Ouch! How do I get rid of this hair? Part 2

Two other methods of removing unwanted hair are Electrolysis and Laser. There are pro and cons to both methods.

First let’s talk about Electrolysis.

Electrolysis is the ONLY method approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal. It requires multiple sessions to achieve the best results.

Permanent hair removal is NOT guaranteed for everyone. The Technician slides a tiny hair size needle into the hair follicle applying a heated current to destroy the root of the hair follicle. The science behind this method is best described to you by the Technician.

To understand hair removal methods you first need to understand hair growth. There are three stages.
Growing
Resting, and
Shedding

Because all of our hairs are not  in the same growth stage at any given time (We would be bald at times if this were not the case! but I digress…) multiple sessions are needed to get the hair in the growth phase for electrolysis to be effective. The same is true for laser hair removal. But back to Electrolysis.

Good points,
It has a good track record. This method has been used for many years and is still considered the only Permanent removal method.
Many different hair and skin types can benefit. Because it doesn’t target hair color (pigment) like laser but attacks the hair follicle itself.
People that may not be good candidates for laser can still get electrolysis.

Some not so good points
Follicles that are bent can make this type of hair removal difficult. Follicles can become bent from previous tweezing or waxing. So getting to the bottom of a bent follicle can be hard to do.
Many treatments are needed. You may need from 15 to 30 sessions to treat an area, so Electrolysis takes a commitment.

Laser
Laser is an FDA approved method for permanent hair REDUCTION. It also requires many sessions to have the best results.
It works by a hand held laser device that sends out pulsed laser light on the skin to seek out the dark pigment of the hair and then impairs the hair follicle. Hair will begin to fall out within 10 to 14 days after the treatment.

The pros of this type of hair removal
You can cover larger areas at a time than you can with Electrolysis.
Little or no growth is needed for treatment.

The Cons
Scarring or blisters can occur. If the tech is not well trained than this is a possibility.
Multiple treatments are required.

And last and most importantly, not everyone is a candidate. Laser still works best on fair skinned people with darker hair. But there are lasers being tested for lighter hair and darker skin tones. So in the future, all people may be able to try this type of removal method.


So there you have it. Both methods require multiple sessions. Both have their good points and both have their down sides.

In my opinion, Laser works well for larger areas and Electrolysis works well for smaller areas. The salon I work at only uses Electrolysis. We have been seeing a resurgence in people coming back to this method that have tried Laser. Usually to get those hairs cleaned up that laser didn’t get rid of. So both methods together seem to be optimal. And again Laser is still not good for the lighter or white hairs, where Electrolysis still works for them.

Oh the ouch factor! I almost forgot to cover this. They both have some discomfort. There is a cream that you can get your doctor to prescribe that will help numb the skin before Electrolysis that makes the procedure more comfortable. I am not sure if it can be used prior to laser or not.

Updated info

Just recently the FDA approved an at home laser hair removal device by Tria Company.

It sells for between $700 and 800 dollars at this time. It is only approved for lighter skinned tones. Blistering can happen on darker skin tones, the company states.

My advice on this? I personally would not get involved with using an at home laser device that I could potentially burn or scar myself with. I frankly am astounded by what the FDA will allow an unskilled person to use. As usual you can make your own choice for what is best for you. I could do my own electrical work at home from a book, but would I ? No I would rather not electrocute myself. An other words please use common sense.