands, elastin gives
the skin even greater flexibility. Elastin fibers also anchor andhold in place skin structures such as glands, hair follicles andeven the epidermis. The spaces between the collagen and elastin are filled with a gel-like material called ground substance.

Collagen makes the skin
tough. It is made up of large,
stiff, elongated, rod-shaped
protein molecules that overlap each other and form long,spiraling, fibrous strands.

10 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

dermisepidermis

wrinkleElastin fibers: enlargement shows elastin anchoring
the epidermis. (Courtesy of William Montagna, Ph.D.)

There are about 3 million eccrine(sweat) glands in the dermis. Each gland is a
simple coiled tube that forms a corkscrew duct
and a “pore” opening through the epidermis
to the skin’s surface. Each eccrine glandweighs only about 0.000013 grams, but it secretes more than 1,000 times its own weightin sweat daily. No other gland in the bodycomes close to such a heroic accomplishment.
We sweat constantly — at least one liter ofwater per day without visibly sweating.
Sweating (perspiring) regulates bodytemperature by dissipating 580 calories ofbody heat for every gram of sweat evaporated.
Sweating also eliminates toxins (poisons) fromthe body. Sweating is often the final step in
ECCRINEGLAND
the body’s elimination process of harmful substances. Such toxins include: medications, illegal drugs, environmental pollutants, pesticide residues on foods, unhealthychemicals naturally found in foods and the body’s own harmful by-products of metabolism. If you lose the ability to sweat,
you will die because your body must maintain the correct temperature and eliminate toxins.
www.bonoelectrolysis.com

11

“Human odor”-producing apocrine glands are foundconcentrated in the underarm and groin areas, and elsewherein limited numbers (ear canals and scalp). These glands areattached to large hair follicles and release a milky fluid thatmixes with sweat in the hair canals and on the skin’s surface.
Normal bacteria on the skin break down this mixture and create our own personal and distinctive “fragrance.” These odorproducing glands probably
served a purpose millions ofyears ago when we identified
each other by scent. Today, theylargely aid the deodorant manufacturers who produce endless sebaceous
gland
cosmetic products to cover up
our “rightful heritage.”
The dermis has more
apocrinethan 5 million oil glands calledgland
sebaceous [Latin: oily] glands.
hair follicle
Sebaceous glands excrete sebum,
a light oily substance. Most sebaceous glands are attached tothe upper part of hair follicles
APOCRINE GLAND(both large and microscopic
hairs). Except for the palms and bottoms of the feet, these oilglands cover the entire body. Such areas
as the scalp, neck, forehead, shoulders
and anogenital areas have many sebaceous glands.
Scientists do not fully understandthe biological purpose of sebum. However, sebum lubricates the skin and probably helps deter skin dehydration. This
light oil also acts as a chemical agent
against microorganisms (fungi, viruses
and bacteria). Sebum, along with tears,
lubricates the eyes and gives luster to thehair on our heads. Sebum (and apocrine
discharge) is also thought to act as apheromone: a distinct human scent that
SEBACEOUS
communicates sexual maturity. OveracGLAND
tive sebaceous glands produce blackheads and, in severe cases, acne.

12 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

The dermis contains billions of specialized nerve structures that detect heat, cold, touch and pressure. These diverse
nerve impulses interact and give us elaborate sensations. The
skin detects everything from pleasure to pain and gives us our
only “touchable” contact with the outside world. Any loss ofskin sensitivity can be disastrous to your health. For example,
working with lepers in Africa, Dr. Albert Schweitzer discovered that patients did not lose fingers and toes because of thedisease itself. Instead, leprosy destroys the skin’s ability to feel.
Not feeling pain, these patients severely injured their fingers
and toes. Acute infection occurred and finally the appendages
just fell off.

