Laser treatment requires the presence of hair follicles for it to work effectively, thus precluding plucking, waxing or chemical depilatories from interrupting their natural growth cycle and interfering with how well laser treatments perform. Plucking, waxing or chemical depilatories disrupt this natural cycle which compromises how effectively laser treatments perform.
Shaving promotes hair follicle activation and growth phase entry – something the laser specifically targets – while at the same time relieving itchiness and irritation associated with plucking and shaving.
Shaving 24 Hours Before Your Appointment
Shaving is essential before laser hair removal treatments to allow the laser to see the area more clearly, enabling it to target hair follicles without also targeting excess skin above them. Some people have quite thick layers of excess skin above their hair that would make it harder for the laser to find any potential follicles among it all.
As well as shaving the day of, and weeks leading up to, your appointment, it is advisable to forgo waxing, plucking, threading, or chemical epilation treatments on the area being treated as these techniques can disperse or damage hair follicles causing less responsiveness to laser treatment.
Whenever shaving on the day of an appointment, be sure to forego moisturizer and shave as gently as possible in order to decrease razor bumps, which can be both irritating and sometimes painful. It is also wise to exfoliate beforehand in order to rid dead skin cells that could potentially lead to razor burn.
After your laser session, it is advisable to shave immediately afterward as well. This is because laser energy will have stripped your skin of its natural oils, leading to itching or rashes on its surface. Furthermore, having dry skin for long periods isn’t good for its overall health – therefore moisturising post-shave will only make things better!
If you are taking any medications known to cause photosensitivity, such as antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline, make sure that you inform your specialist ahead of time. Being honest with them about medication could change the outcome of laser hair removal treatments, and can allow them to provide advice tailored specifically to you and your unique situation; such as suggesting alternative courses of treatment depending on health history.
Shaving on the Day of Your Appointment
As part of your preparation, it is recommended to shave 24 hours prior to laser therapy appointments using a clean razor, as using an old, dull razor could cause razor burn and skin irritation that interferes with treatment. Sharp, new razors not only help prevent cuts or nicks but will allow technicians to accurately target hair follicles on your skin surface.
Prior to laser hair removal, it is wise to avoid waxing, plucking or using depilatory creams as these techniques remove hair at its source and thus make no targetable target for laser treatment. Furthermore, such methods may irritate fragile skin due to shaving.
Shaving before your appointment is still recommended as this will ensure just enough hair growth for the laser to target. Regular shaving will result in finer, sparser regrowth from session to session. Furthermore, tanning beds and self-tanners should be avoided to avoid discoloration of skin that would compromise treatment effectiveness.
If you happen to get any sun exposure before or after laser hair removal treatment, be sure to apply and reapply medical-grade sunscreen regularly – particularly during the first several days following your procedure, when any discoloration might arise from treatments such as laser. This will protect the skin from discoloration that might otherwise develop as a result.
After your treatments have been completed, ideally no longer needing to shave, you should no longer need to. However, if this is still necessary for any reason it would be a good idea to start exfoliating once every four or five days so as to remove any hair that regrows due to damaged follicles regenerating themselves; eventually shaving frequency should eventually reduce to once or twice per week.
Shaving the Week Before Your Appointment
Before your laser appointment, try shaving with minimal pressure in order to prevent razor burn and any small grazes that might take multiple days to heal. It’s also helpful to use a new blade on sensitive areas like your face. Tanning before appointments should also be avoided since sun exposure increases melanin levels in skin which alter how laser treatments will react; additionally avoid plucking or waxing treatments as this could damage hair follicles making them less responsive to laser treatment.
Smudge proof your skin before your laser hair removal appointment by shaving at least once before your appointment – this helps stimulate just enough hair growth to be effective while decreasing any potential risk for irritation on treatment day. Furthermore, any lotions or ointments used prior to treatment could impede its effectiveness and could impact results negatively.
Waxing, plucking and tweezing should also be avoided prior to laser hair removal appointments as these methods remove hair above the skin’s surface, rendering laser technology ineffective against it. Furthermore, experts advise waiting at least four weeks between waxing sessions as this allows your anagen phase hairs to move into their anagen phase, making it easier for laser technology to target and destroy them more effectively.
As part of your laser hair removal treatment, it is advisable to avoid skincare products containing glycolic acid, retinol or scrubs which could potentially irritate or inflame the area being treated prior to starting therapy as they could lead to redness and irritation during your session. If in doubt as to which products would best suit you during this stage, always reach out for professional advice or consult your dermatologist as this can impact how the laser reacts with hair on your body. Also let them know if you are currently on your period as this could affect how it reacts with hair on your body during treatment sessions.
Shaving the Day of Your Appointment
Shave prior to any laser hair removal appointment for optimal results. Shaving can help ensure that your follicles contain enough pigment for the laser beam to effectively target and kill, rendering unwanted hairs permanent gone. In addition, shaving helps minimize ingrown hairs as it removes sharp, irritated ends of hair which could otherwise clog up laser beams and render laser removal ineffective.
Avoid alternative hair removal methods in the weeks preceding your laser session, such as waxing and plucking. These treatments remove hair directly from its source, leaving nothing for the laser to target and potentially leading to ineffective treatment.
If you use another hair removal method such as plucking or waxing, such as plucking or waxing, it is recommended to wait six weeks between sessions in order to give the hair follicle time to repair itself from previous damage. This allows time for regrow and recovery from previous sessions.
Tweezing or using depilatory creams are also effective at discoloring hair follicles; while not as painful, they still cause them to lose color. Furthermore, sun exposure should be limited if laser hair removal will be performed in the same area since sunburn could make your skin more sensitive and interfere with its effectiveness.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, using a topical numbing cream is an effective way to prepare the area to be treated and reduce discomfort. You have various options available – over-the-counter or prescription cream – depending on your preference and can speak to your specialist about this before beginning the process.
After your treatment, it’s normal and even beneficial to notice increased hair shedding; this is part of the healing process and shows that all follicles have been destroyed.
An electric razor is often recommended, as this will help to avoid ingrown hairs and maintain smooth, healthy-looking skin for the duration of life. Exfoliation should also be utilized to clear away dead cells which might prevent laser light from reaching its targets underneath your follicles.
