Laser Hair Removal Vs Electrolysis: Which Is Easy And Safer?

Table Of Content

• Electrolysis vs. Laser Hair Removal: Which Treatment Works Best?
• Drawbacks of Electrolysis
• Hairstyles & Haircuts 2024
• Drawbacks of Laser Hair Removal
• Get answers to common questions about permanent hair removal:
• What affects the cost of electrolysis?
• What Is Electrolysis? Dermatologists Explain the Hair Removal Method

As the name suggests, laser hair removal technique uses laser radiations in mild frequency to destroy the hair follicles (1). The process damages them to a level that they either become dormant or grow very slow. If you’re concerned about pain, both procedures can be uncomfortable. Most people experience minor discomfort during laser hair removal, but each session only lasts a few minutes.

Electrolysis vs. Laser Hair Removal: Which Treatment Works Best?

If you’re looking for speedy results, electrolysis isn’t the best opinion. The process involves probing each individual hair follicle to stop unwanted hair in its tracks. Most hair follicles contain several individual hairs, so they won’t all be targeted in the initial session. It is difficult to predict the exact number of sessions of electrolysis needed, as it varies from person to person. A trained and experienced electrologist will determine how many electrolysis sessions you will need for permanent hair removal in a given area. “On average, between 10 and 14 treatments are needed for extensive electrolysis in a particular area,” says Green.

Drawbacks of Electrolysis

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By fostering learning opportunities, the association ensures practitioners maintain the highest levels of expertise and care. Other potential side effects include swelling, redness, and scarring. If your face was treated, you can wear makeup the next day unless your skin is blistered. Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, sun lamps, or any kind of indoor tanning equipment. They'll watch for several minutes to make sure they used the best settings and that you aren't having a bad reaction. If your hair is too long, the procedure will not work as effectively, and your hair and skin will get burned.

Hairstyles & Haircuts 2024

According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, laser hair removal is on the rise, with an increase of nearly 30 percent from 2013. Though electrolysis is also increasing in popularity, it’s not as common as laser therapy. In the case of electrolysis, people may experience slight redness and skin irritation that resolve on their own. Before getting laser hair removal, you should thoroughly check the credentials of the doctor or technician performing the procedure. You can buy tools to remove hair at home, but since this is a medical treatment, it's better to have a professional do it. There aren't any long-term studies on the safety or effectiveness of at-home devices.

Drawbacks of Laser Hair Removal

Treatments are generally performed once or twice a week for as many weeks as are needed for results. Electrolysis, depending on the body area and hair characteristics, will necessitate multiple sessions to achieve the final aesthetic. Like we mentioned, larger treatment areas (like your legs or back) will require numerous machine sessions and, therefore, have higher costs compared to small treatment areas. During the procedure, the pigment in your hair will absorb a  light beam from a laser. The light will be converted to heat and damage that hair follicle. It can be quite expensive, it takes more than a year to complete, it’s often painful, and finding an electrologist can be difficult if you’re not in a big city.

Get answers to common questions about permanent hair removal:

Compared to other hair removal methods, such as hair removal creams, electrolysis offers a lot of perks, including its value for money. Women who opt for electrolysis will likely spend less than those who opt for laser hair removal. Currently, electrolysis hair removal is the only method approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal.

But remember, no hair removal treatment is forever — you’ll still need touch-ups as years go by and your body produces new hair. Additionally, the caliber of results you see from either treatment will depend on the skill of your doctor, the type of machine used, and the intensity of the treatment. Laser hair removal works better on those with dark hair and light skin, but certain devices can successfully be used on darker skin types. Electrolysis works on all hair and skin types, but requires a skilled electrologist and more accuracy during treatment.

What Is the Laser Hair Removal Process?

Typically, patients need eight total sessions over 6-week intervals. Unlike electrolysis, Dr. Husain explains that laser hair removal uses specific wavelengths of light to target the melanin in dark hair follicles in a desired area. "It does not target individual hair follicles like electrolysis does, and it uses light energy instead of electrical currents," he says. And because the laser selectively targets the melanin in the hair, Dr. St. Surin-Lord says it works better on dark brown or black hairs and not grey, red, or blonde hairs. If you are considering electrolysis, take the following into account.

Electrolysis works by sending a current from a metal probe (like a very fine needle) down each individual hair. This works with a combination of the electrical current and a chemical reaction that kills it at its root, thereby stopping any regrowth. Laser hair removal is considered an optional cosmetic procedure, so it isn’t covered by insurance.

Our doctors and medical team will assess your skin and recommend the best procedure to help you achieve the hair removal results you’re looking for. We will cover the differences between these two hair removal procedures, including treatment length, aftercare, results, and cost. However, King added, "if you are a candidate with a low risk of burns, meaning you have hair significantly darker than your skin color, a medi-spa should be a reasonable option."

However, to some, the treatment is painful and takes many sessions to fully eradicate the follicle. Galvanic hair removal uses electrically created chemical reactions to destroy hair follicles. The combo uses both of these techniques for the most efficient, fastest hair removal solution.

Some people experience redness and swelling, but those usually subside within a few hours. Before you can decide which hair removal treatment is the better option, you should know how each process works. When it comes to electrolysis vs. Laser Hair Removal, electrolysis will land you in the dermatologist’s office bi-weekly or every week to achieve optimal results.

She regularly tests and analyzes hair removal treatments, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and hair removal technicians to assess new methods and brands. Because electrolysis only kills about 35 percent of hair follicles per session on average, the costs can vary drastically between treatment areas. So to get an estime for the number of sessions you’ll need—and how long each session will take—you’ll have to consult first with your technician before figuring out your final cost and time commitment. But luckily, most electrologists will let you pay for each session individually, and some even offer payment plans.

"Pregnant women should also consult their doctor before undergoing electrolysis. Individuals prone to keloids or scarring should approach it cautiously." You can #freeyourpits, normalize nipple hair, or not — we will support you either way. There are lots of reasons you might choose to let your body hair grow free, but there are also lots of reasons you might opt to make it go away. "Electrolysis may cause a feeling of heat, but it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable," says Parobek. "It definitely shouldn’t cause any burning sensation. It's a quick treatment, so any discomfort is very short-lived." Basically, reconstructive surgeries may be covered by and cosmetic surgeries will definitely not be.

Both laser hair removal and electrolysis require multiple treatments, as hair is only treated when it’s in the growth stage. Multiple sessions are necessary, as each separate hair follicle naturally grows at different rates. Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated wavelength of light (laser) to target hair follicles in the skin. The laser damages the hair follicle while avoiding damage to the patient’s skin.

After this point, you’ll also need to see your dermatologist for a maintenance appointment. Electrolysis safely and permanently removes all types of hair from all skin tones. No other hair-removal solution can claim the universal acceptability and success offered by electrolysis treatments. In a world of temporary hair removal and reduction, electrolysis stands alone as the permanent alternative to lifetime maintenance. Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from butt acne to blind pimples. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but is an expert when it comes to electrolysis hair removal, thanks to a decade of trying nearly every hair removal option to reduce ingrown hairs.