NERVES OF THE SKIN
capillary loupes (papillae)
nerve endings

Ruffini’s end-organ

epidermis

Merkel’s discs

end-bulbof Krause
Meissner’s
corpuscle

dermiscapillary
bed

nerve
endings

musclesubdermis

Pacinian
corpuscle

blood vessels

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

13Fibroblasts are the most numerous
cells in the dermis. These spindle-shaped
cells make and maintain collagen, elastin andground substance. Fibroblasts are highly active in wound healing: they “knit” wounds
together with collagen fibers. Scars are dense
collagen masses that appear whiter because
they have fewer blood vessels than the surrounding skin. Cousins of the fibroblasts, themyofibroblasts attach themselves in thewound and pull the skin together to close FIBROBLAST
the wound gap.
Assembled alongside blood vessels in the dermis, socalled mast cells are virtual chemical storehouses. These large,
egg-shaped cells contain various chemicals housed in roundstructures within the cells. Such chemicals include heparin (ananticoagulant), and histamine and prostaglandin (substances that act on bloodvessels). When the skin is injured, mast
cells break apart and release their chemicals into the skin. This action causes inflammation and starts the entire woundhealing process. Inflammation activatesthe immune system so that any invading
microorganisms are destroyed. Thesechemicals also stimulate the fibroblasts to“mend” the damaged skin, and signal theepidermis to rapidly grow over the wound
MAST CELL
site (a process called epithelization).
Macrophages are found throughout the body, and areplentiful in the dermis. If you’ve seen the movie The Blob, youhave a good idea of how macrophages
operate. Macrophages [Greek: macro,large + phagein, to eat] are truly large
eating cells. Similar to amoebas, macrophages roam around the dermis bystretching their bodies and pullingthemselves along. They change shapeand slither into tiny spaces to seek out
their prey: unwelcome material such asbacteria and defunct cells. Once detected, the macrophage surrounds its
victim and digests it with proteolytic
MACROPHAGE

14 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

(protein dissolving) enzymes locatedwithin its cell body.
Macrophages continuously
devour worn-out collagen and elastin
and feed the discharged remains to the
fibroblasts that reconstruct new collagen and elastin. Macrophages conMacrophageeating bacteria
sume 100 billion defunct red blood cells
every day. They seek out and destroy dysfunctional cells suchas cancer cells, and are our first line of defense against all typesof infections. In wound healing, they “eat” dead tissue, foreign particles and harmful microorganisms. Indeed, macrophages are formidable predators — and our greatest defenders!
Subdermis: The subdermis is a layer of fat that underlies the dermis. The subdermis is also called the subcutaneous layer and the hypodermis. The subdermis has far fewer
blood vessels than the dermis. Consisting of globular cells that
store fat, the subdermis is pale yellow in color and has the consistency of butter.
The subdermis
gives shape and padding
dermisto the body and protects
the underlying muscle
from impacts. It is also a
storehouse of triglycerides (fatty acids) that the
body uses for emergency
subdermis
fuel. You are born with a
set amount of fat cells thatget larger or smaller depending on how many
THE SUBDERMIS
calories you consume andburn. A lumpy subdermis is sometimes called cellulite [French],
an erroneous term for “trapped deposits of fat and toxins.”
Conclusion: The purpose of this chapter was to pointout some of the important structures and functions of yourskin. You must not allow any hair removal method, temporary or permanent, to interfere with or damage these functions.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

15

papilla

16 www.bonoelectrolysis.com
subdermis

bulge

sebaceous
gland

HAIR

dermisarrector pilimuscleepidermis

The Human Hairmelanocytes

Your Hair

Hair. We love it in the “right” places; we hate it in the “wrong”
places. We spend “zillions” of dollars annually to correct ourhair problems. We shave, tweeze, dye, curl, straighten, style,and otherwise torture our hair. Indeed, every culture has its
own myths about “good” and “bad” hair — and has special
ways to make it conform to the accepted standard.
Our obsession with hair is not a modern phenomenon.
Archeologists have found flint razors, shell tweezers and fishbone combs in prehistoric villages, including those of Neanderthals. Native Americans and ancient Hawaiians idolizedhair and thought it possessed a person’s spirit. They braided it
into elaborate adornments worn by kings and queens.
Even today, hair on every part of the body — fromhead to toe — communicates social messages about age,strength, virility, fertility and sexuality. At an almost unconscious level, we understand these signals but seldom analyze
our feelings about hair. Our feelings can be intense, irrationaland cause great psychological distress. A balding person, awoman with a mustache or a man with a hairy back often experiences deep psychological trauma. Yet, for all our emotions
about hair, for all the wealth we spend on hair, most of us know
very little about these curious appendages of the skin.
Hairs develop — about 5 millionof them — during the third to fourth
month of pregnancy and cover the fetus
evenly. Because the fetus’s head is huge
and the body tiny, we end up with morehair concentrated on our head (as the
body grows, hairs get separated). These
fluffy hairs are called lanugo [Latin:
downy] hairs and are shed at the time ofbirth; then quickly replaced. Excessive
lanugo hair, seen after delivery, is not aconcern; it falls out within a few days.
Surprisingly, all of us are born with a predeHUMAN
FETUS
termined amount of hair that we will havefor life. We cannot develop new hair follicles!
www.bonoelectrolysis.com

