Living in a culture that is dominated by likes, comments, shares, and subscribers, it’s become important for many people to insure their appearance is appealing. In fact, you might not ever find one celebrity or individual in the spot light with unappealing, distasteful, or plain ugly or unwanted hairs. In fact, there are television shows, websites, and even magazines that are dedicated to degraded individuals with unwanted or distasteful hairs, making these tiny follicles one of the most feared horrors in the beauty industry.
As a result, millions of people began to flock to a new science that has revolutionized the beauty industry. Many of these people invested in one of the most famed beauty procedures in history: hair removal.
Now, if you are in the market or have an interest in potentially a hair removal procedure, it is likely that you came across the common debate of electrolysis vs. laser hair removal. Many celebrities and famed individuals have come across this question as well. Before you can make the choice and sign up for a procedure, it’s important to consider the functionality of both hair removal treatments, the risks, and benefits, which will shed light on what is the best option for you.
How does Electrolysis Work?
What makes electrolysis stand out next to laser hair removal is the fact this the procedure is permanent. In fact, electrolysis is the only proven method acknowledged by the FDA for permanent hair removal. This procedure, unless done with an at-home electrolysis machine, is a performed from a trained professional or dermatologist. Utilizing highly-intensive machines, the professional will utilize needles or an epilator device to literally kill the hair follicles. The needles are wired with low-currents of electricity known as shortwave radio frequencies.
Like any hair removal treatment, electrolysis will require several subsequent treatments to ensure the best possible results. For some people, these appointments are normally once per week for a few months. As many professionals have dictated, these subsequent procedures or treatments are just as vital as the first one. Through missing or not following through, it could be detrimental to the results.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser Hair Removal functions quite differently than that of electrolysis. While one may think permanent hair removal may be more popular, recent studies have shown that laser hair removal is becoming more popular than ever. In fact, in a recent study performed by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the laser hair removal procedure is becoming more popular each year. Since 2013, they have found a 30 percent increase of procedures, making it the more common of the two procedures. [1]
Laser Hair Removal, unlike electrolysis, is not a permanent hair removal treatment. This treatment uses lasers, as the name implies, and radiation to destroy or damage hair follicles to stunt their future growth. Many people have compared laser hair removal treatment to “extended shaving, tweezing or threading treatments”. In other words, laser hair removal, while its not permanent, will remove hairs for a longer period of time instead of shaving, tweezing, threading, or even waxing.
How Effective is Electrolysis?
When comparing electrolysis to laser hair removal, one area that can shine light into their differences is how effective the procedures are. Today, researchers and studies have discovered that electrolysis is probably the most effective and concrete hair removal treatment known to society today. Since the procedure is dedicated to permanently destroying any hair follicles in the desired area, the user is not required to performance any maintenance or take care of the areas anymore, unlike all other hair removal treatments.
What also demonstrates the true effectiveness and power of an electrolysis procedure is the fact that it can be effective on any color hair or skin. This procedure relies on the destroying of the physical follicle of hair, the part where the hair grows. This is unlike other hair removal procedures, which ultimately prevents certain hair colors or skin types from getting those treatments.
If done through a trained professional, an individual can anticipate to permanently remove any unwanted hairs in any region for their entire life after merely 3-6 treatments. While there are numerous risks and benefits of the entire procedure, electrolysis stands out as the most effective and proven procedure for hair removal today.
How Effective is Laser Hair Removal?
Now that we have studied the effectiveness of the permanent hair removal treatment, electrolysis, let’s look into how effective laser hair removal is. This cosmetic procedure hit the salons in the late 1990s and took the world by storm. Today, laser hair removal, as mentioned before, is growing in popularity more than ever due to the recent studies, tests, and inventions of different lasers.
Laser hair removal was always known to be for light skinned users with dark hair. Reason being, laser hair removal works quite differently in the mindset that it targets skin pigmentation rather than the hair follicles (electrolysis) . As a result, individuals with darker skin could actually experience hyper-pigmentation or discoloration of the current skin color. This is still a major of risk of the procedure today, driving the effectiveness of the procedure low for different types of users.
On top of concerns like this, laser hair removal is not a permanent hair removal treatment. For the primary purpose of the procedure, which is to remove unwanted hairs, laser hair removal can work flawlessly; however, the individual will have to continually maintain the areas and repeat the same treats as hair will continue to grow. This is the one of the biggest difference in the effectiveness of both of the treatments, aside from the suggested skin or hair types.
What Are the Risks?
As we begin to explore the different areas of effectiveness, it begins to shed light on the different risks that each of the procedures have. It’s of utter importance to take the time to consider each of the risks very seriously. To better help you out, we are going to break down each procedure with their risks, making it easier to compare and contrast.
The Risks of Electrolysis
- When it comes to the procedure, many people have said that electrolysis is the most painful of all hair removal treatments. Granted the professionals utilize low-current energies, to permanently remove and kill hair follicles, it may cause some discomfort depending upon your personal pain tolerance.
- Electrolysis is a PERMANENT procedure. If you are planning on getting an electrolysis procedure, insure that the procedure is exactly what you are wanting. Once the hairs are removed or destroyed, you will not be able to grow hair in those areas anymore.
