Laser Hair Removal Versus Electrolysis

What are the key differences between laser hair removal versus electrolysis and which is best for long term, permanent hair removal?

While electrolysis offers permanent hair removal often with repeated treatments, laser hair removal can at best offer permanent hair reduction, also with repeated treatments. This is a key distinction between the two options.

But the processes are very different as are the target markets and the other benefits offered differ as well. They take a look at both options in more detail.

Laser Hair Removal Versus Electrolysis

	Laser	Electrolysis
Ideal Patient	People with light skin and dark hair. Some newer lasers can better serve people with dark skin and light hair.	Success is not dependent on skin or hair color.
Ultimate result	Permanent hair reduction	Permanent hair removal
Cost per session	$287 on average	$30-$200
Hair clearance	Large areas ie. back, shoulders, chest, legs, arms, etc.	Smaller areas ie. lip, chin, face, eyebrows
Pain	Less pain (generally)	More pain (generally)
Types	4 lasers: Ruby, Diode, Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser with multiple brands and manufacturers	3 types: Galvanic (chemically dissolves hair), Thermolysis (using localized heat), and Blend Method (utilizes both methods)
Sessions Required	6-8 sessions needed for decent hair reduction (generally speaking)	8-12 sessions needed for permanent hair removal (generally speaking)

Laser Hair Removal Process

Laser hair removal involves placing the handheld laser device directly against the hair to be treated and pressing a button to flash the laser light onto the skin. The laser light travels down the hair shaft to the bottom of the follicle and targets the root of the hair. It attempts to damage the hair follicle to kill the hair and hopefully prevent its ability to regrow hair.

Depending on the size of the handheld laser head, a significant amount of hair might be treated with each pulse, moreso than electrolysis which treats hairs one by one as we’ll see below.

If you look closely at the graphic above you’ll see that the laser flash can hit numerous hairs at once depending on how large the machine head is. You’ll also see that the light flash is especially strong at the source and gets weaker of course as it travels into the skin, down the hair follicle. So it’s important to shave hair before treatment so that the light doesn’t have as far to travel.

Finally, you can see that the light flash typically terminates at the bottom of the hair follicle. The laser light targets the bottom of the hair follicle at the root of the hair.

Electrolysis Hair Removal Process

The electrolysis hair removal process involves using a needle to penetrate each hair follicle and shocking it with an electric current. The hair is then manually removed with tweezers. The next hair is then treated and so on.

Since hair is treated on a strand by strand basis, it’s a time-consuming process and one that tends to be best suited for small areas of hair removal ie. chin, lip, face, eyebrows, bikini line, underarms.

From the graphic above, you’ll see the the electrolysis needle is inserted into the skin, down the hair follicle to the bottom. The pulse of electricity hits the follicle to kill the hair and the follicle’s ability to regrow. The hair is then removed with tweezers and the process is repeated on the next hair.

While repeated sessions are often necessary, electrolysis can offer permanent hair removal which no other hair removal option is currently approved by the FDA to do so.

Conclusion

• Laser hair removal versus electrolysis, what is better? Both offer benefits but it’s largely down to how much unwanted hair you have to remove that determines your best choice.
• Electrolysis offers permanent hair removal possibly with several or more treatments.
• Laser hair removal offers permanent hair reduction possibly with several or more treatments.
• Electrolysis treats each hair one by one so it’s very time-consuming and is generally suitable for small body parts.
• Laser hair removal is capable of treating more hairs at one time and is a faster machine to operate.
• Both processes cause pain but it’s generally regarded that electrolysis hurts more. Mind you electrolysis also tends to be done on sensitive areas like lip, chin, bikini, underarms, etc so it’s possible the areas being treated has something to do with that.