17

A hair itself is made of hardprotein called keratin — the same substance that makes up fingernails. The
structure that grows a hair is called afollicle. In the fetus, follicles develop
from the epidermis. A tiny knot of basal
cells forms and pushes down into thedermis to form pilosebaceous units
HAIR DEVELOPS[from Latin: pilus, hair + sebaceous, oily].
All hairs on the body grow out of pilosebaceous units. Each so-called “PSU” consists of a hair, follicle and sebaceous
gland. Although PSUs extend into thedermis, and even into the subdermis,
they remain part of the epidermis.
After lanugo hairs fall out,
they are quickly replaced by two typesof hairs: vellus [Latin: fleece] and terminal [Latin: the end]. Vellus hairs are
VELLUS HAIR
colorless, nearly microscopic and covermost of the body, e.g., the “peach fuzz” seen on the face. Vellus
pilosebaceous units extend into the dermis only. Terminal hairs
are longer and pigmented; their follicles often extend well into the subdermis. Terminal hairs grow in suchareas as the legs, beard and underarms.
Except for terminal hairs on
the scalp and eyebrows, children havemostly vellus hairs — but not for long.
Indeed, hairs go through an incredible
lifetime journey of continual metamorphosis. Every hair on the body changes
with each phase of life — and it’s allabout hormones!
Hormones [Greek: hormon, to
set in motion] are natural chemicals
made by certain tissues and endocrine
glands such as the pituitary, thyroid
and adrenal glands. Endocrine glands
are internal-secreting: they release hormones directly into the bloodstream.
Specific “target organs” take up these
TERMINAL HAIR

18 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

chemicals from the blood and react. Generally, the reaction isdelayed and causes long-lasting changes. The reaction can also
be immediate. For example, adrenaline, made by the adrenal
glands, causes a “fight or flight” reaction — our heart rate increases, muscles tense, we sweat and become anxious.
The body produces at least 29 different hormones.
These chemicals regulate body functions such as growth, bloodpressure, blood sugar levels and even emotions. So-called sex
hormones regulate our reproductive systems and give us maleor female attributes. Male sex hormones are called androgens;female sex hormones are called estrogens. The testicles, ovaries and adrenal glands produce these hormones. The skin is
the largest sex hormone target organ in the body. The reaction ofsex hormones in the skin causes astonishing changes in hairs.
Hair is classified into three hormonal types: 1) Asexual
hair is present at birth and is influenced by changes in growth
hormone (HGH) production. Such hairs include scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. 2) Ambisexual hair develops in bothmales and females at puberty and is caused by increased adrenal and androgen hormone production. These hairs populate
the pubic area, underarms, arms, legs and abdomen. 3) Sexual
hair includes facial hair (beards on men) and most body hair(chest and back). Although biologists have established thesethree categories, hormonal influence is complicated and notalways predictable. Hairs are probably influenced by many
hormones. Furthermore, this hormone sensitivity often changes
with each phase of life.
Childbirth reveals the hormone-dependency of hairs.
While in the womb, the baby receives hormones from its
mother. These “in utero” hormones stimulate the pilosebaceousunits and cause luxurious lanugo hair growth and plentiful
excretion of sebum (a thick coating of sebum covers the newborn). Childbirth shuts off mother’s hormones. Because of thisdeprivation, the pilosebaceous units go into “shock” and thelanugo hairs fall out. As we develop, however, our own endocrine system provides hormones to both sustain and transformhair growth.
Androgen hormones are primarily responsible for thegreat physical changes we see in hairs. Androgens are “malehormones,” but women produce them too — although in lesser
amounts. Certain hairs respond dramatically to androgen activity in the skin and go from tiny vellus hairs to gigantic terminal hairs. For example, consider the spectacular genesis ofwww.bonoelectrolysis.com

19

MALE BEARD DEVELOPMENT

the male beard. Even though both men
and women have the same amount of facial vellus hair, men develop beards because of their abundant androgens (suchas testosterone). At ages 12 - 14, puberty
begins and sex hormones dramaticallychange the body. Vellus hairs on the chin,sideburns and upper lip darken and growlonger: they become “intermediate hairs.”
Relentless androgen activity causes facial
hair to progressively advance in size, density and range of pattern. In time, intermediate hairs develop into terminal hairs(they achieve their final growth potential). At last, by ages 30 - 35, the full beard
has developed (see drawing below).
Notice that the beard takes years todevelop and, once established, is confined
to a very distinct boundary. You don’t, forexample, see the beard encroaching onto
the nose or ears. This specificity is not limited to beard hairs. Every follicle on the bodyis like a tiny computer that has been individually programmed to react uniquely and independently to hormones in the skin.
Identically programmed “hair computers” (follicles) populate each region of thebody, and so we have distinct beards,
head hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, leg hair,
underarm hair, pubic hair, chest and backhair — and so on.
Most hairs on the body start out as vellus hairs but
then go through a lifetime of predetermined change. Consider
the changes that the hair on our heads undergoes. At birth it isshort, sparse, light colored and fine in texture. Preadolescent
MALE BEARD DEVELOPMENT

