Hair removal guide
Electrolysis vs laser for grey hair comes down to one thing: pigment. Laser needs colour in the hair to work. Electrolysis treats each follicle directly, so grey, white and blonde hair can be treated.
Treatment illustrationThe short answer
Laser hair removal works by heating the pigment in the hair. Grey and white hair has little or no pigment, so the laser has nothing to target. Electrolysis uses a fine probe and a small current in each follicle, so hair colour does not matter.
That is why a laser that once worked can stop working as hair turns grey. The grey hairs are simply invisible to it.
How it works
Electrolysis treats one hair at a time. A fine sterile probe goes into the follicle and a precise current disables it at the source, so it works on grey, white, blonde, red and dark hair.
Many women first notice coarse hair on the chin as hormones change around perimenopause and menopause, often at the same age the hair turns grey. Hair grows in cycles, so treatment runs as a series of sessions.
Side by side
General information only. Your own suitability is checked at the patch test.
| Laser | Electrolysis | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Light heats the pigment in the hair | A fine probe and a small current in each follicle |
| Grey and white hair | Little or no effect | Treats it |
| Blonde and red hair | Often weak | Treats it |
| Dark hair | Treats it | Treats it |
| Best suited to | Large areas such as legs and underarms | Small areas such as the chin, upper lip and brows |
| How it is described | Hair reduction | Treated follicles stop growing hair |
Dark and grey together
If you have a mix of dark and grey hair, the two methods can work together. Laser can reduce the dark hair across a larger area. Electrolysis then treats the grey and light hairs the laser leaves behind.
If most of your hair is already grey, or the area is small, electrolysis on its own is usually the simpler route.
Read about electrolysis at WOB BeautyAbout this guide
Written from Bola's own treatment practice at the Fleet Street clinic. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Whether electrolysis suits you, and how many sessions you may need, is confirmed after a patch test.
Quick answers
Rarely. Laser targets the pigment in the hair. Grey and white hair has little or no pigment, so the laser has nothing to absorb its light and the hair is left behind.
Yes. Electrolysis treats each follicle with a fine probe and a small current, so it does not rely on hair colour. It treats grey, white, blonde, red and dark hair.
Hair grows in cycles, so a series of sessions is normally needed. The number depends on the area, hair density and your growth cycle, and Bola reviews it as treatment goes on.
Your first appointment
Book the electrolysis patch test, or send Bola a photo of the area on WhatsApp and ask anything first.
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm
Closed Sunday
