Generally, laser hair removal treatments work best on fair skinned people with dark hair, so if you have blond hair or dark skin, you may not be a good candidate. People who have very light colored skin and those with very dark colored skin are often not qualified for this type of treatment.

In recent years, however, new lasers have been developed to work with other skin and hair combination. They are now able to target dark black hair in patients with dark skin or light hair (blond or gray) in patients with dark skin. Some studies indicated that patients with tanned or dark skin can now achieve hair reduction equal to fair skinned patients without undesirable side effects.

You have to understand that different lasers have been developed for different skin and hair combinations, so you’ll need to find a clinic with laser that works best for your skin type and hair color. Because everyone’s skin is different so go for a consultation and have a test patch done.

Once you find the right clinic, your results will depend on:

• Your hair type and skin type
• How many sessions you have. Usually a complete treatment is 3-4 sessions, but you may need 5 or more with darker skin tones or light hair.
• Your willingness to accept the fact that you may only achieve a 50% reduction in hair
• The clinic investments in technology and new lasers.
• The laser professional skill in working with laser technology. An experienced professional can make a difference when working with more difficult skin tones.

In special situations when laser hair removal is not recommended (because of certain medical conditions, for example, lupus or diabetes), you may be referred to an electrolysis practice or, if that’s not an option either, there are also some effective temporary hair removal treatments that you can do yourself at home.

Read more on my Laser Hair Removal blog. Also read about Laser Hair Removal Price, Laser Hair Removal For Bikini Line, and other methods of hair removal, such as waxing hair removal.

Electrolysis hair removal is an effective method of removing hair from the body, but it can be a tedious and painful process. This procedure can be used to remove individual hair from almost all parts of the body, however, because it can be a long and uncomfortable process, electrolysis is generally not recommended for large areas like the legs, bikini, or back. The most effective areas for electrolysis treatment are usually facial areas like the upper lip, chin, and cheeks.

Depending on the type of laser being used, laser hair removal may not be effective for very dark skin or very light hair, and electrolysis may be a good alternative. Also, even though laser treatments are said to offer “permanent hair reduction,” electrolysis has been proven to provide long term or “permanent hair removal.” In fact, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and American Medical Association (AMA) have recognized electrolysis as the only permanent method of removing hair.

The three basic types of electrolysis are galvanic, thermolysis, and blend. All of them provide similar results and involve inserting a thin metal probe into the hair follicle. Each of the methods have its benefits, and one method is not better than another. The success depends on the skill of the electrologist, the type of hair being removed, the condition of the skin and the pain threshold of the client.

All three methods, when properly performed, can be thorough at destroying the hair matrix cells, and leaving follicles incapable of regrowing hair. For total and permanent hair removal from a particular area, multiple electrolysis hair removal treatments are required. The total number of sessions needed may vary from person to person. These multiple sessions may be carried out on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis, depending upon the hair growth.

Although electrolysis is less painful than it used to be, but it’s still not a pain-free treatment. The use of topical anesthetics can also help reduce pain.

Electrolysis hair removal is a time consuming process and each treatment lasts between 15 minutes and two hours. This procedure is also expensive – the cost varies from $25 to $100 per hour.

Electrolysis treatments are a form of electrical epilation where a needle is inserted into the hair follicle and literally applies a zap of electrical current to each follicle in the treated area. When professionally performed, electrolysis results are comparable to those of laser hair removal, and may offer even more permanent results for people who are otherwise not a candidate for laser hair removal (i.e. people with extremely dark skin, or someone who has red, blonde or gray hair).

Choose the Right Professional for Your Treatment

Electrolysis requires a lot of skill, and even though electrolysis machines are sold for home use, it is recommended to have this procedure done by a licensed electrologist. Picking the right person to do the job may just be the most important factor in determining a safe and effective outcome. The removal of hair with electrolysis is a difficult procedure; the electrolysis needle must be inserted with precision in order for the treatment to be effective.

Because most states do not have any licensing regulations for electrolysis, so it may be difficult to find a reputable professional. The best way may be to get a recommendation from a friend or family member.

Electrolysis Side Effects

Electrolysis hair removal is usually a very safe procedure. Generally there are no permanent side effects. The most common side effect is the reddening of the skin during or immediately after treatment. Other side effects include swelling, blisters, dryness, scabs, and ingrown hairs. Redness and swelling should disappear in a few days. Scabs could be a sign of healing, but severe scabbing could lead to pigmentation changes and permanent scarring.

Keep in mind, that poorly performed electrolysis can cause lasting skin damage, can also spread infections, and can produce partial to full hair regrowth. Make sure your electrologist uses sterilized equipment. Remember that electrolysis hair removal is essentially an invasive process designed to destroy hair follicles, so make sure you are in good hands.

Read about other hair removal methods, including laser hair removal procedure cost and side effects.