Which Should You Choose: Professional Laser Hair Removal or At Home Epilation?
These days, you have a lot of options for easy, effective, and pain-free hair removal – at-home epilators and laser hair removal among them.
Both of these treatments are popular options with unique benefits. But which is the right treatment for you? Is professional laser hair removal worth it when you can easily remove hair at home with an epilator?
This article answers these questions and more as we dive into the difference between professional laser hair removal and at-home epilation. The goal of this article is to give you a better idea of which will suit your lifestyle, budget, and goals best.
Which Should You Choose: At-Home Epilation or Professional Laser Hair Removal?
Stadia Med Spa has offered professional laser hair removal for 17 years. We know first-hand the long-lasting results this popular hair removal treatment can offer. In the last 17 years, we’ve also seen a shift as more and more people consider at-home treatments like epilation.
While we may be a bit biased in thinking that laser hair removal is the best treatment, we also understand it may not be right for everyone. Let’s start by breaking down the basics of both treatments.
What is Epilation Hair Removal?
Epilation is when you remove hair from the roots. Therefore, epilation hair removal includes a variety of at-home hair removal treatments including waxing, sugaring, threading, and using an epilator.
For this article, we will look specifically at epilators and their effectiveness, safety, and cost.
- Epilators are a hand-held electrical device that uses oscillating discs or tweezers to remove hair directly from the follicle.
- The process is slightly uncomfortable, but users get used to the sensation over time.
- Epilators can be used on the legs, arms, underarms, and face (depending on the type of epilator and attachments used).
What is Professional Laser Hair Removal?
Professional laser hair removal applies a laser to the treatment area which targets the melanin in your hair and creates heat inside the hair follicle. The heat damages the follicle and makes it more difficult for hair to regrow, which is what makes laser hair removal have such long-lasting results.
These machines are most effective during the active hair growth stage, so multiple treatments are typically necessary to target hairs that are in different stages.
At-Home Epilation or Professional Laser Hair Removal?
So, now you know the basic difference between an epilator and professional laser hair removal. We still believe that laser hair removal is the most effective and longest-lasting hair removal treatment on the market. However, that doesn’t mean that laser hair removal is the best treatment option for you.
In this section, we will compare and contrast epilation and professional laser hair removal to help you choose which suits your lifestyle, budget, and goals.
Which is More Effective?
Both, epilation and laser hair removal get rid of unwanted hair from the root which makes them more effective than shaving.
Epilation has many benefits including smooth skin for an extended period, less maintenance, and potential benefits such as finer hair regrowth and fewer ingrown hairs. When you compare epilation to shaving, epilation is more cost-effective, longer-lasting, and convenient.
However, we would argue that laser hair removal is even more effective than epilation.
Epilation removes hair from the root which takes several weeks to grow back. But the process doesn’t prevent hair regrowth. Laser hair removal causes strategic damage to the hair follicle so that hair either doesn’t grow back or grows back lighter and thinner than before.
With several treatments, you can improve your laser hair removal results and see a dramatic reduction in the amount of hair in the treatment area.
If you do not epilate regularly or don’t know how to do it properly, you may see an increase in ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal does not cause ingrown hairs and can actually be used to get rid of existing ingrown hairs.
Overall, we believe that laser hair removal is the most effective because it removes hair from the root, reduces hair growth and thickness, prevents ingrown hairs, guarantees smooth skin, and is relatively quick!
Which is Safer?
Both epilation and laser hair removal are recognized for their safety and efficiency. However, there are certain aspects to consider when you choose between the two.
- Laser hair removal may seem more dangerous, and in some ways it is. When laser hair removal is done by anyone but a professional, the treatment itself can cause permanent damage to the skin including changes to the skin color, burns, scars, and infection.
- Epilation is certainly less likely to cause burns, scars, or changes to your skin. Likely side effects of improper epilation are ingrown hairs, broken capillaries, bruising, infections, and irritation.
Overall, both treatments are safe, but laser hair removal should always be done by a professional while epilation is safe to do at home.
Which is More Affordable?
A basic epilator costs between $20 and $50. A more advanced one may cost over $120. Epilators for specific areas of the body – including your face and bikini line – could be even more expensive.
However, when it comes to epilators, you typically buy it once and reuse it multiple times.
Laser hair removal is more expensive. However, the treatment is an investment that pays off over time. The more you treat an area with laser hair removal, the less hair you will have.
The cost of a single laser hair removal appointment depends on the treatment area.
- Small Areas (e.g., upper lip, chin): $50 to $150 per session
- Medium Areas (e.g., underarms, bikini line): $100 to $350 per session
- Large Areas (e.g., legs, back): $300 to $900 per session
The overall cost will also depend on a few factors, including the color and thickness of your hair, and how fast your hair grows back.
When it comes to cost up front, epilators are certainly cost-effective and will save you money when you switch from waxing, shaving, or other disposable hair removal options. However, if you are looking for long-term cost benefits, laser hair removal is the best investment.
Which Will You Choose?
In our examination of epilators vs professional laser hair removal, we’ve proven that laser hair removal is the most effective treatment on the market. However, if your budget doesn’t allow for an up-front investment or you are wary about permanent results, you may want to consider an at-home epilator instead!
Book Your Treatment Today!
Stadia Med Spa is ready to help you discover a beautiful, confident you with professional laser hair removal. At-home epilators are increasingly popular and we can see why! However, when you consider all factors, laser hair removal is still the most effective, cost-efficient, and longest-lasting hair removal treatment on the market!
Contact Stadia Med Spa to schedule your treatment today! Or start with a free consultation if you want more information.
Call 210-881-6270 today!
