No, shaving should not be performed the day of laser hair removal. Shaving can remove the protective barrier over each follicle, making light energy ineffective at reaching it effectively.
As well as drying out your skin and potentially leading to redness, excessive sun exposure can reduce effectiveness and necessitate more sessions of therapy.
Shaving
Shaving before laser hair removal is not recommended for several reasons. First, shaving makes it harder for the laser to detect melanin and identify hair follicles beneath the skin – potentially leading to discomfort during treatment and poor results. Second, shaving leaves small wounds on your skin that shouldn’t serve as bases for laser energy delivery.
Second, shaving will remove a layer of melanin that’s essential to laser treatments working effectively. Laser light targets pigment in hair follicles to zap it away, killing off future growth of unwanted hair growth. If you shave too soon before visiting a laser clinic for your appointment, all melanin will have been eliminated and treatment won’t be as successful.
Plumping, waxing or bleaching your body hair near where you are receiving laser treatments is also advised, since these actions interfere with natural hair growth processes and could impede results. You should still trim or tweeze any loose strands between appointments but these treatments should not be conducted directly over those areas undergoing laser.
Before your laser treatment, it is still advisable to shave, but using a new razor is best in order to minimise irritation. Press lightly with the razor and take your time so as not to inadvertently cut or graze your skin accidentally. Additionally, it would be prudent to avoid products that increase photosensitivity (such as certain face cleansers or acne medications) in the days before as these ingredients may make the light used by laser more sensitive than expected and cause burns on the skin.
After your laser treatment has ended, it is wise to wait at least several weeks before shaving again. This allows your skin to heal properly while also giving damaged hairs the opportunity to shed naturally instead of coming back. After several weeks have passed, you should find that unwanted hair falls out much more readily than before- this is proof that your treatment is working!
Exfoliating
Women and men spend hours every month shaving or waxing to achieve smooth skin; this time-consuming and costly process could be avoided by scheduling laser hair removal sessions instead.
Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment (color) of hair follicles with light energy, and then dissolving them. To effectively target follicles, the skin’s surface must be free from hair and oil to effectively target their pigmented pigments; shaving removes excess hair while simultaneously inhibiting further pigmentation of existing follicles – leading to less hair growth overall in future.
However, it’s essential not to overdo shaving. Prior to your appointment for treatment, do not shave the area that will be treated; also refrain from plucking or waxing it as this disrupts natural hair growth cycles and may produce uneven results.
Instead, regularly exfoliate the area to remove dead skin cells that could obstruct laser’s path to your hair follicle. Preferably exfoliating just days prior to an appointment; however, following treatment, wait four to five days before repeating this step due to possible skin sensitivity issues.
Once your series of laser treatments is over, hair will gradually begin to fall out on its own. Over time, your body will stop producing new hairs, leaving your skin smoother than ever.
When shaving on the day of your laser hair removal appointment, it is advised to use a razor with a sharp blade. Dull razors may cause inflamed or painful cuts while their dull edge makes achieving a clean shave more challenging.
Prior to receiving laser treatments, it’s also crucial that you avoid sun exposure and self-tanners as these can contribute to uneven, discolored skin tone. Furthermore, keeping out of direct sunlight speeds up the shedding process following treatments which will lead to smoother and more even complexion.
Moisturising
On the day of your laser hair removal appointment, continue moisturizing as normal; however, the cream could interfere with its ability to target hair follicles and lead to less effective treatments and more visits from specialists.
Preventing unwanted growth by shaving the area that will be treated prior to your appointment can be helpful in minimizing unwelcome surprises. Aim for as close a shave as possible without nicking the skin; dull blades can cause abrasions which lead to an uneven result, while over-shaving can lead to redness and inflammation of the skin.
Before scheduling laser hair removal appointments, it is vitally important to shave. This will ensure there are no excess locks that could prevent the laser from targeting follicles below. In addition, shaving removes the outermost layer of each hair follicle so the laser can penetrate deeper into skin layers to treat its source – the root.
At a minimum, it’s essential that you inform your specialist of any medications that could potentially alter light sensitivity, such as antibiotics, some pain relievers and certain antidepressants. Doing so may make the skin more reactive to UV rays used during laser treatments and increase light sensitivity.
Before your laser appointment, avoid waxing and plucking as this could compromise its efficacy. In order to be properly targeted by laser treatment, hairs must be in the anagen phase of their growth cycle.
Tanninng should also be avoided as this can darken the pigment of hair follicles and reduce effectiveness of treatments. If tanning occurs anyway, apply a light layer of aloe vera ointment over it to keep skin hydrated.
If you’re tired of spending hours shaving and waxing, contact Med Spa at Seena One (Corrective Skin Care) in Burleson, TX and schedule an appointment for laser hair removal. This noninvasive process will effectively rid yourself of unwanted hair while leaving more time for doing what matters to you.
Sunscreen
Men and women spend much time shaving, waxing and plucking unwanted hair to remove it, but these activities can damage hair follicles as well as disrupt its natural growth cycle. If you plan to undergo laser hair removal treatment for unwanted hair growth then it is recommended that any pluckeding, tweezing or waxing in the weeks leading up to your appointment be stopped in order to promote healthier growth as well as making laser targeting simpler.
Before going in for laser treatments, it is wise to stay out of direct sunlight for as much time as possible as this will reduce their effectiveness on tanned skin and dark hair. Laser light needs to target only your hair follicle and not any pigment found within skin or hair as this would lead to unwanted burn marks forming on both.
Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF30 as part of your everyday skin protection, particularly after receiving laser treatments. This will protect you from sunburn or uneven tone caused by UV rays in the sun, helping ensure a successful experience post-treatment.
Note that multiple laser hair removal sessions will likely be necessary due to hair growing in cycles. Hair takes time to reach a length where they can be targeted by laser technology; by shaving, plucking, or waxing continuously you may interrupt this natural process and hinder laser’s ability to target them successfully.
Before beginning treatment, your laser technician will apply a cooling gel or air spray to protect both eyes from laser light as well as skin from burning. You may experience a slight stinging sensation similar to rubber band snapping or sunburn-like tingle during the procedure. Furthermore, certain medications that could potentially increase light sensitivity should be avoided and inform your specialist of all medication currently taken.
