Electrolysis. Electrolysis, which zaps hair follicles with electric current, is the only hair removal method the FDA calls permanent. It suits all hair types and ethnicities. Many transgender people choose it for its effective, lasting results.
Electrolysis. Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved method for permanent hair removal, and it involves the actual destruction of the follicle using chemical or heat energy.
Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair, but it can be successfully used on all skin types.
The only way to permanently remove hair completely is electrolysis, which ablates each follicle at a time with a needle.
Electrolysis is permanent—and thus, longest lasting. Laser hair removal lasts up to six months and can be permanent with repeated applications, but works better on some people than others. Plucking hairs individually with tweezers lasts up to eight weeks.
Electrolysis is considered a more permanent solution than laser hair removal (it stops hair growth completely while laser hair removal slows and reduces hair growth), but it requires more individual sessions (closer to 14), and the sessions can take longer. You might not see full results for nearly 18 months.
Electrolysis can permanently remove unwanted hair. Once your hair is gone, you won't need maintenance treatments. It works on all hair types, including light-colored hairs, which lasers cannot remove.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, these IPL and other devices do work to remove unwanted hair, but it often takes many sessions, and the results are rarely permanent. IPL devices are generally safe, and they have been approved by the FDA for hair removal.
Electrolysis Cons
It's a time-consuming procedure requiring multiple sessions. Skin discoloration is a possibility. The electricity in the device can actually destroy the capillaries in the surrounding areas. It can be very painful.
The three most popular permanent hair removal methods are laser, IPL, and electrolysis.
No surprise there are many methods to get rid of it: you can epilate, tweeze, wax, sugar, thread, burn, shave or bleach; use creams, lasers, IPL, electrolysis or make-up. Surface removal methods like shaving are quick and easy, but stubble grows back fast.
Is electrolysis painful? Electrolysis doesn't typically cause too much discomfort. You may feel a slight tingling. Talk to your electrologist about a topical anesthetic (numbing cream) if necessary.
Electrolysis, which removes hair permanently. Threading, a technique that uses fine threads to pluck several vellus hairs out at the root. Waxing, which uses hot, sticky wax and a cloth to pull hairs from their follicles.
Electrolysis and laser hair removal can remove pubic hair long-term, however, there is a higher cost and discomfort to consider. Ultimately, how you choose to groom your pubic hair is your decision based on personal preferences, aesthetics, cleanliness, and comfort.
Electrolysis. Electrolysis, which zaps hair follicles with electric current, is the only hair removal method the FDA calls permanent. It suits all hair types and ethnicities. Many transgender people choose it for its effective, lasting results.
The main difference is that IPL therapy is gentler on the skin and usually requires more sessions than laser therapy for comparable results. Laser treatment is more intense and recovery is longer. It can achieve more noticeable results from fewer procedures.
The Candela Gentle Max Pro is a professional laser hair removal machine that uses a dual wavelength system of alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers to treat all skin types and hair colors. It is the gold standard for laser hair removal, as well as other skin and vascular treatments.
When done correctly, plucking can stop hair growth for up to six weeks, longer than many alternative hair removal methods. The reason plucking stops hair growth for so long is because it removes the hair directly from the hair follicle, the part of the hair strand that is anchored to your skin.
IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It works similar to laser hair removal, only it's way easier and safer to do at home. Lumi is a handheld device that targets unwanted hairs at the root and destroys them with light pulses (IPL) without burning or damaging your skin.
Laser hair removal is popular for its longer-lasting results. However, costs can vary for a full-body treatment. Typically, you're looking at about $200 to $400 per session. Since you need about six to eight sessions for the best results, the total can reach $1,200 to $3,200.
Electrolysis, in which an electrical current is used to destroy hair follicles, “is the one true permanent way to remove hair,” Davis says. Like lasers, it requires several treatments; unlike lasers, it requires no maintenance visits and works on light hair, according to the dermatology academy.
The most common side effects after an electrolysis session are slight redness, tenderness, and swelling. These are all temporary side effects. Don't apply anything to your skin unless specifically instructed to do so.