Considerations

• Laser hair removal works well on dark hair, but not so well on gray, blond or red hair. Lasers can also be a problem with fair skin. Electrolysis is just as effective regardless of hair or skin color.
  
  

Cost

• Since electrolysis actually removes a single hair at a time, it requires more treatments to remove hair from a large area than laser hair removal. The cost of hair removal for lasers and electrolysis is billed per session.
  
  

Discomfort

• Laser hair removal is done with laser light energy and is therefore non-invasive. The only possible pain can be on very sensitive skin. Electrolysis involves a needle breaking through the skin to the hair follicle. This can cause pain with each hair that is removed.
  
  

Time Frame

• Lasers work quickly to remove large areas of hair (a full leg can be done in about 20 minutes). Since electrolysis works with one hair at a time, it requires more time and more sessions.
  
  

Long-Term Results

• Laser hair removal is considered to be permanent, though there can be a small amount of regrowth over the years which will require occasional treatments. Electrolysis is considered less permanent since it just destroys a particular follicle. The chance of hair regrowth in an area is about 30 percent.