20 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

scalp hair is soft, dense and muted in color. When we go
through puberty the scalp becomes oily, the hairs coarsen andbecome vibrant in color. By middle-age our hair becomes lessdense, more brittle and surrenders its youthful color and luster. With advancing years our hair thins, loses pigment andturns white, and, with men, balding occurs.
Notice that the eyebrows of a young person are shortand vivid. By contrast, old men have long, wiry eyebrows and,commonly, old women have lost most of their eyebrows. Leg
hairs also change with each phase of life. Starting out as finevellus hairs, leg hair quickly becomes luxuriant after puberty
when hormones are plentiful. With age, both men and women
gradually lose leg hair. Notice that old men who had thick leg
hair in youth now have smooth, hairless legs.

Leg hairs, like all human hairs,
go through a lifetime of change.

Clearly then, the primary factors that determine yourlifetime of hair growth are: 1) Heredity — how your skin andfollicles are genetically programmed to react to sex hormones,
and 2) The amount of sex hormones available in the blood.
Let’s take a closer look at these two interactive forces.
Heredity: We inherit nearly all our physical characteristics from our parents; hair growth is no exception. If you’rea woman and the women in your family tend to have upper
lip hair, you will probably develop “the family mustache.” If
you’re a man and most men in your family are bald, you arelikely to inherit “the ancestral pate.”
Not just family traits, but your ethnic heritage also
influences “follicle programming” and the resulting amountand coarseness of hair growth. Europeans are thought to be
the hairiest, followed by Africans and Asians (the least hairy).
A Japanese woman may have excess androgens in her bloodthat cause her to have irregular periods. However, because she
www.bonoelectrolysis.com

21

is Asian, her follicles are relatively insensitive to androgens;so she develops no facial hair. By contrast, a Turkish woman
may have normal androgen levels; however, she grows facial
hair because her “European - Mediterranean follicles” are programmed to react to even low levels of androgens.
All hair follicles are genetically programmed with aunique sensitivity to androgens. Some follicles do not react toandrogens and produce vellus hairs for your entire life. Other
follicles react quickly and produce terminal hairs. For example,
hair follicles in the underarm and pubic areas are extremely
sensitive to hormone stimulation. At puberty, we get our first“shot” of sex hormones, and these areas rapidly develop big
terminal hairs. Once established, underarm and pubic hairschange little, even after years of androgen availability.
Other follicles are “programmed” to react slowly toandrogens and need years of constant hormone stimulation tochange. For example, facial hairs are sensitive to hormones buttake a long time to react. Thus, it takes years for a man’s beard
to develop. Likewise, postmenopausal women who have hormone-sensitive follicles and elevated androgen levels will develop facial hairs gradually over a period of many years.
Androgens also cause male pattern baldness, if the follicles are programmed for such an unfortunate event. The scalp
follicles react slowly and produce progressively smaller hairs.
The hair loss process takes years, but eventually hairs become
so tiny that the area appears bald. Interestingly, only certain
hairs on the head “miniaturize.” Hair follicles at the back of
the head do not respond to androgens. For this reason, surgeons are able to transplant follicles (the entire PSU) from theback of the head to the bald areas. Being “androgen resistant,”
the transplanted follicles and hairs remain for life.
Amount: The interaction between hormones and hair
growth is complicated and well beyond the scope of this book.
For example, both men and women produce hair-stimulating
androgens and antagonist estrogens.1 The skin itself produces
estrogen and androgen from inactive hormones, makes hormones that block androgens and can produce hormones restricted to a small area. The follicles themselves are able tomodify the available hormones. Furthermore, medical science
does not completely understand this follicle/hormone relation1) In women, the ovaries produce the female hormones estrogen, progesterone, andmale androgens in small amounts. In men the testicles produce androgens, primarily
testosterone, and other hormones that act like weak estrogens. The adrenal glands produce androgens in both men and women.