- If you are an individual with very sensitive skin, it’s important to take the time to consult with the professional. Those who have sensitive skin are more at risk of discoloration on the skin; however, this is quite rare since electrolysis does not attack skin pigmentation, unlike laser hair removal.
- After the procedure and all treatments have been finished, an individual still has the risk to experience permanent scarring or pitting. Electrolysis is a cosmetic procedure that not only can permanently remove hair, it can also permanently damage one’s skin. What is the most nerve-wracking about this risk is that scars or pits will not appear for nearly 6-12 months after your last treatment.
- Another risk that is worth mentioning is that electrolysis will cause scars, redness, swelling, and even bruising. The procedure is considered quite intensive and must be taking seriously before and after. Once the procedure is completed, it’s important to tend to each scar, bruise or swelled area. If the areas are not taken care of probably, they could potentially turn into horrible infections, making problems much worse.
The Risks of Laser Hair Removal
- Laser Hair Removal is not for individuals with dark skin. Reason being, individuals with darker skin have higher levels of melanin. This substance is responsible and has the ability to absorb the laser, ultimately negating the entire procedure.
- Anther risk for individuals with dark skin is that they are subject to hyperpigmentation. This probably one of the most feared risks of the entire procedure.
- Like that of electrolysis, due to the intensity of the procedure, the lasers and radiation will cause significant and concern-worthy burns on the one’s skin. As a result, it’s important to treat the areas with high quality creams, which are normally suggested from the professional who performed the procedure. If one does not take care of the wounded areas, one can anticipate permanent scarring.
- Laser Hair Removal will not permanently remove any hair. One risk of getting the procedure is that if you are anticipating on permanently removing any hairs, you are making a big mistake, ultimately risking a lot of money!
- Another major risk of laser hair removal comes into play if you are planning on doing laser hair removal near the eyes. It’s important that went undergoing the procedure to wear protective eye wear, which may be offered from the professional. If you do not take proper precautions, one might experience intensive scaring or damage to the eyes.
- Laser Hair Removal may also stimulate unknown hair growth in specific areas such as the face.
What Are the Benefits?
While the list of risks can be quite scary, it’s important to not be turned off to the idea of hair removal. The reality is, many of these risks can be minimized through paying a true professional to perform the procedure and insuring your best interest is at the forefront of the entire procedure. With that being said, risks are not guaranteed and do not always happen. In fact, millions of people undergo hair removal treatments and experience the best of situations. Continuing with this flow, let’s take a look at the benefits of each of the hair removal treatments.
The Benefits of Electrolysis
- When comparing all different hair removal treatments, electrolysis is the only procedure that requires ZERO maintenance after the hair follicles have been destroyed. Since the procedure is permanent, all one has to do is take care of the areas where the hair has been removed with proper creams, ice or required products.
- Electrolysis is the ONLY proven permanent hair removal treatment that is approved by the Federal Drug Administration, or FDA.
- Another impressive benefit of electrolysis is that anyone, regardless of skin type or hair color, can get. On top of this, electrolysis is such a unique hair removal procedure because it is not limited to just your face, like other hair removal treatment.
- Electrolysis is relatively much cheaper than many other forms of hair removal; however, it is not as popular as other treatments because it is permanent.
The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
- Laser Hair Removal, like that of electrolysis, is quite a versatile procedure. Any individual who is seeking temporary hair removal may get laser hair removal on almost any part of the human body.
- Another major benefit of laser hair removal is that the entire procedure will not require you to recovery after the procedure. In other words, after the procedure is completed, you will be able to carry-on with your day, hair free!
- The procedure is not a permanent procedure. This is a huge benefit that favors laser hair removal instead of electrolysis. The reality is, sometimes those unwanted hairs may become frustrating today but you may wish to do something with in the future. Instead of jumping into permanent hair removal, laser hair removal offers an extended temporary solution to a cosmetic problem.
What is the Best Option?
After breaking down both of these two hair removal treatments, you might still be scratching your head as to what is the best solution. The reality is, if you have lighter hair or dark skin, regular laser hair removal is not going to be your best option. With such a heightened risk, you are going to want to consult with professionals to figure out what hair removal procedure is best for your complexion. Likely, with dark skin and light hair, the only solution is electrolysis.
Now, what if you do not fit into that category? This offers you more control over the situation. We suggest taking the time to seriously consider the risks and benefits of each procedure. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I willing to permanently remove this hair from my body?
- Will I want this area of hair in the future?
- Should I get an extended temporary solution of laser hair removal for now?
When it comes to hair removal procedures, electrolysis is a permanent procedure and cannot be reversed. Some professionals will suggest getting temporary hair removal procedure before ever getting any permanent procedure. In this, it will give you time to gauge if you are happy with how it looks and maybe reconsider the permanency of the procedure.
Sometimes, just like time, opinions and beauty changes. While you may not be happy with a specific area of hair today, you might be happy with it tomorrow. Take into consideration all of what you learned prior to picking out what is the best option for you.
[1] https://www.asds.net/_Media.aspx?id=8898
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