Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (2024)

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (1)

At The Laser Beautique, we recommend that if you, like most, want to livesmoothly ever after, the best solution is first to have laser treatments, this will rid you of any dark unwanted hair. Once you have gotten rid of all the pigmented dark hair, we recommend having Apilus electrolysis treatments to permanently and virtually painlessly remove the remaining light, blond, red, grey or white vellus hair.

Laser hair removal and electrolysis are two popular types of long-term hair removal methods. Both work by targeting hair follicles located under the skin’s surface.

According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, laser hair removal is on the rise, with an increase of nearly 30%from 2013. Though electrolysis is also increasing in popularity, it’s not as common as laser therapy.

In short, the reason for this is because laser is quicker. When one has laser hair removal, they have an area treated. For example, one would have their underarm lasered. Underarm laser treatment takes about 15 minutes whereas during an electrolysis treatment hair by hair is treated BUT don’t let this scare you off. If an electrologist is using an Apilus device and she is experienced, she can clear an area of hair pretty quickly.

It’s best to understand both laser and electrolysis procedures before you decide which is best for you. Some would benefit from the laser, some from electrolysis and some would best benefit from a combination of both treatments.

Did you know that electrolysis is the only FDA-approved treatment for 100% permanent hair removal? This is because laser hair removal is not effective on light hair.

Reason to opt for Apilus Electrolysis

  • Permanently remove unwanted light, blond, ginger, grey or white hair. The laser does not work on hair that has little to no pigment.
  • Permanently shape your brows
  • Remove hair on or around a tattoo or a. mole
  • Get rid of hair in areas that a laser can’t reach, for example, ears or nose.
  • Another very popular reason to have electrolysis is to get rid of ingrown hairs in areas which you don’t particularly want to remove all the hair from. For example, men who suffer from ingrown hair in their beards. Ingrown hair is very painful and can get infected and may even need to be cut out if not treated. You can now laser your entire beard or you can have electrolysis to remove just the ingrown hair for good!

What to expect from electrolysis

Electrolysis is a method of permanently removing individual hairs from the face or body. A probe is inserted down the natural opening of the hair follicle, a quick and painless current is released, the probe is removed, the hair is then detached and the therapist easily slides the hair out with a tweezer. See the below explanation with the diagram.

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (2)

Did you know that during an electrolysis treatment a probe, as thin and delicate as a hair,is inserted down a natural opening? As you can see from the image on the left. Inserting a probe down a natural opening would not be painful as one is not puncturing the skin

What is the difference between traditional electrolysis and Apilus Electrolysis Reinvented?

TLB Electrolysis

  • Probe used is extremely fine and flexible, as fine and as flexible as a strand of hair.
  • Probes used are insulated. Current only pass at the tip.
  • 27. 12mhz Current is so fast the body doesn’t have time to register any discomfort.

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (4)

Traditional Electrolysis

  • Probe is thicker and rigid.
  • Traditional electrolysis use a slow and very painful current.
  • Probes used are insulated. Current only pass at the tip. Traditional probes are not insulated. Current is applied from tip to end which burns skin and leaves burns and scars.

The differences between electrolysis and laser hair removal

Electrolysis

  • Hair by hair treatments
  • effective and safe for all skin and hair types including light blonde, ginger, grey and white hair.
  • Don’t shave or wax between treatments.
  • Charged according to time.
  • Electrolysis is performed whenever you can see hair, this can be everyday, week or until the area is bare.

Laser hair removal

  • Treatment by area.
  • Laser is safe and effective for all skin types but is only effective on pigmented hair.
  • Shave between treatments.
  • Charged for according to area.
  • Laser treatments are initially booked every 4-6 weeks. Duration between treatments increases as the hair depletes and grows back slower.

For more information onelectrolysis click on the below links

  • All you need to know about Electrolysis
  • Apilus Electrolysis Device
  • Hair Growth Cycle
  • Different Modes of Electrolysis

What to expect from laser hair removal

During laser hair removal, a laser emits light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat which melts and closes capillaries that supply the hair with oxygen and nutrients. Now, this may sound painful, but trust us, it’s really not! And this is how:

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (6)

The energy from our lasers is delivered gradually as we increase the heat as opposed to treating using high heat. Old-school lasers feel like an elastic band stretching (far!) and snapping on one’s skin. Yes, this is torture!

