C ountless laser hair removal services have opened in the past several years and all of them promise great results at unbeatable prices. However, these services rarely mention that laser hair removal is severely limited in its ability to remove hair and is simply not an option for many people.

The device commonly used in laser hair removal treatments works by targeting a dark colored hair pigment. For this reason people with fair hair often see sub-par results from laser treatments and those with both dark hair and dark skin often cannot be treated at all because they risk being burned by the laser. While generally safe for those who are candidates for treatment, it is still possible (although rare) that scarring or skin pigmentation problems can result from laser hair removal treatment. This side effect is not a concern with electrolysis.

Last but most significant is the fact that Laser treatment is NOT a permanent solution to remove ALL unwanted hair. The Mayo Clinic estimates that laser treatment generally reduces hair counts by only 40% - 80%, whereas electrolysis has been proven to completely remove ALL hair.

The Bottom Line: Laser hair removal should really be referred to as laser hair reduction. It's a viable option to reduce problematic hair for people with certain skin and hair types but is unlikely to permanently remove all unwanted hair.