What is the Difference Between Electrolysis and Laser Hair Removal?

If you're thinking of having hair removed, there are a couple of choices you can consider, and it's helpful to know the difference between the two of these highly effective options.

The options? They are electrolysis vs. laser hair removal.

Let's start with electrolysis. In the field of chemistry, electrolysis is the name for a process which involves driving an electrical current through something to obtain a specific chemical reaction. Typically, this involves the reaction of one metal to another metal in the presence of a fluid used to conduct electricity.

In the field of hair removal, electrolysis is the name for the process of passing an electrical current through a hair root. The resulting "chemical reaction" is the death of the hair root and, thus, the removal of unwanted hair.

No permanent hair root removal process is without pain; however, in the hands of a skilled professional, electrolysis isn't so bad. It doesn't puncture the skin, for example, and "patients" can resume normal activity immediately following treatment.

Now let's examine laser hair removal. In science, "LASER" stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation." So that's what lasers are: they are strong, thin beams of electromagnetic radiation. The reason you can see them (they often appear as red in color) is because they are in the spectrum of light.

In the field of hair removal, these concentrated beams of radiation are focused on skin in an effort to "kill" and subsequently remove hair follicles through the use of radiation. When this happens, "patients" typically feel a small sting, and patients are typically asked to avoid sunlight after treatment.

But the choice between these two types of hair removal treatment is a bit like splitting hairs. (Pun intended!) Why? Because both measures are highly effective. Both cause minor discomfort, and neither typically removes one hundred percent of all hair; although, both typically remove as much as ninety percent of unwanted hair.

Furthermore, both require treatments that take place over a number of weeks, during which most people can freely go about the remainder of their schedule.

In addition, both offer the potential for side effects. Mild side effects include slight dizziness or "fogginess" following treatment. More serious side effects include slight skin discoloration at the site of treatment.

Ultimately, the decision to choose one over the other can come down to finding a practitioner a patient can trust. When searching for a practitioner, one should consider price and convenience; however, the most important criteria is experience. Hopefully, this article helps you understand both processes before beginning your search.

If you would like to know more about laser hair removal advantages, or would like to know more about laser hair removal in general, visit our no nonsense laser hair removal guide: Laser-Hair-Removal-Cost.