Is the new trend electrolysis better for hair removal than laser?

If you’re unbothered by your body hair, then great; but if you’re tired of constantly shaving, waxing, or even trying all those DIY homemade hacks from Instagram or YouTube to remove your hair permanently, you’re not alone.
But if you’re here, chances are quite high that none of the above-mentioned methods have worked for you. To deal with excessive body hair, many women turn to laser hair removal, a treatment once marketed as a permanent solution.
However, laser hair removal isn’t actually permanent. An older method called electrolysis is making a comeback for a more lasting solution, thanks to social media.
Electrolysis, which various dermatologists are now recommending on social media, is seen as a permanent hair removal method. But if you’re thinking about whether it is suitable for Indians and if it is available in India, don’t worry, we got you!
Let’s start with the basics.
Jackie, AKA @Your_Hairy_Godmother on her social media, is a 37-year-old woman who has been sharing her experience with hair removal treatments online, especially on YouTube. She has PCOS and deals with hirsutism, a condition that causes excessive hair growth, and she gets thousands of views on her videos.
In one of her videos, she explains how she tried almost every method before turning to electrolysis, which seems to have worked for her. According to Jackie, laser treatments actually worsened her hair growth.
“I was 33 when I discovered electrolysis as a permanent solution, especially for facial hair,” she shares. Her treatments took nearly three years, but she believes it was worth it, as she now has minimal regrowth and most of her hair has been permanently removed. She specifically targeted her chin, where she had most of her abnormal hair growth.
Jackie isn’t alone. In India, one in five women has PCOS, one symptom of which is excessive hair growth caused by elevated androgens, or male hormones. For women with PCOS or finer hair, laser hair removal often doesn’t work well.
This is where electrolysis comes in.
Dr Sayyad Ajara T Hamid, a consultant dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon at The Eterne Clinic in Powai, Maharashtra, tells India Today that electrolysis works by permanently removing hair at the follicle level.
Dr Siham Affreen, a consultant dermatologist at Kosmoderma in Bengaluru, agrees and adds that while electrolysis can be performed on any body area with hair, it’s especially effective for sensitive areas like the face and bikini line.
Dr Ajara further adds that during the electrolysis, each strand of hair is targeted and destroyed at the growth centre of each follicle individually. When the electrical current reaches the follicle, it damages the cells that are essential for hair growth. Since hair grows in cycles, multiple sessions are typically required to treat each follicle during its active growth phase, ensuring that all follicles are effectively destroyed over time.
We asked various experts and according to them, even though the laser is a less painful and less expensive method, it is not a permanent solution to your hairy problems. Dr Ajara lists the differences:
The way it works
Permanency
Time commitment
Adaptability
Even though experts say that electrolysis does not have many side effects, it does not mean it has none. In fact, Dr Deepali Bhardwaj, a dermatologist from New Delhi, says that since electrolysis is a very time-consuming process, it is not suited to be done on the entire body; rather, it should be done in only specific areas like the chin, and side locks or underarms.
She says that electrolysis’s side effects are that it is much more painful (than a laser), and it can leave burn marks, pigmentation, or even a mark.

Electrolysis targets individual follicles, providing permanent results. Photo: Getty Images

Moreover, electrolysis might take a lot more sessions than laser, which in turn can turn out to be quite an expensive affair. For instance, in India, one session roughly costs around Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 and for just your chin, you might need 8-12 sessions!
Laser hair reduction works well, but it’s not a permanent solution and needs occasional touch-ups. On the flip side, electrolysis can give permanent results, but it takes patience, a bit of a budget, and a high pain tolerance. So, it’s best to choose based on what fits your needs after doing your own research and speaking to an expert.