Super important note for anyone interested in future laser or electrolysis (from my friend who is a professional in the field): any removal method that rips the hair out of the follicle (tweezing, waxing, epilating) can over time warp the hair follicle making it far harder to treat with more permanent methods.
Electrolysis relies on a technician sticking a probe down into each follicle, and if your follicles are curved/warped then it becomes far harder for the probe to reach the base. Likewise laser requires heating up each hair via laser such that they are destroyed at the follicle - warped follicles reduce efficacy of this method as well.
I’ve read a while back that electrolysis is the only real way to permanently get rid of hair (ignoring new hair follicles). Does laser actually work to destroy hair follicles?
Laser is considered semi-permanent. It can destroy follicles completely, but it’s not entirely consistent. Most people will see a permanent decrease in the quantity of hairs, but some will often come back over time - typically still more fine and lighter than what was started with. Laser is typically best for larger areas, though hair color and type matters.
Electrolysis, on the other hand, totally destroys the follicles forever with successful treatment - though is far more costly and time consuming. Depending on the patient’s hair type and treatment area, it is often recommend to start with laser for bulk removal and then to move to electrolysis for final cleanup if total hair removal is that important to the patient (e.g. transfem facial hair removal).
Super important note for anyone interested in future laser or electrolysis (from my friend who is a professional in the field): any removal method that rips the hair out of the follicle (tweezing, waxing, epilating) can over time warp the hair follicle making it far harder to treat with more permanent methods.
Electrolysis relies on a technician sticking a probe down into each follicle, and if your follicles are curved/warped then it becomes far harder for the probe to reach the base. Likewise laser requires heating up each hair via laser such that they are destroyed at the follicle - warped follicles reduce efficacy of this method as well.
I’ve read a while back that electrolysis is the only real way to permanently get rid of hair (ignoring new hair follicles). Does laser actually work to destroy hair follicles?
Laser is considered semi-permanent. It can destroy follicles completely, but it’s not entirely consistent. Most people will see a permanent decrease in the quantity of hairs, but some will often come back over time - typically still more fine and lighter than what was started with. Laser is typically best for larger areas, though hair color and type matters.
Electrolysis, on the other hand, totally destroys the follicles forever with successful treatment - though is far more costly and time consuming. Depending on the patient’s hair type and treatment area, it is often recommend to start with laser for bulk removal and then to move to electrolysis for final cleanup if total hair removal is that important to the patient (e.g. transfem facial hair removal).
Not sure but for me laser has worked wonders in removing the hairs permanently. Haven’t needed to shave face and legs in over a year since!