Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal (and Waxing)
Pick the one for your hair.
Electrolysis treats one hair at a time and works on any hair color. Laser treats many hairs at once and works on dark hair. Here is how they compare, with waxing too.
- Laser: many hairs at once
- Electrolysis: one hair at a time
- We offer laser, not electrolysis
Is electrolysis or laser hair removal better?
It depends on your hair. Laser treats many hairs at once and works on dark hair, so it suits larger areas. Electrolysis treats one hair at a time and works on any hair color, so it suits small areas and light or gray hair. Magic FemTouch MedSpa in Oak Lawn offers laser hair removal, not electrolysis.
Updated
Electrolysis vs laser hair removal, side by side
| Question | Laser hair removal | Electrolysis | Waxing |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Light heats many hair roots at once | A fine probe treats each root with a small current | Pulls hair out by the root |
| Hair colors | Dark hair. Light, gray and red hair respond less | Any color, including gray and blonde | Any color |
| Suits | Legs, underarms, bikini, back, face | Small areas and stray hairs | Smooth skin for a few weeks |
| Visits | Usually 6 to 8, 4 to 8 weeks apart | Many visits, often over months | Every few weeks, for as long as you wax |
| Feels like | A quick snap of heat | A sting at each hair | A sharp pull |
| Between visits | Shave. Do not wax or pluck | Ask your electrologist | Let hair grow back to wax again |
| The result | Permanent hair reduction | Each treated root is destroyed, one by one | Hair grows back in weeks |
| At Magic FemTouch | Yes | Not offered | Not on our menu |
When laser hair removal fits
Laser suits you if your hair is darker than your skin, and you want to treat an area like the legs, underarms, bikini line or back. One pulse covers many hairs, so even full legs fit in one visit.
It takes a series, but each visit is short and you can shave in between. Settings are chosen for your skin type. See laser hair removal in Oak Lawn for every area we treat.
When electrolysis hair removal fits
Electrolysis suits blonde, red, gray and white hair. That hair has too little pigment for a laser to find. It also suits a few stray hairs, like some on the chin or brows.
Each hair is treated on its own, so a large area takes a long time. We do not offer electrolysis. If laser will not work on your hair, your provider tells you at the consult, before you pay for a series.
Consult first. Walk-ins welcome.
Want a provider to look at your skin first? Book a consult on 95th Street.
“So clean and professional they’ll tell you what you need and what you don’t need.”
Laser vs waxing: which lasts longer?
Waxing gives smooth skin for a few weeks, then the hair grows back and you wax again. Laser reduces the hair over a series, and most treated hair does not come back.
Waxing can still make sense for a one-time event, or for hair a laser cannot treat. If you start laser, stop waxing. Laser needs the root in place, so you shave between sessions.
Cost over time: laser, electrolysis and waxing
| Method | What sets the cost | Over the years |
|---|---|---|
| Laser hair removal | The size of the area and the number of sessions | Most of the cost is at the start, plus a touch-up now and then |
| Electrolysis | Time per visit and the number of visits | Many visits, so the cost depends on how many hairs |
| Waxing | How often you go | The same cost every few weeks, for as long as you wax |
For laser, ask what the full series costs. Here is what sets the cost of laser hair removal.
Can you use laser and electrolysis together?
Some people do, in order. Laser clears most of the dark hair in an area first. Electrolysis then treats the light or stray hairs that laser missed. Tell each provider about the other, so neither treats skin that is still healing.
New, fast-growing hair on the chin, chest or back can be a sign of a hormone change. If that is new for you, see your doctor too.
Consult first. Walk-ins welcome.
Not sure laser suits your hair? Your provider checks at the consult.
“Such a chic and beautiful med spa. The staff is so welcoming and professional.”
Questions
Electrolysis and laser questions
Is electrolysis better than laser for gray hair?
Yes. Gray and white hair has almost no pigment for a laser to find. Electrolysis treats each hair with a small current, whatever its color.
Does electrolysis hurt more than laser?
Many people find it does, because each hair gets its own sting and a visit can be long. Laser feels like a quick snap of heat across the area. Both can pause if you need a break.
Can I wax between laser hair removal sessions?
No. Waxing and plucking pull out the root, which is what the laser needs. Shave between sessions, and shave the area 24 hours before each visit.
Is laser cheaper than electrolysis?
For larger areas, usually. Laser treats many hairs with each pulse, while electrolysis treats one hair at a time. For a few stray hairs, electrolysis can cost less.
Is laser better than waxing?
For long-term smooth skin, laser lasts longer. Waxing has to be repeated every few weeks. Waxing still works on hair that laser cannot treat, like gray or blonde hair.
Does Magic FemTouch offer electrolysis or waxing?
No. We offer laser hair removal for women and men. If laser will not work well on your hair, your provider tells you at the consult, so you can look for an electrologist instead.
Book a visit
Request an appointment
The front desk calls or texts you back during opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday.
- Consult first, then the plan
- Walk-ins welcome
- Free parking
“The entire office is always very warm, welcoming, and professional. Everyone is extremely attentive and always answers all of my questions.”