Laser Hair Removal Vs. Electrolysis - Which is Best?

Both laser hair removal and electrolysis can be effective treatments.  Some important considerations are:
-LASER hair is much faster than electrolysis.  Laser hair removal of the back can take as little as 15 minutes.  Electrolysis will take at least 4 hours for this area
-Laser hair is much cheaper than electrolysis since it is much more efficient
-Electrolysis can treat blonde and white hair, laser hair removal can not
-Laser hair can only target hair in anagen phase, while electrolysis targets all hairs regardless of phase

Electrolysis is still the Gold Standard in treating hair with no dark melanin such as gray, white, blonde, red and light brown. It is a great treatment for those small areas with light hair such as upper lip, chin, face and men's ears. Laser Hair Removal for dark hair is fast and efficient in reducing and removing that unwanted hair. 

Thank you for your question. A wide variety of medical lasers and light systems are used to remove unwanted hair, however most lasers are not effective for all skin types and hair colors. The Elos laser hair removal system is designed for permanent hair reduction by combining both optical and radiofrequency energy to deliver satisfying, longer lasting results with less discomfort than previous laser systems. All skin and all hair colors including gray and blonde hair are effectively treated. Faces, backs, arms, legs, faces, and bikini lines can be treated including those individuals with darkly pigmented skin. Treatments are administered every 4 weeks and generally 3 to 5 treatments are sufficient. Best of luck!

Laser hair removal has been the gold standard for the past 10 years. Laser hair removal is more efficient and permanent.

As long as the hair is dark, laser hair removal is your best option. For gray, blonde, or red hair lasers don't work. In this case electrolysis can help to reduce the hair permanently. In general electrolysis takes longer than laser to work because targets each hair individually. The risk for scarring or pigmentation on the skin is higher with electrolysis as well.

We perform a lot of laser hair removal with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Laser hair removal is fast; full legs or a back can be treated in about 20 minutes. We have multiple lasers so people of all skin types can receive safe and effective treatments.

When people have completed a series of laser hair removal they may not always be completely free of hair, as white or grey hair will not respond to laser hair removal. Often, our patients will try electrolysis to remove remaining hair without pigment. Electrolysis addresses each single hair one by one so it is not ideal for large areas but lasers and electrolysis can be used togther to provide the best possible result.

Laser tends to be faster (multiple targets at once), some say less discomfort and can provide permanent results in fewer treatments. That being said laser treatment is most effective for darker hair on fairer skin. I hope this helps!

Laser hair removal is clinically indicated for permanent hair removal or permanent hair reduction. This cannot be said for electrolysis, which provides a temporary reduction in hair follicle growth.
Second, unlike electrolysis, laser hair removal targets many hair follicles at once, thus expediting treatment time in individuals. Electrolysis works one by one on hair follicles.

Electrolysis can work on all skin and hair tones, including blond and gray hair, which laser can not treat. When it comes to permanent results, electrolysis can achieve this and is more affordable than laser hair removal. The laser needs fewer sessions to show results because it cannot treat all the folicules simultaneously as electrolysis does. Also, the laser is chosen over electrolysis to treat larger areas. These two treatments are the most recommended for hair removal, but choosing one that can work better for you will be based on the area you want to treat and your skin and hair conditions.

Laser hair is very effective and  has the ability to treat  a broader area than electrolysis and is much less time consuming.  For tiny areas like the eyebrow area I would recommend electrolysis. There is minimal re-growth with laser hair removal and is much less painful. The times that I recommend electrolysis is when there are specific hairs in a small area of the face such as the eyebrows or hair lines that patients want removed.  Please consult an expert in laser hair removal for the best cosmetic results. Best, Dr. Green