22 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

ship. Regardless of these complexities, the overall amount of
androgen hormones you produce most certainly determines
hair growth. Many factors govern androgen levels.
Overwhelmingly, the ovary, testicle and adrenal glandoutput determines blood hormone levels. At certain ages, theseglands produce more hormone. There is a great increase at
puberty and a reduction with age and menopause (women).
Pregnancy also elevates hormone levels and causes temporary
hair growth on some women. Excess hair produced by elevatedandrogens is called “hirsutism” [Latin: shaggy].
Fat cells can also produce androgen hormones. Overweight people sometimes have excess androgen and hair
growth due to their large and active fat cells. Both physicaland psychological stress stimulate the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. The overactive adrenal glands also release
androgens into the blood. Thus, stress can cause unwanted
hair growth. Many medications cause hair growth
TERMINAL HAIR
by elevating hormone
levels or interfering with
the normal utilization
process. Additionally,
several diseases can elevate hormone levels or
distort hormone balances
and activate hair growth.
Whatever the underlying cause, the hormone-stimulated terminal
hair is the target for permanent hair removal. Indeed,such hairs diminish intime. You will eventuallylose the hair on your legs
and underarms. However, most of us don’t
want to wait until we’re
80 to have hairless skin.
So, let’s take a closer lookat our quarry: the magnificent terminal hair.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

23

The terminal hair is the
Terminal Hair:“big daddy” pilo1 follicle
sebaceous unit —2 sebaceous gland
fully developed
and functioning as
3 arrector pili
an independent
4 bulgeorgan. Biologists
5 bulbdescribe 10 dis6 papilla
tinct parts of the
7 hair shaft
terminal PSU:
8 inner sheath1) The follicle is an
9 outer sheath“indentation” of
10 dermal sheaththe epidermis. Except for minor celldifferences, the epidermis and follicle
are identical — anatomically, the entire
follicle is epidermis!
2) The sebaceous gland produces sebum and expels this light oil out of
the follicle opening.
3) The arrector pili muscle is attachedto the follicle and dermis. Under certain conditions, such as cold, fear or excitement, arrector pilimuscles contract and give you “goose bumps,” and make yourhairs stand up. (The next time you hear Pavarotti or Streisandsing, you can thank your arrector pili muscles.)4) The bulge is a protruding section of the follicle, located where
the arrector pili muscle attaches to the follicle. The bulge contains stem cells that can grow a new PSU.
5) The bulb is part of the hair. It contains cells that produce
and push up protein fibers that form the hair shaft. The bulb
also generates the inner root sheath. The bulb contains melanocytes that “inject” color into the hair shaft.
6) The papilla [Latin: nipple] is a cone-like structure that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues (collagen andelastin). The papilla is part of the dermis and dermal sheath.
The papilla supplies nutrients to cells in the hair bulb.
7) The hair shaft is a column of tough protein fiber called “keratin” that has upward-pointing scales that securely interlock
with the follicle. The hair shaft is just dead fibrous material.

24 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

8) The inner root sheath is classified as part of the follicle andis only two cells thick. The tough fiber-like cells resemble scales
that point downward and firmly interlock with the hair shaft.
The inner root sheath grows with the hair. It acts like a sausage
casing and molds the upward growing hair shaft.
9) The outer root sheath is part of the epidermis and makes up
most of the follicle. Like the epidermis, the outer root sheathcontains no nerves or blood vessels. When you tweeze a hair,
the clear tubelike structure you see is the outer root sheath.
10) The dermal sheath surrounds the entire follicle. The dermal sheath is part of the dermis and contains nerves, bloodvessels and connective tissues (collagen and elastin). The papilla is part of the dermal sheath. Just as blood vessels of thedermis “feed” the epidermis, blood vessels of the dermal sheath“feed” the follicle. The dermal sheath’s connective tissues fasten the follicle to the skin; the abundant nerves make the hairan exquisite sensory organ, like a cat’s whisker.

COMPONENTS OF THE TERMINAL PSUA) Hair shaft and bulb form a joined unit.
B) Inner root sheath surrounds the hair shaft.
C) Outer root sheath (and bulge) make up most of the follicle.
When you tweeze a hair, you pull out the shaft, bulb,
inner root sheath and a large part of the outer root sheath.
The papilla stays in the skin, it cannot be tweezed out.
D) Dermal sheath and papilla are a connected
unit that envelopes the entire follicle.
E) Epidermis, sebaceous gland and arrector pili complete the PSU.
Notice that the outer root sheath and epidermis are the same.

