Electrolysis: Permanent Hair Removal 2021

Electrolysis is a hair removal option that is FDA approved to offer permanent hair removal.

Electrolysis hair removal was invented over 130 years ago so it’s by far the oldest option available and therefore has a long track record. Since then the process has obviously improved and been refined and is widely commercially available for hair removal.

Electrolysis for men isn’t something discussed these days since newer technologies like laser hair removal and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal are more prevalent and are modern technologies. Both provide efficient, potentially long term hair reduction and can cover much larger areas of hair than electrolysis can.

So does electrolysis still offer hair removal benefits for men?

What Is Electrolysis For Hair Removal?

Electrolysis hair removal is a process originally used to treat ingrown eyelashes but developed into a wider use hair removal procedure for many other body parts. Typically, body parts that are suitable for electrolysis include the lip area, chin, underarms, feet, arms, legs, back and bikini area for women.

A person who is trained to perform the procedure is referred to as an electrologist. I conducted an in depth interview with a Dallas, Texas-based electrologist that discusses electrolysis for men as this is his specialty.

Click here to read that interview in full.

Electrolysis For Hair Removal Process

Electrolysis uses a sterilized needle which is inserted into a single hair follicle at a time. A small electrical current is then delivered to the base of the follicle to destroy the hair growth cells. Tweezers are then used to physically remove the hair by the root from the follicle. The process is then continued on the next hair, and so on, until all unwanted hairs have been treated.

When done properly, the end result is that the hair is unable to regrow resulting in the permanent removal of the unwanted hair without damage to the skin.

Unlike laser and IPL hair removal, electrolysis is suitable for all skin and hair types. Again, an electrical current is used so it is not a laser hair removal process.

If you’re planning on treating a large area with a significant amount of unwanted hair – such as your back or chest – think about how long it will take to treat every single hair.

Given that each hair needs to be treated individually, you can probably imagine that this is one of the biggest considerations when selecting electrolysis over another option.

The more hair to be removed, clearly the more time and money you’re going to have to invest with multiple visits possibly required. Even if electrolysis permanently removes hair the first time it is treated, hair grows in cycles and dormant hair might grow in the near future that then needs to be removed also.

Types Of Electrolysis Hair Removal

Electrologists have three main methods at their disposal and each refers to the type of electrical current being used.

Depending on the practitioner that you choose, they might offer one or more options so its best to get them to explain each option that they offer so you can select the one most appropriate for you.

• Galvanic Electrolysis which is the original method and tends to be used for thick, coarse hair.
• Thermolysis Electrolysis which utilizes a high frequency electrical current and is generally used on fine hair.
• Blend Method Electrolysis which uses a combination of Galvanic and Thermolysis and tends to be used for facial hair removal.

Electrolysis Benefits & Considerations

Electrolysis Hair Removal: Benefits

• Is generally regarded to offer permanent hair removal (when performed properly), something other hair removal options cannot claim.
• Is the oldest hair removal option available so there is a long track record to point to.
• Can be very effective for small areas of hair ie. lip, chin, eyebrows, ears, bikini line, underarms, etc.
• Can be very effective for all skin and hair types unlike laser and IPL.

Electrolysis Hair Removal: Considerations

• Requires a skilled and trained practitioner.
• Time consuming. Each hair is treated individually.
• Side effects that can result from improper operation include infection from an unsterilized needle, hair regrowth, scarring or other skin damage.
• Given that each hair is treated individually, can be expensive.
• May not be time and cost effective for body areas with a significant amount of hair ie. back, chest, legs.
• Can be painful.

Conclusion

Electrolysis is the one hair removal option that can truly claim to offer permanent hair removal. This is the overarching benefit that no other hair removal option can currently claim.

The flipside is that compared to newer non-permanent hair removal choices that can cover larger areas of hair quicker, electrolysis can be a more time-consuming process for areas that have large amounts of unwanted hair.

In other words, the tradeoff is between permanent hair removal or faster treatment times with other non-permanent hair removal options that at best might offer permanent hair reduction or long term hair reduction such as laser and IPL.

As with other hair removal options, success and possible side effects of the hair removal will vary by patient.

If you’d like to learn more about other options for hair removal, do check out my Laser Hair Removal page and my post on IPL Hair Removal for comparisons.

Also be sure to check out Dan Wallace’s Electrolysis For Men website to learn more about the process for guys.