To best explain, we like to use the analogy of having a hot bath. We draw you a boiling hot bath, and you burn yourself, just like many old-school lasers have burnt and scarred people. But if we draw you a lukewarm bath and gradually increase the temperature, we can get the bath boiling without feeling any discomfort. Gradual increase in temperature allows you to withstand high temperatures without pain.

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (7)

Treatment is more aggressive, yet painless and results in you needing fewer treatments, saving time and money.

You have to bear in mind that pain is subjective. What one finds pain-free may be painful to someone else. It’s very important to communicate with your Beau-gician (TLB laser technician) and explain if you feeling any pain at all. She will simply decrease the energy but treat for longer. This way you will still reach the same temperature, it will just not hurt. You, see, no pain and all gain!

8-12 treatments and voile, you are living smoothly ever after!

Why would laser not work?

  • If you have mechanically removed hair from the root (wax, pluck, epilator).
  • If you have had treatments where a substandard laser was used.
  • If your therapist is not qualified,. She can have the best laser and still not give an effective treatment.
  • Biological factors. Hormonal issue/imbalance (e.g. PCOS). We do not recommend laser for anyone with an untreated hormonal issues.
  • Laser targets colour. It does not see a light, blonde, red, grey or white hair.
  • The courser and darker the hair the better the result. If the hair on your treatment site is fine it will not treat well, if at all.

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (8)

FEAR NOT! AS WE HAVE A COMFORTABLE AND PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR UNWANTED AND EMBARRASSING LIGHT HAIR!

For more information on laser hair removal please click below links

  • Treatment benefits
  • The science behind our laser hair removal
  • Before your treatment
  • During your treatment
  • After your treatment
  • Do’s and don’ts

Which is best, electrolysis or laser hair removal?

Laser therapy and electrolysis both produce longer-lasting effects compared to shaving, waxing and threading. Laser is the fastest way to permanently remove dark hair whereas electrolysis is the only way to permanently remove light hair. Both laser and electrolysis offered at The Laser Beautique are virtually pain-free and permanent and both require some maintenance in the long run. This is because hair can stay dormant for years. There are a number of factors that can influence how long hair follicles stay dormant. Some of the most important factors include the person’s age, health, hormones and genetics.

The advantage of laser is that the treatments take quicker whereas electrolysis is hair by hair.Covering large areas at once like laser hair removal is pretty time-consuming. Your choice may depend on how quickly you want to achieve short-term hair removal.

If one has dark and light unwanted hair, for example, if one has dark and light hair they would like to remove on their chin, we could either first laser the dark hair and then opt for electrolysis to remove the light hair or vice versa. In special instances, we could treat both dark and light hair in one day.

The best is to book a FREE consultation with one of our aestheticians.Click hereto book. During a consultation, all benefits, risks and step-by-step procedures will be discussed. Even the science behind the procedure will be explained.

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB (2024)

FAQs

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal - Is electrolysis for you? | TLB? ›

Laser therapy and electrolysis both produce longer-lasting effects compared to shaving, waxing and threading. Laser is the fastest way to permanently remove dark hair whereas electrolysis is the only way to permanently remove light hair.

Should I get electrolysis or laser hair removal? ›

Electrolysis is considered a more permanent solution than laser hair removal (it stops hair growth completely while laser hair removal slows and reduces hair growth), but it requires more individual sessions (closer to 14), and the sessions can take longer. You might not see full results for nearly 18 months.

Should I get laser or electrolysis first? ›

Your choice may depend on how quickly you want to achieve short-term hair removal. Also, doing one procedure and then the other isn't a good idea. For example, getting electrolysis done after laser hair removal disrupts the effects of the first procedure.

What is a downside to electrolysis? ›

Electrolysis Cons

It's a time-consuming procedure requiring multiple sessions. Skin discoloration is a possibility. The electricity in the device can actually destroy the capillaries in the surrounding areas. It can be very painful. It is not recommended for people with rosacea since the skin is so easily irritated.

