Electrolysis Frequently Asked Questions

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The treatment requires carefully inserting an extremely thin insulated metal probe into each individual hair follicle (the root). An electrical current is then passed through the microscopic probe and into the follicle to destroy it. Once a hair follicle has been destroyed hair is no longer able to grow back from it.  

Electrolysis has few to none risks for a healthy person. Post treatment, the skin may be red, inflamed or tender to the touch. These side effects are temporary and should be gone within 12-48 hours post treatment. Any redness is easily covered with makeup afterwards. Please make sure to tell your esthetician about any health concerns you have before deciding to get a treatment done (diabetes, blood thinners, blood pressure etc.).

Only mild discomfort is felt when the electrical current enters the hair follicle. This treatment is never commonly described as painful and no discomfort remains after the treatment session is over.

The length of the treatment will be predetermined by the esthetician in a consultation and is dependent on the size of the area being treated. Larger areas will require more time. Electrolysis sessions are usually done in 15, 30, 45 or 60 minute intervals per session.

No set number of treatments can be predetermined as it is dependent on many factors such as size of the area being treated, how many hair follicles there are and whether or not they’re in the active stage during treatment. It is common to book appointments weekly at first and then gradually less often as hair lessens.  

Electrolysis and laser hair removal are two different methods of hair removal. The primary difference between them is that electrolysis can treat white and grey hair, while laser requires pigment to detect. Laser hair removal targets only the pigment in the hair. It means the laser cannot remove hair that does not have pigment. Laser treatment is more effective for larger areas with dark hair, while electrolysis works best on small to medium-sized areas. Electrolysis is perfect for those who have undergone laser treatment and still have some remaining stray hair that the laser did not remove.