Laser hair removal can be an effective solution to getting rid of unsightly body hair, but it takes several sessions for noticeable results to emerge, as well as adhering to certain guidelines between visits.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, it is recommended to shave the area to be treated. This helps the laser reach and destroy each individual follicle more easily.
Shaving
Shaving is a part of life for most, with women spending an estimated 72 days each year shaving! Unfortunately, it can be messy and inconvenient, leaving behind bumps and nicks which take time to heal.
Laser hair removal offers a permanent solution to unwanted hair. Before scheduling a session, however, there are a few things you should keep in mind before scheduling one. Shave the area either the day of or the few days prior as long hair must reach a certain length so the laser can work effectively – otherwise it could damage skin or cause burns.
Waxing, plucking and other methods of hair removal should also be avoided in advance of an appointment, as these remove hair directly from the follicle level – eliminating pigment targeted by laser treatment – which could result in ingrown hairs which can become an irritation over time.
Before your laser treatment begins, it is advisable to refrain from using any sunless tanning creams as these could darken your skin and reduce its effectiveness for laser treatment.
When it comes to shaving, the key element to remember is using a quality razor and taking your time. Rushing may result in ingrown hairs or uneven skin that makes laser treatments more painful and ineffective. You should also refrain from applying creams or oils before shaving as these may clog pores and prevent the laser from working correctly; an ideal time and place for you to do this would be after your shower when your skin will still be damp.
Waxing
Shaving is time consuming and often costly. Depending on your hair type, skin tone and the area that needs hair removal, laser hair removal could be an ideal way to permanently diminish or remove unwanted hair from your body.
Laser hair removal uses laser light to target the pigment in your hair and damage its follicle, in order to stop further hair growth in the future. For best results, it’s essential that the hair grows out a little before scheduling an appointment; to achieve maximum effectiveness it’s wise not to shave the area being treated at least 24 hours before your scheduled session.
If you shave just before an appointment for laser hair removal, any remaining stubble will absorb light and burn the skin rather than targeting hair follicles. Furthermore, shaving may nick or irritate skin in the treatment area which could lead to discomfort during your procedure.
At least several days before your treatment, it is advised to refrain from plucking or waxing the area as this removes pigment from your hair, making lasers incapable of targeting them effectively. Furthermore, tanning beds should also be avoided in order to provide the most successful outcome of this method of therapy.
Laser hair removal treatments typically last several minutes (treating the upper lip) to an hour (treating legs). You’ll wear protective glasses or goggles during this process and your practitioner may apply topical anesthetic for reduced discomfort; additionally they may apply ice for several minutes post-treatment.
Plucking
Laser hair removal could be the ideal solution to eliminating unwanted hair on your upper lip, arms, legs or bikini area. The treatment involves highly concentrated light being pulsed directly into your hair follicles to permanently destroy them – providing a safer and more effective alternative to sticky shaving cream and dull razor blades, or messy wax strips.
To ensure the best results from laser treatment, it’s essential that you follow some key tips prior to each session. In particular, it is recommended that you refrain from plucking or tweezing any to-be-treated areas at least three or four days before an appointment; hair grows in cycles; disrupting that natural cycle can result in uneven or incomplete coverage, necessitating additional sessions before reaching desired smooth skin results.
Before receiving laser treatment, it is also wise to forgo any products or creams which darken your skin, such as self-tanners. Such substances can interfere with how the laser reads your skin and may result in uneven or incomplete coverage.
Final Tip: Be Sure to Arrive for Your Appointment With Clean and Moistured Skin It is also beneficial to apply an anti-itch gel before going into the salon, to prevent post-treatment itching and irritation. Wear loose-fitting clothing in order to reduce redness or swelling after laser treatment has taken place.
Bleaching
Laser hair removal treatments are tailored to targeting pigment located within hair follicles on your skin. Therefore, bleaching or dyeing your hair before treatment should be avoided, as bleaching alters its color and makes it harder for lasers to accurately target it. Furthermore, bleaching makes it harder for lasers to differentiate between hair strands and surrounding tissue and may even burn your skin and leave red and itchy spots behind afterward.
Before attending your laser appointment, it’s also crucial that the area be shaved. Dermatologists and cosmetic doctors suggest shaving at least 24 hours in advance of any scheduled session as shaving too close could cause irritation to your skin leaving it dry and vulnerable for laser targeting of hair follicles and possibly leading to unnecessary pain and discomfort.
On the day of your laser treatment, it is wise to avoid wearing makeup and creams that could clog pores or prevent laser from reaching hair follicles, increasing risk of infection after laser treatment.
Finally, it’s essential to protect yourself from UV rays by wearing sunscreen. UV rays from the sun can cause your skin to darken over time, creating less contrast between hair color and skin tone and thus decreasing effectiveness of laser hair removal treatments.
Laser hair removal can be a fast and painless way to quickly get rid of unwanted hair or permanently address stubborn patches of growth, providing smooth skin in no time! Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan Magazine where she has spent nine years researching and writing about everything from detanglers and at-home laser treatments to detachment techniques and more.
Sunburn
Summer weather calls for sun-kissed skin, yet prolonged sun exposure may compromise laser hair removal efforts. UV rays combined with the heat generated from laser treatment may cause discoloration in treated areas and interfere with effective laser hair removal treatments.
Before having laser treatment, the most effective way to prepare is to forego tanning during the four weeks leading up to your appointment. Furthermore, use broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 protection on any area being treated and plucked or waxed from this location as these activities can disturb pigment located within hair follicles leading to unwanted regrowth if done before an appointment – it would be wiser if any plucking or waxing were to take place four weeks in advance of any such laser session.
Finally, it’s essential that you arrive at your appointment with clean skin. This means avoiding using lotions, oils, deodorant products or numbing cream on the area you intend to have treated; in addition to activities that raise body temperature like exercise or hot showering.
After spending so much time shaving, plucking and waxing our bodies, it is no wonder women and men alike are turning to laser hair removal as a more permanent and efficient solution for unwanted body hair. While traditional depilatories like shaving or waxing may lead to cuts, stubble and ingrown hairs, laser treatments offer long-term smooth skin. If you would like more information on laser hair removal and its potential advantages for beauty routines contact Knott Street Dermatology now; our staff would be delighted to find you the ideal treatment tailored to meet individual skin requirements! For more information please reach out today; our friendly team would be delighted to assist.
