Very different processes that have similar end results. Laser is quite literal, shooting a laser at your hair to heat it up and kill the hair follicles, while electrolysis involves using a metal probe to poke into the base of the hair follicles and deliver an electric charge to kill the follicle. It’s also the only method considered permanent, because when done right it kills 100% of the hair that it’s used on, while laser will need repeat treatments on the same hairs and is less effective the lighter your hair color is.
It’s probably a 50/50 shot on the pain scale, as some people have it worse than others when it comes to laser, and I think the worst part of laser is the sunburn effect the day after. And you can always use a numbing cream beforehand if you’re concerned about how painful it might be. I think the biggest difference between the two is how long it takes. Laser covers large areas at a time while electrolysis takes something like 15 seconds per hair, but you know immediately whether or not you killed a hair because you will be able to pull it out with basically no effort and it works with any hair color while laser is dependent on the melanin in your hair to heat it up, making it dramatically less effective on blonde hair vs brown or black hair.
makes it worse for facial hair. Electrolysis is the only way.
I’m confused. Isn’t electrolysis also a sort of laser? Or do they look different?
Very different processes that have similar end results. Laser is quite literal, shooting a laser at your hair to heat it up and kill the hair follicles, while electrolysis involves using a metal probe to poke into the base of the hair follicles and deliver an electric charge to kill the follicle. It’s also the only method considered permanent, because when done right it kills 100% of the hair that it’s used on, while laser will need repeat treatments on the same hairs and is less effective the lighter your hair color is.
Ah, then I had laser - worked well for me. Hair didn’t regrow. I can imagine electrolysis being quite a tad bit more painful, though.
It’s probably a 50/50 shot on the pain scale, as some people have it worse than others when it comes to laser, and I think the worst part of laser is the sunburn effect the day after. And you can always use a numbing cream beforehand if you’re concerned about how painful it might be. I think the biggest difference between the two is how long it takes. Laser covers large areas at a time while electrolysis takes something like 15 seconds per hair, but you know immediately whether or not you killed a hair because you will be able to pull it out with basically no effort and it works with any hair color while laser is dependent on the melanin in your hair to heat it up, making it dramatically less effective on blonde hair vs brown or black hair.