In the context of hair removal, permanent hair removal can be a year or more. In other cases, a few months is described as permanent hair removal. If you are seeking a permanent hair removal solution that will last for a long period of time then you narrow down your choice to electrolysis or laser treatment.

Suggestion: Hair inhibitors are much less expensive than electrolysis and laser treatment. They significantly reduce hair growth and in some cases the results are permanent.

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Permanent Hair Removal Option 1:
Electrolysis

Electrolysis refers to the destruction of hair roots with an electric current. Very fine metal probes are inserted into the hair follicle. A small electric current is then applied which destroys the hair root. Each hair has to be treated individually.

Usually there is a rate per hour. Get an estimate of how many hours are required for your particular problem and then multiply it by the rate per hour. A cheap hourly rate does not necessarily mean lower cost if the procedure takes longer than it should. Quotations can vary from $25 to $100 per hour.

The pain level depends on the individual's level of sensitivity. Some describe the discomfort as being similar to using tweezers. Others complain of excessive pain during the treatment. A qualified electrologist will be able to suggest methods for minimizing the discomfort.

Time needed for the treatment varies greatly from person to person. Factors such as the size of the area to be treated, the curvature of the hair follicle, the level of skin sensitivity, hormonal balance and heredity all have an effect.

Here are some estimates although they can vary from person to person:

Upper Lip 4-10 hours
Chin 2-12 hours
Sideburns 4-8 hours
Eyebrows 3-8 hours
Underarms 4-12
Arms 5-10 hours
Bikini Line 8-16 hours

How long does electrolysis last?

Electrolysis is often viewed as a permanent hair removal method. Once the hair root is destroyed, the hair will not grow back. There are exceptions however. In some cases hair does regrow in places and clients need to return once or twice a year for a cleanup.

Hair can continue to grow in the underarms, pubic area and around the nipples during a woman's reproductive years.

Permanent Hair Removal Option 2:
Laser

The other long term or permanent hair removal method is Permanent Hair Removal Laser. Laser systems emit a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The hair absorbs it, the energy from the laser is transformed into heat and the hair follicle is disabled.

Electrolysis can be a tedious, painful process destroying each hair follicle one at a time. This can sometimes require treatment over years at regular intervals. Lasers on the other hand can treat hundreds of hair follicles simultaneously so the process is much quicker.

Those Best Suited For Permanent Hair Removal Laser

Coolglide Technology

With CoolGlide's unique design, there is now the flexibility to treat all skin types. Before CoolGlide, tanned patients and persons with darker skin could not expect good results from laser treatment.

A CoolGlide device has a longer wavelength which allows it to treat all skin tones. While patients with fair skin still respond the best, medical studies indicated that patients with tanned or dark skin can now achieve hair reduction equal to fair skinned patients without undesireable side effects.

Other Permanent Hair Removal Laser Devices

With some laser equipment, an absolute requirement is that the hair must be darker than the surrounding skin.

White skin with dark hair responds best. Persons with dark, coarse hair are the easiest to treat as dark hair contains melanin, a dark pigment which attracts the laser light so more laser energy is absorbed. Fewer sessions are needed.

Light colored hair is more difficult to treat and blonde and red hair are very difficult to treat requiring multiple sessions with varied results.

Anyone on a diet high in beta-carotene will need to change eating habits if they want best results. Beta-carotene, found in vitamin A, carrots, squash and other vegetables produces a yellow or orange color in the skin which absorbs the laser energy and interferes with it reaching the hair follicle.

As beta-carotene can remain in the body for months, an adjustment in diet may be needed well in advance for optimum results.

Persons with light skin are the easiest to treat, requiring less sessions as the results are faster.

Persons with dark skin or sun tanned skin take longer to get results because melanin, the dark pigment in hair, is also present in skin. Melanin absorbs some of the laser light.

There is the danger of dark skin being burned in these instances so a laser beam with a lower energy level is used. For this reason also a higher level of expertise is required on the part of the clinic.

Regarding cost, this depends on the size of the area needing treatment. A consumer guide on laser treatment gives $500 per treatment session as a reasonable average with 3 to 4 sessions often necessary.

The whole area on the back or the legs can cost considerably more while smaller areas such as the upper lip can cost less. Individual consultations are necessary to establish accurate pricing.

Is it safe? The laser uses a wavelength of light which passes through the skin. Unlike x-rays, there is no residual left in the body.

Skin may appear pink or red after treatment. This disappears - in some cases after some minutes, in other cases after a few hours, or in still other cases, a few days. Use of cold packs will speed up the recovery time.

Hair goes through cycles. Anagen refers to the growth stage of hair. Laser treatment works best on hair that is in the anagen stage. While one laser treatment may have long lasting effects, repeated treatments are necessary for best results to catch all the hairs as they enter the anagen stage.

After the first treatment hair will gradually fall out over the next two months. Repeated treatments are necessary to catch all the hairs in their various stages of growth.

Photo-Epilation or pulsed light devices use the same principle as lasers but they are not lasers. An intense pulsed light is used to disable hair follicles with minimal side effects.

It can be effective in permanent hair removal but requires a higher level of skill in operating as it is more difficult to adjust than lasers.

Due to it's larger spot size, large areas of the body such as the back or legs can be treated rapidly. One study showed a 50 to 60 percent clearance of hair in 12 weeks.