Final answer:
The electrolysis method that uses direct current for the chemical decomposition of the hair follicle is called an electrolytic cell, which leads to permanent hair removal by destroying the follicle's ability to grow hair.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electrolysis in Hair Removal
The method of electrolysis that uses direct current to chemically decompose the hair follicle is known as an electrolytic cell. In aesthetic treatments, a fine probe is inserted into the hair follicle and direct current is applied, causing a local chemical reaction that destroys the follicle’s ability to grow hair. This process utilizes electrical energy to instigate a nonspontaneous chemical reaction, which is the fundamental principle of electrolysis used in various industrial and commercial applications such as electrometallurgy, production of chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and the generation of oxygen for spacecraft.
Unlike chemical depilatories that dissolve hair above the skin – involving agents like calcium thioglycolate to break down keratin – electrolysis provides a more permanent solution by targeting the hair growth mechanism itself.