Laser or Electrolysis: Which Is Better For Hair Removal?

How To Permanently Control The Growth Of Unwanted Hair

Written for a client, Elite Electrolysis 7 Wart Removal Clinic, to promote her hair removal services. The business is located on the Eastern Main Road, Eldorado, Tunapuna Trinidad, It follows.

The human species has always had a compulsion to remove body hairs. Driven by the need to conform to cultural and societal norms, man has a history of inventing new hair removal procedures.

Ironically, hair removal is usually not prompted by a medical condition but by a desire to enhance beauty or appearance. Tradition and cultural perceptions of beauty makes hair removal from certain parts of the body accepted and normal. Women, being beauty conscious, are more prone to remove body hairs man on the other hand, if he shaves remove hair on a daily basis.

-->  The urge, some may say the need, to remove hair usually begins at puberty and can continue until death. Here, in Trinidad, hair removal requests usually includes but is not limited to; the chest, face legs, arms, armpits, or bikini lines. The emphasis is on getting smooth, hairless skin. Understanding how hair grows is the first step in knowing what happens when you remove “unwanted hair”.

Hair Growth 
Each grain of hair is contained in a hair follicle with sebaceous glands and erector pili muscles. All these minute parts are collectively called a pilosebaceous unit. This unit is one of nature’s biological systems that continuously regulate the growth, shedding and re-growth of body hairs. It is a natural cycle that has 3 identifiable phases.

1. The anagen phase or growth period,

2. The catagen phase or transitional state, and

3. The telogen phase is the resting period.

The life span of a grain of hair depends on a person’s genetics and hormones but body location is a significant determinant. In some cases hair growth is triggered by a medical condition such as “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome”. Caused by a female hormonal imbalance, this condition has been known to stimulate facial hair growth. The following are the generally accepted ways to remove hair.

Short Term Temporary Physical Removal: 

Shaving – Removal with sharp instrument o Chemical – Using a chemical like Magic Shave to dissolve hair 

Plucking – Individually pulling each hair from its root

Medium Term Removal

Waxing – Using hot waxing agent to remove hair 

Sugar Waxing – Same as waxing but with caramel for easy cleanup

Long Term Permanent Removal: 

Electrolysis – A tiny needle inserted into a follicle and zapped

Laser – Use a laser beam to zap hair at its roots (reduces and not permanently remove hair)

Short term hair removal is generally accepted as in the case of men who shave daily. Most people however, know very little about the longer term permanent treatments. Fact is that laser hair removal is a relatively new technology having been first introduced about 20 years ago. Electrolysis has been used for over 125 years ago and most people know very little of this ancient science. Today, it is still a much used treatment option. The obvious question is…
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What’s the Difference Between Laser and Electrolysis? 

 Laser employs the use or electrical energy in the form of a pulsating light beam to destroy everything contained in a hair follicles. The beam is aimed at hair follicles where it burns up the melanin in the hair. This temporarily stops the growth process. This process will have to be repeated over 5 to 8 sessions with about 6 to 8 weeks between sessions. Because lasers targets the melanin in the hair it does not work on light (i.e. known as fair) hair.

The advantages of choosing laser are that the procedure itself is relatively quick when compared to electrolysis allow for a larger area of the body to be treated in a fraction of the time it will take an electrolysis technician. The disadvantages are a usually high cost for treatment, potential inflammation and possibility of a change in pigmentation.

Electrolysis uses a tiny needle that is inserted into the hair follicle, then a low level electrical charge is pulsed into it. The electrical charge seals the root of the hair follicle burning away the existing hair structure. This process is repeated follicle by follicle until the area is cleaned of all unwanted hair. The process burns out the hair follicle and permanently stunts the growth of hair.

There are basically two type so electrolysis used in hair removal; galvanic and thermolysis.

In Trinidad most practitioners have a preference for galvanic electrolysis without the use of chemical agents. The reason is that chemicals can react adversely to different skin types. It is therefore safer to avoid them when possible.

The primary advantage of electrolysis, aside from it being the ONLY way to permanently remove hair is the fees. Typically prices will range less than 10 percent of cost of laser hair removal.

The disadvantage is that the procedure requires microscopic focus on each hair follicle. The technician must repeat the process for each hair follicle. As such, this procedure is more suited to small areas such as facial hairs and armpits. It’s not as fast as laser.

Skin tone and sensitivity vary from individual to individual. It is therefore important that the right hair removal procedure be performed to minimize or eliminate the possibility of adverse reactions. It is important to identify a hair removal technician with the proper credentials and experience.

--> For a no cost consultation, call; Elite Electrolysis & Wart Clinic in Tunapuna. Ask for Stacee Thompson. Mrs. Thompson has 15 years experience as a certified Hair Removal technician. She will book a 15 minute no obligation appointment to assess and recommend treatment.

Call her at 645-0576 during normal business hours.

 Please pass this on to someone who may need to know this. Thank you.