My experience with High Frequency facials

In case you didn't know, I am currently studying the diploma of Beauty Therapy at the amazing Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy Collage in Melbourne, Australia. We get to learn so many things and we also get to receive amazing treatments as well. Today I will be sharing my experience with both direct and indirect High frequency facial treatments.

What is Direct High Frequency?
Direct High frequency is an advanced facial treatment which benefits most skin types, and helps clear up skin conditions such as acne and hormonal breakouts. This treatment is not so popular, and is quite hard to find a salon which performs this treatment as it isn't highly requested like microdermabrasion.

How does Direct High frequency work?
When performing a Direct High Frequency facial you use a glass mushroom electrode filled with either neon or argon gas. As the High frequency current is passed down the electrode an oxygen pocket is created between the electrode and the skin causing the oxygen to become unstable and turn into ozone. This direct current helps dry out spots and has an antibacterial effect, so is good for oilier skins or those with a few specific acne blemishes.

Direct High Frequency Mushroom electrode

 

What are the effects of Direct High Frequency?
Direct High Frequency is really good for people with oily and combination skins and people who have pimples and blemishes. It has a drying and germicidal effect so it helps calm down acne faster and prevents it from spreading over the face.

Procedure of Direct High Frequency:
When performing a Direct high frequency facial, both the client and the therapist must have removed all jewelery and metal on themselves. A moisturizing or massage cream is applied thickly and evenly all over the face and chin and then a gauze face mask is placed smoothly over the face. The face mask must be flat against the skin otherwise it may cause the electrode to spark the skin. The electrode is then turned on, and is moved in slow circular motions around your face covering the whole surface of the skin. If you have oily skin your treatment will go for 8-10 minutes, and if you have dry skin your treatment will go for 4-5 minutes. For sparking, which is where a pen like electrode is used to quickly and painlessly zap any pimples, the therapist will turn on the electrode and tap the spot 4-6 times.
 

How much does it cost?
A direct High Frequency facial can range from $90 to $150 per treatment, and it is recommended that anyone who is treating a problem such as acne or oily skin to receive this treatment once a week for 10 sessions. It is recommended for everyone else to receive this facial treatment once every two weeks for 10 sessions.

What are the side effects?
One of the main side effects are sparking- getting a slight shock similar to one when you touch a car door or something metal. Another side effect to this treatment is only felt by those people who have fillings, as a metal taste is produced in your mouth when the electrode is on your skin. It is bearable but not very nice.
 

 My experience:
 I am not really fond of facials, nor do I like electricity because it freaks me out. When I first found out we had to do and receive High Frequency facials I was really hesitant as I get really nervous around electricity. I didn't enjoy this treatment as much when compared to the Indirect high frequency treatment as it had a weird smell when the ozone was produced, and made my mouth taste like metal. Although I didn't like the experience, I did like the after effects. The treatment cleared up my little pimples, and made my skin feel smooth. I would recommend this treatment to anyone who is having skin problems such as excessive oiliness or pimples and acne and it will benefit your skin the most.

What is Indirect High Frequency?

Indirect High frequency which is more commonly known as Viennese massage, is an advanced facial treatment where the client controls the treatment by holding onto the button and electrode while the therapist performs a massage, creating a circuit of high frequency between the machine, client and therapist.
 

How does Indirect High Frequency work? 
By creating a circuit between the machine, client and therapist, the Indirect High frequency will travel throughout the circuit and perform have its main effects when the current is drawn to the therapists hands while performing the stimulating massage.

What are the effects of Indirect High Frequency?
When receiving a Indirect High frequency facial you will feel warmth from your therapist hands while they massage your face. You may also experience a tingling or pins and needles feeling when they are massaging you. The treatment its self helps increase blood circulation, increases your sebaceous glands which produce sebum/oil on your skin, it will improve your skin texture and soothe your nerve endings.

Procedure of Indirect High Frequency:
 When receiving a Indirect High frequency facial treatment, you as the client are always in control of the treatment by being given a button attached to the electrode which you hold onto throughout the treatment. The therapist will apply a massage cream or oil to you face and decolletage and begin to massage the area. They will then ask you to press and hold down the button whilst they perform the massage treatment. If you have oily skin your treatment will go for 5-6 minutes and if you have dry skin your treatment will last for 8-10 minutes.
 

How much does it cost?
A Indirect High frequency facial will cost anything between $90 to $150 per session and it is recommended to recieve this treatment once every two weeks for 10 sessions.
 

What are the side effects?
There are no known side effects that harm you in any way, the only thing would be that if the therapist or client breaks the circuit before turning the machine off both people may experience a sparking feeling.

My experience:
I wasn't as nervous about this treatment as I could control the electricity going into my body. The massage its self was nice, and I did like the warmth feeling in the therapist hands which was created by the high frequency circuit. I don't feel like i got as many benefits from his facial treatment, but it was more relaxing compared to Direct High frequency.

** all photos in this post are not mine, and were sourced from Google.