*www.bonoelectrolysis.com

25

OUTER ROOT SHEATH

BULGE

germ cells

BULB

PAPILLAAs you can see, the pilosebaceousunit contains many different parts. Yet, research shows that to cause permanent hairremoval, only three key structures must
be destroyed: the bulge, the outer root
sheath and the section of the PSU containing the bulb and papilla. Some hair removal experts refer to this requirement as
the “3 strikes and you’re out” principle.2
Outer root sheath: The outer root
sheath is part of the epidermis and makes
up most of the follicle. Highly mitotic (celldividing) basal cells line the outer root
sheath and can regenerate a new follicle.
These “germ cells” play a critical role during the hair’s shedding and regrowing
process. The target for any permanent hairremoval method must include the entire
outer root sheath from the sebaceous
gland duct to the level of the papilla.
Bulge: The bulge is part of theouter root sheath and contains stem
cells that spring into action to growa new follicle and hair. Not much was
known about the bulge until 1990,
but researchers now believe this area
is an essential hair growing mechanism.3 The bulge is included as an important target.
Papilla & Bulb: The papilla, or“dermal papilla,” supplies life-giving oxygen and nutrients to cells in the bulb. The
bulb resembles an onion and fits perfectly
around the papilla. The bulb is composedof highly mitotic cells that “grow” the hairshaft and inner root sheath. These two
structures are central to hair growth andmust, therefore, be destroyed to achieve
permanent hair removal.
2) Michael Bono, The Blend Method, p. 17-31 (1994).
3) Robert M. Lavker, “Cell,” June 29, 1990, p. 1329-1337.

26 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

Regeneration and “Shedding Cycle”
Lizards regrow detached tails and salamanders replace
lost legs. Imagine if we could regrow a severed finger. Well,that is exactly what PSUs do. Indeed, observation shows thathairs cannot easily be destroyed by plucking them out. Instead,the PSU regenerates from only a few germ cells remaining in
the torn-out follicle. Except for the liver that regrows torn-out
or diseased sections, only so-called “epithelium” can completely regenerate [Greek: epi, upon + thele, nipple].4
Epithelium is thin, bloodless cellular tissue that forms
the outer protective covering of all our organs and body parts.
A transparent epithelial film even covers our eyes. The skin’s
epidermis is our largest epithelial structure — it covers the entire body. The regenerative power of the epidermis is awesome.
When our skin is injured, the epidermis rapidly grows overthe break in the skin and becomes identical to uninjured epidermis. The pilosebaceous unit is a structure of the epidermis
and is epithelial tissue. Therefore, the PSU — the entire follicle
and hair — can totally regenerate! In theory, an entire PSU could
regenerate from only one viable epithelial (germ) cell.

In wound healing, the epidermis rapidly grows over the wound. The
cell growth is so explosive that the epidermis actually burrows under
the scab. The epidermis completely regenerates — like a lizard’s tail.

4) Epithelium: (Originally defined as the thin skin covering the nipples.) The purely cellular, avascular layer covering all the free surfaces of the body — cutaneous, mucous, andserous — including the glands and other structures derived therefrom.
Epithelial: Relating to or consisting of epithelium.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

27

Follicle regeneration is astounding. However, there isone more surprise — the “shedding cycle.” A hair grows for aperiod of time. Then, it stops growing and falls out. Most of
the follicle withers and becomes dormant. After a brief rest,
the remnants of the follicle resurrect and generate an entirely
new hair and follicle. The shedding cycle is a spectacle that noother body part performs: the PSU dies and is then reborn.
The shedding cycle explains an age-old enigma: except for hair on the scalp, our hairs appear to stay the samelength. Notice that the hairs on your arms and legs never needclipping; they just stay the same length — yet they are growing. Hairs seem static because they are “programmed” to growfor a set time, and then shed. Shedding does not happen all at
once. Instead, we shed and regrow hairs every day; so eacharea of the body appears to have a fixed amount of hair thatstays a certain length. Both vellus and terminal hairs shed.
Biologists do not yet completely understand the PSU’s
so-called “Lazarus effect” — growth, death and rebirth. However, researchers believe the shedding cycle may hold one of
the secrets to curing cancer! When a hair and follicle regrow,cell division is identical to the explosive growth of cancer cells.
Unlike tumors, however, cell growth in the follicle suddenly
ceases. Researchers seek to find the chemical mechanism thatstops the cancer-like growth in follicles. If this chemical were
found, it could be synthesized and injected to kill malignant
tumors. As we shall see, “photodynamic therapy” is alreadytreating certain cancers based on targeting “rapidly dividing
cells” such as those found in the regenerating PSU.
The shedding cycle is divided into 3 growth phases.
The active growth phase is called anagen [Greek: ana, start +gen, growth]. In anagen, the papilla and follicle are fully formed
and functioning. Active melanocytes populate the bulb andgive the hair intense color. Suddenly, cell division slows andthe follicle begins to shrink upward as the PSU enters catagen
phase [Greek: cata, down + gen, growth]. In telogen phase[Greek: telos, end + gen, growth], the follicle shrinks to onethird its original depth. Melanocytes disappear from the bulb
and the hair gets lighter in color. The papilla detaches from thefollicle and “drifts” upward with the shrinking follicle. Hair
production stops and the hair eventually falls out. After a brief
rest, the PSU reenters anagen phase and generates a new hairand follicle. This process continues over and over for your entire lifetime — each hair “doing its thing” independently.

