Electrolysis vs. Laser, Plucking, Threading, Shaving, Depilatory Creams, Waxing & Sugaring

1. Electrolysis is a permanent solution for removing excess body hair. In this process, a very fine, sterile, probe (about the size of the hair itself) is inserted along the hair shaft and then an electric pulse is sent to the root (papilla) which destroys the cells responsible for growing hair. This makes the hair release from the follicle, which is then removed. For over 148 years (first used in 1875) electrolysis is still, to this day, the only medically proven method of permanent hair removal and is the only method of hair removal classified as "permanent hair removal" by the FDA.
    
2. Laser is effective for reducing excess hair. Laser targets the hair by using mild radiation that is attracted to dark-coloured hair (melanin) with the help of high-heat lasers. This is why your skin needs to be light and your hair needs to be dark. Laser can remove existing visible hair, but only permanently destroys 1 in 6 hairs at each treatment. These poor results from Laser are because the bulge and its stem cells are relatively transparent and therefore immune to heating by laser light. With laser hair removal, the laser beam connects with pigments (melanin), meaning dark skin can be burned by absorbing too much light. Additionally, it only works on dark hair - not white, grey, red or blonde.  It's not a permanent solution. For this reason, the FDA, the AMA (American Medical Association) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) only permits Laser to describe themselves as “permanent hair reduction”
   
   Additionally, in up to 10% of laser clients, laser can actually stimulate hair growth. This is called Paradoxical Hypertrichosis. 
    
   The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through its Center for Devices & Radiological Health regulates electrolysis equipment, lasers & other medical equipment. Amid the growing popularity of laser hair removal & the extravagant claims of manufacturers & clinics, the FDA reiterated its position that only electrolysis can permanently remove hair & warned laser clinics against making such claims.
   
    
3. Plucking/tweezing/threading is a way of hiding hair during early stages. It is an easy, temporary, fix. However, plucking from the follicle may lead to the distortion of the follicle, which may cause hair to thicken and turn darker. These methods can, and often do, cause ingrown hairs because sometimes hairs break off just below the skin when they're plucked. It's not a permanent solution. Excessive plucking can also lead to scarring & hyperpigmentation (discolouration).
    
4. Shaving is an easy, temporary, fix. However, if you have to do it daily, you can have issues like razor burns, irritation, redness, ingrown hairs and 5 o'clock shadow (grey patches on shaved area). Not to mention, it's d..a..i..l..y… for the rest of your life - a real time sink in a busy schedule. It's not a permanent solution.
   
    
5. Depilatory cream is another way of temporarily removing unwanted hair. Depilatories remove excess hair by the use of a chemical that dissolves the hair. Depilatory creams are made of a long list of chemicals, not good for the environment and not good for you. It's not a permanent solution.
   
    
6. Waxing is also effective for temporarily removing excessive hair. In waxing, warm wax is spread over the affected areas; cooled slightly and, while holding skin taunt, pulled off. Waxing can, and often does, cause ingrown hairs because sometimes hairs break off just below the skin when they're waxed. It's not a permanent solution.

    

7. Sugaring (similar to waxing) is also effective for temporarily removing excessive hair. In sugaring, sugaring mixture is spread over the affected areas; a strip of cloth is placed over area. After holding the skin tight, the cloth is pulled off. Sugaring can, and often does, cause ingrown hairs because sometimes hairs break off just below the skin when they're sugared. It's not a permanent solution

So, now that you have the facts - lets get you started!