Hair removal is a difficult undertaking with a wide range of choices. We’ll discuss two of the most popular hair removal techniques in this blog post: Laser vs. Electrolysis for Hair Removal
Wars involving shaving, waxing, and tweezing are frequently won within the first few minutes. A hair gets pulled one day, but a few days later it grows back, requiring yet another trip to the barber.
You might want to think about permanent hair removal if you’re sick of wasting your time trying to deal with unwanted hair growth.
The two most effective ways to permanently remove unwanted hair from the body are electrolysis and laser hair removal.
But how exactly do the two differ from one another? Are either of them better than the other? Which one fits you the best?
To assist you in making the best choice for you, we’ll compare electrolysis vs laser hair removal today.
Electrolysis
Since more than a century ago, the relatively painless process of electrolysis has been used to kill and harm hair follicles (yes, over a century).
The first time electricity was used to remove hair was in 1875, when a doctor was treating ingrown eyelash infections (Charles Michel). Since that time, both men and women have utilized electrolysis as a common method of hair removal.
The Food and Drug Administration states that electrolysis is the only technique for permanently removing hair. This is because electricity has a special technique of getting rid of hair.
Electrolysis can directly target the hair follicle and papilla in order to accomplish the same outcomes as laser hair removal, which targets the melanin in the hair shaft.
A little probe is inserted into the follicle during the operation by an electrologist without puncturing the skin around it. The probe begins to deliver a milliampere-range electric current as soon as it is inserted into the skin tissue.
The electrical current causes permanent damage to the follicle that makes it easy for the hair to fall out and renders it incapable of producing hair in the future.
White and blonde hair can be effectively removed by electrolysis, especially when combined with other techniques. Laser hair removal technology can make it more difficult to get rid of hair that has little to no color when treating tanned skin, though.
The issue with electrolysis is simple: the process takes time. An electrologist must treat each patient’s hair individually during a treatment session. Each follicle can be destroyed by professionals, but the length of the therapy is typically a problem.
It takes a long time to administer electrolysis treatments to a larger area, especially on typical treatment locations like the legs and back.
Although electrolysis is a successful method of hair removal, there are quicker technologies that can treat large areas of skin much more swiftly.
Laser Hair Removal
With only a few decades of history, hair removal by laser specialists is a relatively new phenomenon in the aesthetics world.
The phrase “laser hair removal,” however, is more of a word created by the industry than a real name for the operation itself. The Food and Drug Administration states that laser hair removal procedures are only permitted for “permanent hair reduction,” not complete hair eradication.
Based on the physical characteristics of light, laser hair removal can target and remove hair from the root. Lasers used for hair removal remove melanin from hair shafts that are actively growing or in the “anagen” phase of the cycle of hair growth.
The melanin in hair shafts absorbs laser energy, causing thermal damage to the follicles and papillae below the hair shafts and reducing the follicles’ capacity to produce hair in the future.
Many people discover that laser hair “reduction” procedures work well to get rid of unwanted hair permanently.
Others could see that their hair is developing less frequently, less densely, thinner, or with a lighter hue than usual. It’s important to realize that many people who have laser hair removal procedures have their body hair permanently removed.
However, after finishing their treatment sessions, a patient may notice new hair growing in the treated areas if they experience hormonal changes (such as pregnancy, menopause, chemotherapy, or other treatments).
The term “permanent hair reduction” is used to describe laser hair removal as a result of all these factors.
The most important benefit provided by laser hair removal is the ability to quickly treat any area of skin.
The manufacturer claims that a back treatment performed with the 10 cm2 spot size handpiece can be finished in under five minutes. Patients should come back for a limited number of follow-up treatments spaced out over a few weeks that target each individual hair while it is in the anagen phase if they wish to maintain the cyclical development of their hair.
The ideal skin and hair for laser hair removal are those with different colors. Blonde hair should be avoided since it is more challenging (though not impossible) to treat with a hair removal laser when the proper settings and wavelengths are used.
Laser technologies can be used to treat visible hair in the long run, according to experts, even though results might be harder to anticipate. Understanding the Differences Between Laser and Electrolysis Hair Removal
Although there are some similarities between these two methods of hair removal, there are also some differences:
Compared to other procedures, laser hair removal needs fewer sessions.
Regardless of the method you use to achieve your goals, multiple sessions are necessary. On the other hand, electrolysis sessions are longer, so you’ll need to plan more of them.
For laser hair removal, four to eight treatments are often needed. Your skin type, level of melanin, the color of your hair, and the size of the treated area will all influence how many stitches you require.
However, electrolysis can require up to 30 sessions, especially in places with tough hair.
You will require a touch-up procedure for laser hair removal about once a year. Electrolysis doesn’t require any additional medical care (unless you experience an infection).
The duration of laser hair removal sessions has decreased.
Laser hair removal treatments are rapid and only last a few minutes because the laser targets several hairs at once.
Electrolysis sessions take much longer because each individual hair needs to be removed one at a time. The procedure takes much longer because they happen once every week or twice every two weeks. What to Expect After a Laser Hair Removal Procedure
High-temperature lasers that emit minimal levels of radiation are used for laser hair removal. The objective is to harm hair follicles sufficiently to produce significant hair growth slowdown.
The results of laser therapy are not permanent, albeit lasting longer than those of at-home hair removal techniques like shaving. To accomplish long-term hair reduction, more treatments will be necessary.