28 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

THE “SHEDDING CYCLE”

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

29

ANAGEN

TELOGEN

papillaThe shedding cycle reveals
the important role of the bulge, theouter root sheath and the section of
the PSU containing the bulb andpapilla. These parts work together
to regenerate the lifeless telogen hairand follicle. Obviously, all of thesestructures must be destroyed toguarantee permanent hair removal.
In anagen, the papilla nourishes the bulb. Experts conclude that
destruction of the bulb and papillawould most likely destroy a hair inanagen. However, the telogen hair’s
sudden return to anagen shows that hair regeneration is notnecessarily dependent on the papilla only. In telogen phase,the papilla is detached from the follicle and has become an
amorphous jumble of connective tissue — it contains no bloodvessels. Likewise, the bulb disappears in telogen phase. Whenthe lifeless telogen PSU ignites with vitality, hair and follicle
regeneration starts in the remnant follicle itself.
The PSU returns to anagen when the papilla releases
chemicals that stimulate cells in the bulge. These “stem cells”
generate a new follicle that migrates toward the papilla. A newhair shaft forms that grows both upward and downward. At
the same time, other basal cells of the outer root sheath — now
called “germ cells” — help to reconstruct the new follicle. These dynamic
agents team up and attach themselvesto the papilla. The PSU, now in anagen phase, pushes downward andcarries the papilla with it. New bloodvessels form in the rejuvenated papilla. A new hair bursts upward andemerges from the follicle opening. Renowned biologist William Montagna,
Ph.D., states the following: “[In theregenerating follicle] these primordial
bulge cells build a new follicle and hair inexactly the same way as the follicle
germ
was built for the first time in the fecellstus.”5
papilla5) W. Montagna: Skin, Your Owner’s Manual, p. 124.

30 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

Anagen:Hair grows longer.
Follicle grows downward.

Anagen:Stem cells and germ cells
create a new follicle and hair.

Telogen:Growth stops.
Hair falls out.

The PSU goes fromtelogen to anagen.

The shedding cycle also explains why some hairs are short andothers long. All hairs on the body grow about the same amount:between 0.15 mm - 0.35 mm per day. The difference is the timethey spend in anagen — the active growth phase. For example,
scalp hairs actively grow for 2 - 6 years before they go into
telogen and shed. By contrast, eyelash hairs only grow for 4 - 8
weeks. Therefore scalp hair grows long and requires cutting,but eyelashes stay short and never need trimming.
There are marked differences in each person’s shedding cycle. One woman grows her scalp hair down to her waist,
but another woman complains that her hair “just won’t grow.”
The difference is that the “lucky” woman with long hair may
have a 4 - 6 year anagen period. The woman with “problem
hair” may only have a 2 - 3 year anagen period. No cosmetic
product will make hair grow longer. “Short hair” is genetic:that’s how the shedding cycle was programmed. Unfortunately,
we spend millions of dollars on cosmetics to make our hair
grow longer. Such expenditures are a complete waste of money.
www.bonoelectrolysis.com

31Still, the originalquestions remain: Why do
we have hair? What is the
purpose of hair? Why do
we “hate” certain hairs and“love” others?
Our hair ’s absolute link to sex hormones
reveals its real purpose.
Hair is sexual. Hair, everywhere on the body, communicates sexual maturity
and vitality. The malebeard, thick vibrant scalp
hair, luxurious underarm
and pubic hair and an unblemished, hairless face andbody (women) are the hallmarks of youth and sexual
vigor. Humans are highly
sexual. We consciously(and unconsciously) seek
to maintain and display
our sexual presence to others of our species, and so
we have an almost fanatical concern about hair.

Nerves surroundall vellus hairs.

Nerves surround all terminal hairs.

