Guide · Hair removal
Permanent Hair Removal in Singapore what actually lasts, and what does not
Only one method is generally described as permanent hair removal, and it is not the one most people are sold. Here is how waxing, laser, IPL, SHR and electrolysis really compare.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 18 October 2026
Quick answer
- Electrolysis is the method generally described as permanent hair removal: a fine probe and a small electric current destroy each follicle, one hair at a time, over many sessions. Neither SkinRev Lab nor IN Eternity Clinic offers electrolysis.
- Laser and IPL give long-term hair reduction, not removal of every hair. In the US, hair removal lasers are cleared for "permanent hair reduction", defined as a long-term, stable fall in the number of hairs that regrow.
- Laser hair removal is performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic on the Lutronic Clarity II (755 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths), and priced at consultation by the clinic.
- Waxing at SkinRev Lab, a non-invasive aesthetic centre at CityLink Mall, is temporary: smooth for about four to six weeks, from S$18 an area, GST included. For a full Brazilian, we point you to laser instead.
The honest definition
Permanent hair removal vs permanent hair reduction
Permanent hair removal means the follicle is destroyed and that hair does not grow back. Electrolysis is the method put in this category. Cleveland Clinic describes it as the only method the FDA has approved for permanent hair removal, and US FDA consumer guidance described it as permanent because it destroys the hair follicle.
Permanent hair reduction is the term attached to laser. In US clearance documents for hair removal lasers, it is defined as a long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing, measured six to twelve months after a course. Many hairs stop, others come back finer and lighter, and some areas need occasional maintenance. Hormonal change can also wake new follicles.
The research is more cautious still. A Cochrane review of randomised trials found roughly 50% short-term hair reduction with alexandrite and diode lasers up to six months after treatment, little evidence for IPL, and no documented long-term removal with any method; none of the trials was of high quality. So if anyone promises that laser, IPL or SHR will remove every hair forever, they are promising more than the evidence supports.
Side by side
Every method compared: permanence, sessions and who it suits
Results vary with hair colour, skin tone, area and hormones, and suitability should be assessed first.
| Method | How it works | How long it lasts | Sessions | Suits | At SkinRev Lab or IN Eternity Clinic? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaving | Cuts hair at the skin surface | A few days | None; done at home | Quick touch-ups, any hair | Not applicable |
| Waxing | Pulls hair from the root; follicle unchanged | About 3 to 6 weeks; temporary | Repeat every 4 to 6 weeks | Any hair colour, including grey and blonde; a clean result for an event | Yes, at SkinRev Lab, from S$18 an area, GST included |
| Laser hair removal | Light absorbed by pigment in the hair heats and damages the follicle | Long-term reduction; some maintenance | A course, roughly 4 to 8 weeks apart, planned at consultation | Dark hair on most skin tones, with the wavelength matched to the skin | Yes, by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, priced at consultation |
| IPL | Broad-spectrum flash-lamp light, not a laser, aimed at hair pigment | Long-term reduction; evidence weaker than for some lasers | A course | Dark hair, particularly on lighter skin | Not offered at SkinRev Lab |
| SHR | Originally a low-energy, high-repetition, multi-pass mode on a diode laser; the name is now used loosely | Long-term reduction | A course | Depends on the actual device used | Not offered at SkinRev Lab |
| Electrolysis | A fine probe in each follicle; an electric current destroys the growth cells | Described as permanent for each follicle destroyed | Many sessions, often weekly or fortnightly, for up to about 18 months | All hair colours and skin tones; smaller areas and stray hairs | Not offered at SkinRev Lab or IN Eternity Clinic |
Laser at IN Eternity Clinic
Laser hair removal: long-term reduction, performed by a doctor
At IN Eternity Clinic, the clinic SkinRev Lab is affiliated with, it is performed by Dr Sin Yong (MBBS Singapore, MRCS Edinburgh, MSc Practical Dermatology Cardiff) on the Lutronic Clarity II. Its 755 nm alexandrite wavelength suits fairer skin and finer dark hair; its 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength is absorbed less by skin pigment and is the safer choice for tanned or darker skin. The doctor chooses, area by area.
Only hairs in the active growth phase carry heat down to the root, so laser is given as a course, spaced roughly four to eight weeks apart depending on the area. The number of sessions is planned at consultation, because it depends on the area, the hair and your hormones.
Laser cannot target white, grey, very blonde or red hair well, because there is too little pigment. Treatment is usually deferred during pregnancy, on freshly tanned skin and with some light-sensitising medicines. Stop waxing and plucking about four weeks beforehand and shave instead.
IPL and SHR
IPL and SHR: what the letters mean, and what to ask
IPL (intense pulsed light) is not a laser. Singapore's National Environment Agency describes IPL devices as flash lamps emitting broad-spectrum light, usually between 500 and 1200 nm, that can destroy hair follicles; inappropriate treatment can cause burns and eye injuries. NEA notes that IPL devices are not regulated under the Radiation Protection Act, unlike lasers, and that only registered medical practitioners may operate class 4 high-power lasers on people, at premises approved by the Ministry of Health.
On results, a meta-analysis of trials in skin types III to VI found broadly similar outcomes across lasers and IPL, with alexandrite laser reducing hair counts more than IPL and long-pulsed Nd:YAG causing less post-inflammatory darkening than IPL.
SHR is usually expanded as "super hair removal". In published studies it is the name of an in-motion mode on an 810 nm diode laser: low energy, high repetition, many passes. In one randomised side-by-side study it gave hair reduction at six months similar to a conventional single-pass diode laser, with lower pain scores. Today the letters are used by many providers for different machines, so the name alone does not tell you what you are getting.
