Preparation Time

• It takes much longer to prepare for an electrolysis treatment than it does a laser hair removal treatment, as the former requires a probe to be inserted into each individual hair follicle. Meanwhile, laser hair removal can be performed as soon as the skin is exposed and the laser is turned on.
  
  

Treatment Time

• Treatments for both process are typically quick, though laser hair removal must be done from 4 to 12 times for full hair removal. Electrolysis can permanently kill a single follicle in just a few treatments.
  
  

Pain Level

• Both procedures cause some degree of discomfort. Lasers sting as they go over the skin, though the pain is typically minor unless they are targeting a sensitive area, such as the upper lip. Electrolysis is more painful, as the skin is being shocked with small volts of electricity. This is the primary reason electrolysis is not recommended for large patches of hair.
  
  

Overall Cost

• Laser hair removal usually requires several treatments, making it a costly process. Because electrolysis works in just a few treatments the cost is lower. But, as previously mentioned, having electrolysis done on a large amount of hair can dramatically increase your bill, since most electrolysis is priced per hair or on an hourly basis. Ultimately, choosing laser hair removal for a large area of hair may end up being more cost effective than electrolysis.
  
  

Overall Results

• Electrolysis typically achieves better results than laser hair removal, as it delivers an electric charge directly into the follicle, eventually killing it. Only a small fraction of patients see any regrowth. Laser hair removal is attracted to pigment and damages the follicle until it kills it. This means that a lighter colored hair may only have a damaged follicle, not a dead one. Thus, the hair will grow back. A large portion of patients see regrowth and have to undergo repeated procedures for maintenance.
  
  

Availability

• While electrolysis is available to most people, laser hair removal is an option for only a percentage of the average population. Since laser hair removal works on pigment, people with high pigment content in their skin are not eligible for treatment because they would be badly burned. Laser hair removal is also useless on light colored hair. So even if you have light skin, your light hair will be immune to the treatment.