How electrolysis and laser hair removal work, how they compare on speed, hair colour and sessions, and which suits you.
Electrolysis and laser are the two proven ways to reduce unwanted hair long term. They work in very different ways, and the right choice depends on your hair colour, your skin and how large an area you want treated.
How electrolysis works
Electrolysis treats one hair at a time. A very fine probe is placed into the hair follicle and a small electrical current destroys the root. Because it does not depend on pigment, it works on every hair colour, including white, grey, blonde and red hair that laser cannot see.
How laser hair removal works
Laser hair removal uses light that is absorbed by the pigment in the hair. The heat damages the follicle and slows regrowth. A laser treats thousands of hairs in each pulse, so a whole area such as the legs, underarms or bikini line can be covered in minutes. On brown skin, the right laser matters: the clinic uses the Candela GentleMax Pro, whose Nd:YAG laser is designed to pass safely through darker skin to the hair root.
Electrolysis or laser: a quick comparison
Speed: laser is far faster. Electrolysis suits small areas such as a few chin or eyebrow hairs.
Hair colour: electrolysis works on all hair colours; laser needs dark hair.
Sessions: laser usually needs six to eight sessions for an area. Electrolysis needs many short sessions, because each hair is treated individually and regrowing hairs must be caught in their growth phase.
Comfort: both cause some discomfort. Modern lasers with built-in cooling are well tolerated; electrolysis feels like a quick sting at each hair.
For most people, laser is the practical first choice for larger areas, with electrolysis kept for the few light or stray hairs left at the end.
Hair growth with PCOS
Extra facial and body hair is a common sign of PCOS. Both methods help, but the hormones behind it keep producing new hairs, so results last longer when the PCOS is treated too. A dermatologist can look at both. See our page on unwanted hair.
Frequently asked questions
Is electrolysis permanent?
Each successfully treated follicle stops producing hair, but it takes many sessions to treat every hair in an area.
Is laser hair removal safe on dark skin?
Yes, with the right laser and settings, such as the Nd:YAG laser on the GentleMax Pro.
Which is better for the face?
For dark facial hair, laser is usually quicker. For a few fine, light or grey hairs, electrolysis may be the better choice.
The clinic offers both electrolysis and laser hair removal, so the two can be combined: laser for the larger areas and electrolysis for the fine, light or grey hairs that laser leaves behind.
To find out which method suits your hair and skin, book a consultation with consultant dermatologist Dr. Fehmida Arif on WhatsApp at 0301 827 9630. The clinic is at 200/1 Clifton 1, Block 5, Clifton, Karachi.
Consultant Dermatologist and Laser Skin Specialist, MBBS, MCPS. Over 35 years in dermatology, five of them in Zurich, practising in Clifton, Karachi since 1999.
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