Electrolysis and Laser Hair Removal are both different kinds of treatments that permanently remove unwanted hairs from the body. Which treatment is right for your will depend on a number of factors, so to make your decision between these two services even easier, we broke it all down for you into one simple table outlining the differences between Electrolysis and Laser Hair Removal. One big thing these two have in common, however? You can be sure they’ll both guarantee hair-free results!
LASER HAIR REMOVAL | ELECTROLYSIS | |
---|---|---|
Ideal Skin Type | Light to Medium Skin (laser will not work on dark or tan skin tones) | All skin tones |
Number of Treatments Needed for Permanent Hair Removal | At least six treatments required, some people may need more or touch ups depending on the amount and thickness of hair to be removed | Many factors influence hair growth, so you will need to return for several electrolysis visits. The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person. Most clients return once a week or every other week, as needed. But the unwanted hair will be gone forever once the series of treatments is complete. |
Areas that Can Be Treated | Entire face except for the area below eyebrows;chest, back, belly, arms, legs, hands, feet, bikini, buttocks, underarms | All areas of the body, including the area below the eyebrows |
Cost | Varies depending on the surface area of body part to be treated; call us for specific prices. Cost is based on size of area to be treated. | Varies depending on the amount of time spent removing hairs. Cost is based on time spent on treatment. Each treatment can last between 10 minutes to up to one hour. 10 minutes of electrolysis costs $30, 15 minutes $35 and so on.. Please call for more detailed price information. |
Restrictions | Does not work on white, blonde, or white hairs; hair to be treated must be dark. Not suitable for pregnant women. | Not suitable for pregnant women. |
Steps to Take Prior to 1st Appointment | Shave area 2 days prior, or trim hairs- longer hairs will make the laser hair removal session more uncomfortable for client. Make sure the direction of hair growth is visible for your first appointment. | Hair must be visible and long enough to be pulled out with a tweezer. DO NOT shave or wax the area prior to your first electrolysis treatment. |
Level of Pain | Varies depending on area to be treated; light to moderate, feels like a rubber band is snapping against skin. A topical anesthetic cream may be used on more sensitive clients. | You will feel the stimulation, which can feel a little painful to some; it’s a kind of a dull sensation which doesn’t last. It’s certainly not unbearable and most people hardly feel anything at all. A topical anesthetic cream may be used in some cases. It’s also important to note that the needle doesn’t actually pierce your skin. It enters the natural opening of the hair follicle. |
Length of Time Needed for One Treatment | Varies depending on area to be treated, but in general, 15 minutes for small areas like underarms, 30 minutes for medium areas like bikini, and 45-1:30 for large areas like legs and back. | Varies depending on how much hair is apparent on area to be treated- minimum is 10 minutes and there is no maximum, though most people need no more than 1 hour of electrolysis. |
Time Required Between Treatments | 3-4 weeks for smaller areas like underarms and bikini; 6-8 for larger areas like legs. | Varies by client’s hair growth cycle- As such, when starting out, client may need to come in every week if the area to be treated has a lot of hair to be removed. Once treatments begin and the entire hair growth cycle is tackled, time between appointments will grow longer until hairs are no longer visible. |