- Is this a laser or IPL, and what is the device and wavelength?
- Who operates it, and what training or licence do they hold?
- What changes for my skin tone, and will you do a test patch?
- How many sessions are planned, what happens if I need more, and is maintenance extra?
Electrolysis
Electrolysis: permanent, but slow and one hair at a time
In electrolysis, a trained electrologist slides a very fine probe into the opening of each follicle and passes a small electric current that destroys the hair's growth cells. It does not depend on pigment, so it works on any hair colour and skin tone.
The trade-off is time. Each hair is treated individually, and because hairs are at different stages of growth, people typically need appointments every week or two for up to about a year and a half, depending on the area and the hair. Expect brief redness. Darker skin can develop temporary dark spots, and infection or scarring are rare risks when it is not done properly, so ask about sterile, disposable equipment.
Electrolysis suits small areas and hair laser cannot see, such as stray grey hairs on the chin. SkinRev Lab and IN Eternity Clinic do not offer electrolysis. If it is the right method for you, look for a trained electrologist.
Brazilian
Brazilian and Boyzilian: why we point you towards laser
The intimate area is where repeated hair removal most often brings ingrown hairs, bumps and irritation, and a Brazilian wax has to be repeated every four to six weeks. If you want the area bare for the long run, laser hair removal at IN Eternity Clinic is usually the better route, because it reduces the hair itself over a course of sessions.
SkinRev Lab still waxes for clients who want a clean result for a holiday or event, or whose hair is too light for laser.
Costs
How hair removal is priced
Waxing at SkinRev Lab is priced per area in four bands, GST included, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay. New clients get a first-visit rate once, on one area, at their first session.
Laser hair removal at IN Eternity Clinic is priced at consultation by the clinic, because the cost depends on the areas, their size and the number of sessions your hair is likely to need. Whoever you see for laser, IPL, SHR or electrolysis, ask for the total for a course, not only the price per session.
| Waxing band | Example areas | Women | Men | First visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Upper lip, chin, sideburns | S$18 | S$28 | S$12 |
| Medium | Underarms, bikini line, half arms | S$38 | S$48 | S$28 |
| Large | Half legs, full arms, extended bikini | S$58 | S$68 | S$38 |
| Extra Large | Full legs | S$98 | S$118 | S$68 |
Before you choose
When to see a doctor first, and where to find us
- New, coarse hair on the face, chest or tummy as a woman, especially with irregular periods, acne or scalp thinning, can point to a hormonal cause such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Get it checked before any hair removal plan.
- Hair growth that has changed suddenly should be assessed first.
- Moles, an active rash or recent heavy tanning in the area need a doctor's look before laser or IPL.
- SkinRev Lab: #B1-28 CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393, underground between City Hall MRT (EW13/NS25) and Esplanade MRT (CC3). Daily, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp +65 8266 9585.
- IN Eternity Clinic: 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm, closed Sunday. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008, or ask us to pass your enquiry on.
Sources
References & sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Electrolysis. Medically reviewed; last updated 5 January 2021.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Removing Hair Safely. FDA Consumer, 27 June 2007 (republished by Drugs.com).
- US Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) clearance K240396, Cynosure Elite iQ PRO Laser System, 8 March 2024.
- Haedersdal M, Gøtzsche PC. Laser and photoepilation for unwanted hair growth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(4):CD004684. PMID 17054211.
- Dorgham NA, Dorgham DA. Lasers for reduction of unwanted hair in skin of colour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(5):948-955. PMID 31587390.
- Koo B, Ball K, Tremaine AM, Zachary CB. A comparison of two 810 diode lasers for hair removal: low fluence, multiple pass versus a high fluence, single pass technique. Lasers Surg Med. 2014;46(4):270-274. PMID 24752608.
- National Environment Agency, Singapore. Information on IPL devices.
- National Environment Agency, Singapore. Advisory on sale, distribution, possession and use of non-ionising irradiating apparatus controlled under the Radiation Protection Act 2007.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
Is there any permanent hair removal in Singapore?
Electrolysis is the method generally described as permanent hair removal, because it destroys each follicle it treats. Laser and IPL give long-term reduction rather than removal of every hair. SkinRev Lab and IN Eternity Clinic do not offer electrolysis.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
Not in the sense of every hair gone forever. Laser gives long-term reduction: many hairs stop, others return finer and lighter, and occasional maintenance is common. Hormonal changes can activate new follicles. Results vary.
Is IPL or SHR the same as laser?
No. IPL uses a broad-spectrum flash lamp rather than a laser. SHR began as a low-energy, multi-pass mode on a diode laser, but the name is now used for different machines, so ask what device and wavelength you are being treated with.
How many laser sessions will I need?
It depends on the area, your hair colour and thickness, and hormones, so IN Eternity Clinic plans a course at consultation rather than promising a number. Sessions are usually four to eight weeks apart.
Does waxing eventually stop hair growing?
No. Waxing removes the hair from the root but leaves the follicle working, so hair grows back, usually within four to six weeks. For less hair long term, consider laser.
What works for grey, white or very fair hair?
Laser and IPL respond poorly, because the hair has too little pigment. Waxing at SkinRev Lab removes it for a few weeks, and electrolysis, from a trained electrologist elsewhere, is the option that does not depend on hair colour.
How much does permanent hair removal cost?
Waxing at SkinRev Lab is S$18 to S$118 an area, GST included. Laser hair removal is priced at consultation by IN Eternity Clinic, after Dr Sin Yong has assessed your skin and hair.