Skin & Medispa
Electrolysis vs laser hair removal: which is right for you?
One treats thousands of hairs in minutes. The other treats one hair at a time, but works on any hair colour. Here is how to choose, honestly.
The short answer
Laser hair removal uses light to treat many follicles at once. It’s fast, works best on dark hair, and gives a lasting reduction after about 6 to 8 sessions. It’s the practical choice for legs, underarms, the bikini area and other large areas.
Electrolysis uses a fine probe and a small current in each follicle, one hair at a time. It works on every hair colour, including blonde, red, grey and white, and can remove hair permanently, but it takes many more sessions. It suits small areas and hair that laser can’t see.
How laser hair removal works
A laser sends pulses of light into the skin. The pigment (melanin) in the hair absorbs that light and turns it into heat, which damages the follicle so it stops growing hair or grows finer hair. Each pulse covers a small patch, so a whole underarm or lower leg can be treated in minutes.
Because laser needs pigment to target, it works best when hair is darker than the skin around it. Light blonde, red, grey and white hair has little or no pigment to absorb the light.
How electrolysis works
An electrologist slides a very fine probe into the natural opening of each follicle and delivers a small current that destroys the follicle’s ability to grow hair. It doesn’t rely on pigment at all, so it works on any hair colour and any skin tone. The trade-off is time: every hair is treated individually, over many appointments.
Side by side
| Laser hair removal | Electrolysis | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Light absorbed by hair pigment | Current delivered into each follicle |
| Hair colour | Best on dark hair | Any colour, including grey and blonde |
| Speed | Many hairs per pulse | One hair at a time |
| Best for | Legs, underarms, bikini, back, arms, face | Brows, chin, stray hairs, light hair |
| Typical course | 6 to 8 sessions, weeks apart | Many short sessions, often over a year or more |
| Result | Permanent hair reduction | Permanent removal of treated follicles |
| Feels like | A quick snap and warmth | A sting or heat with each hair |
Which hurts more?
Both are uncomfortable and both are very manageable. Laser feels like a quick snap with each pulse, and a session on a small area is over fast. Electrolysis is a brief sting or heat per hair, but sessions are longer and repeated more often, so many people find laser easier overall.
Choosing between them
Laser is usually the better fit if:
- Your hair is darker than your skin.
- You want to treat a large area such as legs, underarms, back or bikini.
- You’d rather have fewer, faster appointments.
Electrolysis is usually the better fit if:
- Your hair is blonde, red, grey or white.
- You only have a few hairs to treat, such as stray chin hairs or brow shaping.
- You want to clear the last few hairs left after a laser series.
Plenty of people use both: laser for the bulk of the hair, then electrolysis for the few light or stubborn hairs that remain.
What about skin tone?
Skin tone matters for laser because the skin also contains pigment. Different lasers are suited to different skin tones, and settings are chosen for each person. That’s exactly what a consultation is for. At Mood, your laser consultation checks your skin and hair before your first session.
Laser and Calgary’s sun
Whichever you choose, protect treated skin. With laser especially, a fresh tan or sunburn means waiting, because tanned skin absorbs more of the light. In a city with around 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, where snow bounces UV back at you all winter, daily SPF on treated areas is part of the plan. See how to prepare for laser hair removal for the full list.
Questions we hear
Is electrolysis more permanent than laser?
Electrolysis permanently disables each follicle it treats. Laser gives permanent reduction: a lasting drop in regrowth, with some finer hair that may return and a touch-up once or twice a year.
Can laser remove grey hair?
No. Grey and white hair have no pigment for the laser to target. Electrolysis is the option for grey hair.
How many laser sessions will I need?
Usually 6 to 8. Our guide to how many laser hair removal sessions you need breaks it down by area.
Find out if laser suits you
We offer laser hair removal, not electrolysis. A laser consultation tells you whether your hair and skin are a good match, and if they aren’t, we’ll say so.
