Laser hair removal works by heating hair at its root to destroy it and thus stop future hair growth in the treatment area. Plucking or waxing removes hair without leaving anything for the laser to target, so these activities should be avoided prior to booking your appointment with them.
Shaving is advised between sessions, provided the hair has reached an appropriate length; ideally it should be in its anagen phase of its growth cycle.
Shaving
Your medical provider will instruct you to shave several days prior to laser hair removal treatment in order to ensure the hair is at an appropriate length for treatment and reduce the risk of irritation. Wait until the area has healed from previous shaving before shaving again.
Before attending your laser session, it is advisable to avoid waxing and plucking as both methods remove hair directly from the root, potentially interfering with its success.
As much as possible, avoid swimming in pools, oceans or lakes as well as attending gym classes to prevent skin irritation caused by chemicals present there. Instead, take a cool shower or bath and moisturise frequently to keep skin hydrated and maintain proper hydration levels.
Shaving is generally safe and can help to prepare the skin for laser hair removal sessions more effectively, as this allows it time to absorb any moisture absorbed through shaving too closely to the surface of your skin. Shaving too soon could also result in razor burn, which is never healthy for the complexion.
Shaving too close will prevent laser light from targeting hair follicles effectively and leave your skin irritated and itchy. An electric razor equipped with protective coating is the best way to ensure an even closer shave without irritating skin. Exfoliation prior to shaving also helps ensure smooth results without irritation to ensure you can achieve an easy close shave that leaves no mark behind.
After your laser hair removal treatment, you will notice that your hair begins to fall out. This indicates that the laser was successful in damaging the follicles that produce hair growth and stopping any future growth. While full shed may take some days, once complete shaving should resume as normal.
As part of your laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential that during the healing process, it’s crucial that you protect yourself from direct sunlight as this can lead to dark spots on the skin and could potentially result in sunburns. Wear sunscreen with SPF 30+ protection as soon as you step outside – any other products such as makeup or lotion could interfere with results and delay healing time.
Waxing
Laser hair removal offers a safe, permanent solution for unwanted body hair. Results usually take some time to become apparent; in the meantime it’s essential that you know how to care for and maintain your treatment area to maximize results and ensure smooth skin is achieved. Shaving is part of this maintenance routine but only at specific times or under specific conditions will it produce optimal results.
Waxing removes hair at its source; in contrast, shaving cuts it close to the surface of the skin so the laser can target and destroy the follicle without harming nearby tissue. However, too soon before your laser treatment you could shave again too early, leading to irritation and less effective results from laser hair removal.
Before coming in for laser hair removal treatment, the ideal time and place to shave is the day before the appointment. By doing this, you can ensure your hair is at its shortest, making it easier for the laser to target it during treatment and also helping prevent long hairs from becoming too long between sessions which could potentially burnt by the laser and singe your skin creating a painful experience that reduces effectiveness of treatment.
Waxing and plucking should be avoided before scheduling laser hair removal appointments as this can damage follicles and leave them vulnerable to further injury. Furthermore, these practices can make it more difficult for laser devices to target individual follicles efficiently thereby making destruction harder for this device.
Once you’ve undergone laser hair removal treatment, it is important to keep in mind that regrowth is normal. Although new hairs will still emerge from treated areas, they will likely be much finer and shorter than before. After treatment it is advisable to wait several days before shaving in order to allow your skin to heal more fully and reduce irritation; once fully recovered shave regularly for smooth skin!
Exfoliating
After laser hair removal, exfoliation is crucial in helping your results last longer and improving the appearance of your skin. Exfoliation should also take place prior to appointments; this allows any dirt or oil that clogs your pores to be cleared away while protecting hair follicles from getting damaged during treatment. Be careful when overexfoliating as too much exfoliation could irritate and sensitise the skin, leading to possible negative side effects like inflammation.
After laser hair removal sessions, shaving is permitted; however, it’s wise to wait a few days before shaving to allow the skin to recover fully and use gentle techniques such as soft wash cloth, puffy shower sponge or loofah rather than razor. Shaving too soon could irritate or even damage skin inflicting further irritation and bleeding.
Before your laser appointment, it is also wise to avoid waxing and tweezing in the area as this allows the laser to see and target hair follicles more accurately; also, waxing/tweezing pulls hair out from its root, potentially leading to thicker and darker regrowth than it had been prior to your treatment.
Laser hair removal can be very successful at reducing the amount of hair in an area being treated, though any that does come back back is typically thinner and sparser than before treatments were undertaken. Many people notice an improvement after only one session; however, for optimal results it usually requires multiple appointments over time.
If you’re considering laser hair removal, contact Lazer Lounge immediately for a consultation! Our experts are ready to provide answers and get you on your journey towards smooth skin free of hair growth.
Moisturising
Moisturizing the skin before or on the day of laser hair removal sessions can be beneficial, but it should be done as little as possible on or shortly before. Moisturizer or any other substance on your skin could hinder laser technology reaching hair follicles reducing its effectiveness of treatment.
As sunbathing can make skin sensitive and redden easily, we advise wearing a wide-brimmed hat and covering any exposed parts with long sleeves and pants for extra protection. Swimming may also pose risks as a breeding ground for bacteria that cause irritation and inflammation – this should also be avoided as an option.
If you find that after your laser hair removal session you are experiencing itching or dryness, using a gentle moisturiser that won’t irritate the skin may help soothe irritations. Exfoliate regularly so as to keep skin fresh while eliminating hairs that might still remain. Exfoliating will also ensure you look and feel your best between laser sessions – which allows longer between shaving sessions!
As time goes on between your laser hair removal sessions, any hair that does reappear will be finer and sparser than before your first treatment session. However, shaving between sessions remains necessary since multiple appointments will likely be required to completely eradicate unwanted hair from your body.
As part of your laser hair removal treatment, it is also crucial that you avoid waxing or plucking between treatments as this will disrupt the natural cycle of hair follicles, making them difficult for laser targeting. Shaving is recommended as it removes long hairs while leaving roots intact for laser targeting.
As lasers can be dangerous to use on skin that has an open-compartment blade, only use razors with an open-compartment blade when shaving with lasers. Avoid rubbing or pulling at your skin as this may lead to redness and swelling. In addition, make sure no makeup, antiperspirant or any other lotions or potions are on the area that is being treated – this includes makeup. Finally, thoroughly cleansing your face prior to scheduling an appointment may remove any dirt or debris present on it that might interfere with laser use.