Why is electrolysis hair removal not popular? ›

Electrolysis is not as popular as laser hair removal for a few reasons: Longer Treatment Time: As mentioned, treating each hair follicle one by one makes electrolysis a much lengthier process. Discomfort: The procedure can be more uncomfortable, which deters some people from opting for it.

Do celebrities get laser hair removal or electrolysis? ›

Rid of Body Hair? Actors, like many other celebrities, trade on their look. Unshaven legs can be catnip for paparazzi. Many rely on laser hair removal treatments— although this can be problematic, as laser hair removal is less effective on light hair for fairer-skinned people, or dark hair on darker-skinned people.

How many electrolysis sessions does it take to permanently remove hair? ›

The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person. On average, it takes around 12 months to complete 8 to 12 electrolysis sessions. However, the duration may range from 8 months up to 2 years in certain cases.

What age is best for electrolysis? ›

At What Age Can Teens Get Electrolysis? Many clients ask us what is the earliest age a teen can get electrolysis treatments. Girls and boys as young as 12 years old are acceptable candidates for electrolysis treatments. The most important factor is whether or not their body or facial hair is done growing in.

What lasts longer laser or electrolysis? ›

What lasts longer laser hair removal or electrolysis? Both laser hair removal and electrolysis provide long-lasting hair removal results, especially when compared to waxing or shaving. However, electrolysis has been shown to deliver permanent results more consistently.

Why is laser hair removal more popular than electrolysis? ›

The electrolysis method is only effective for removing small hair–like around the eye region. But the laser hair removal method can be performed on any parts of the body like the face, chin, upper lips, forehead, chest, back, underarms, thighs, etc.

Who should avoid electrolysis? ›

Absolute Contra-Indications – Requires a Doctor's Note: Diabetes, heart condition, hemophilia, pacemaker, seizures, transplant, surgery.

What is the main disadvantage of electrolysis? ›

Also, electrolysis works with the widest range of skin and hair types. It's good for sensitive areas of the body, like the face or bikini line. The main disadvantage to electrolysis is the length of time needed to achieve permanent hair removal.

Is electrolysis bad for face? ›

Electrolysis hair removal is clinically proven to be a safe and effective hair removal method for all hair and skin types, including sensitive skin. You may expect to feel some discomfort during the treatment due to the brief heat sensations, but this is only temporary.

What is safer, electrolysis or laser? ›

Electrolysis is a non-invasive hair removal method that does not cause any skin damage. Laser hair removal, on the other hand, can cause skin damage if not performed by a trained professional or if the wrong type of laser is used.

Does plucking hair ruin electrolysis? ›

Once you start Electrolysis refrain from plucking, waxing or threading. Any method that requires to pull the hair from the root will slow down your progress.

Should I get laser before electrolysis? ›

You do not want to have both electrolysis and laser done on the same area of your body at the same time; however, some people start their hair removal process with laser, wait a few months to see what growth remains, and finish the process with electrolysis.

How much more painful is electrolysis than laser? ›

Electrolysis can be likened to having a tattoo—it stings or prickles. Many people get around this by taking an over-the-counter painkiller an hour or so before treatment. Applying ice packs afterward can reduce any post-treatment discomfort. Laser treatment is akin to having a rubber band snapped against your skin.

Does electrolysis really remove hair permanently? ›

Yes. Unlike other hair removal methods that offer a temporary solution, Electrolysis is permanent and is the only FDA approved method of permanent hair removal.

What is the success rate of electrolysis hair removal? ›

Your electrologist — There will always be a certain amount of regrowth, even when electrolysis is performed by a skilled operator. The average killing rate is 50-60 % with 60-75% being roughly the highest level possible.

What is the best permanent hair removal option? ›

The following methods are ranked by their ability to remove hair for the longest amount of time.
  • Electrolysis. ...
  • Laser hair removal. ...
  • Prescription creams. ...
  • Professional tweezing and waxing. ...
  • Chemical depilation.
Jun 26, 2019

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