Electrolysis versus Laser Hair Removal: A Comparison
While electrolysis and laser hair removal are both methods for removing unwanted facial and body hair, that is about all the two procedures have in common. When you want to remove unwanted facial and body hair, you are sure to want to compare electrolysis versus laser hair removal.
Methodology of Electrolysis Versus Laser Hair Removal
The primary instruments in electrolysis are needles and an apparatus that conducts an electrical current. The primary tool used in laser hair removal is a laser light beam.
With electrolysis, the technician inserts needles directly into the each unwanted hair follicle, and then transmits an electrical current through the needle. The end result is permanent hair removal, as hair can never grow back through a follicle that has been treated by electrolysis.
With laser hair removal, a laser light beam penetrates hair follicles in the affected area. After a number of treatments, hair growth is slowed or eliminated through the treated follicles.
Treatment Areas in Electrolysis Versus Laser Hair Removal
With electrolysis, each individual hair follicle has to be treated. For large areas, this can be very time consuming, and it can also be painful. Even though the needles used in electrolysis are not intended to penetrate the skin, it is still not comfortable to have needles inserted to a number of your hair follicles. While the passing of electrical current through the follicles is not generally painful, it also does not feel particularly good.
With laser hair removal, large areas can be treated with a single pain-free sweep of the laser light beam. However, more than one treatment will be required to result in slowed or eliminated hair growth through the treated areas.
Speed of Treatment with Electrolysis Versus Laser Hair Removal
Because a number of follicles can be treated at one time with laser hair removal, a laser session can go faster than an electrolysis hair removal session. However, one laser treatment session will not be sufficient to bring about lasting hair removal. You will have to commit time for multiple hair removal sessions when you choose this option.
With electrolysis, the individual sessions are likely to last longer than laser hair removal sessions. However, depending on the size of the affected area, multiple sessions may not be required with electrolysis.
Therefore, when comparing electrolysis versus laser hair removal, it is important to keep in mind that both procedures do require a time commitment on your part. However, when considering the time devoted to these treatments now versus the ongoing time involved in continuing to remove unwanted hair through shaving, waxing, and other methods, it is easy to see how this can be time well spent.