Laser or electrolysis hair removal ?

The electrology is the practice of electrical epilation to remove human hair permanently. This technique is using the process of electrolysis for removing the excess hair. The hair removal by electrolysis consists in applying a very small voltage to a solution of NaCl (sodium chloride, usually called salt), which was previously injected at the hair roots. After electrolysis, it results NaOH (sodium hydroxide, called also caustic soda or lye) which is burning the hair follicles (and so it is destroying hair permanently).

In case of using laser for hair removal, a laser beam with a specific wavelength is employed for thermal and/or mechanical destruction of hair follicles. The laser light is "attacking" the pigment named melanin (which is responsible for skin and hair color).

If the electrolysis destroys hair follicles one by one, the laser destroys follicles over a large area simultaneously. So, the last method is faster than the electrolysis. But in case of laser, some hair follicles can regenerate. So, laser is less effective than the electrolysis (on the long term).

Regarding the paint felt by the patient, laser is considered less painful than electrolysis, because in the latter case each follicle is destroyed individually by a small injection and a small electrical shock.

One of the laser disadvantages is that it can be applied successfully only to some people (namely, those who have a light skin and a dark hair).

For those with blonde, red or white hair this method is not effective. This is due to the fact that the laser light cannot be absorbed in this case (when the melanin is missing or in low quantity) and therefore the light cannot be transformed in heat. On the other hand, the electrolysis is effective for all types of hair and skin. Also, when we use laser, some side effects can appear, like: skin redness, vesicles or superficial burns.

The cost of laser treatment is higher than that of electrolysis (at least over a short period of time). But if we are taking into account that for the electrolysis hair removal , several sessions are required (because of the low speed with which it works over a large area of skin), the cost difference might not be so big in the end.