Anatomically, the purpose of hairis unmistakable — hairs are sensory organs. Every PSU is enveloped by nerve
endings. A terminal hair has an extensive network of nerves surrounding theentire follicle. There are separate nerves
for the sebaceous gland and arrector pilimuscle. Even tiny vellus hairs haveabundant nerve endings.
If you gently stroke the hairs on
your arm, you will notice the remarkablesensitivity of hairs. The skin is said to be
our “largest sex organ,” because it responds to sex hormones and is highly
erotic. Hairs add to this exquisite sensitivity. Most likely, our embarrassment

32 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

about unwanted hair has something to do with our culturaluneasiness (and fixation) about sexual matters. Few people
discuss unwanted hair with their friends.
Summary: This booklet gave you a brief survey of skinand hair. Indeed, the biology of skin and hair is complicatedand constitutes an entire field of study. The following are themajor points:
1) Human life depends on healthy skin. Skin biology is complex; many factors
are still unknown. Hair communicates sexuality.
2) The skin’s functions must not be altered. Such functions include: touch,temperature regulation, toxin elimination, vitamin and hormone production andprotection of underlying tissues.
3) The epidermis is our “thin line of defense” against microorganisms.
The epidermis must not be altered in an attempt to destroy hairs.
4) Blood flow to the skin is extensive. The entire blood supply passes throughthe skin. Blood contains crucial cells, including cells of the immune system.
5) The dermis contains important immune system cells.
These cells must not be altered in any way.
6) The follicle (outer root sheath) and epidermis are the same tissues.
Hair “germ cells” and epidermis “germ cells” are the same cells.
7) The follicle is not an open tube.
The hair shaft and all components of the follicle are bonded together.
8) Melanocytes (pigment cells) of the hair and epidermis are the same cells.
Melanin (pigment) of the hair and epidermis are the same end product.
9) The hair is a sensory organ. All follicles are surrounded by nerves of thedermal sheath. These are the same nerve structures that underlie the epidermis.
10) Papillae of the epidermis are the same as a papilla of a hair.
Papillae contain nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues.
11) In telogen, the hair and bulb contain no pigment or pigment cells.
12) In telogen, the follicle has retreated to one-third its original depth;
the papilla has “drifted” upward and is not attached to the follicle.
12) Hairs have a shedding cycle and can regenerate from most injuries.
Only a few cells in a damaged follicle can regrow an entire PSU.
13) You must have “3 strikes” to kill a hair. Any permanent hair removal system must destroy the bulge, the outer root sheath and the bulb and papilla.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

33

Notes ...

folliclefolliclesebaceous glandnervesarrector pili muscle

The hair shaft is a columnof tough protein fiber that has scales
pointing upward that fasten to thefollicle. There is no “space” between
the hair and the follicle — they aretightly joined. The bulb, at the baseof the hair, has active cells that produce the hair and inner root sheath.
The inner root sheath is only twocells thick and acts like the skin of asausage to mold the upward growing cells of the hair.
The outer root sheathsurrounds the inner root sheath andis the same tissue as the epidermis.
When you tweeze a hair, you pullout the hair shaft, bulb and a largepart of the follicle: inner and outerroot sheath. The follicle appears likea clear sleeve around the hair.
The dermal sheath encases the hair and sheaths. This fibrous structure is much tougher
than the outer root sheath and contains abundant nerves and bloodvessels—including the hair’s dermal
NERVES
papilla. The dermal sheath and papilla cannot be pulled out.
Finally, the dermis envelThe Human Hair
ops the follicle. The epidermis (upper skin layer) is continuous with theouter root sheath. Except for minor cell differences, the epidermis and outer
sheath are identical. For this reason, the follicle is sometimes called an indentation of the epidermis.
The keratogenous zone is located about one-third up from the bulb.
Here the hair undergoes a complex biochemical process known as keratinization. The product of this process is a hard yet pliable fibrous material called
keratin (such as fingernails). Beneath the keratogenous zone, the hair remains
soft and mushy. Above this zone, the hair becomes substantially harder andfirmer.
Melanocytes are pigment bearing cells found in the bulb that transfer melanin (color) to cells that make up the hair shaft. In catagen and telogen
the bulb becomes a jumbled cluster of cells and melanin production ceases.
Thus, in catagen and telogen, the hair shaft becomes lighter in color. (Whenthe base of a similar-size hair appears lighter than neighboring hairs, you may
assume it is in catagen or telogen.)

34 www.bonoelectrolysis.com

UPPER FOLLICLE

epidermis

Notes ...

LOWER FOLLICLE

follicle

The follicle and epidermis are identical — The follicle is the epidermis!
Essentially, the epidermis grows the outer horny layer and the follicle
grows a hair. The follicle comprises two so-called root sheaths. The inner
sheath shapes the hair shaft; the outer sheath contains active “growthcells.” Outer sheath cells are called germ cells, because they can “germinate” a new hair — even if you rip the hair out. When you tweeze ahair, the clear tubelike structure you see is part of the follicle. However,enough of the germ cells remain in the skin so that a new hair regrows.
As you have probably discovered, you can’t kill a hair by tweezing.

www.bonoelectrolysis.com

35