Do You Shave Before Laser Hair Removal?

By Brian Lett
10 Min Read

People suffering from unwanted body hair may benefit from laser treatment. It may be caused by hormone imbalances or medication use; laser treatments offer one effective solution.

Laser hair removal uses light pulses that pass through the skin to target melanin or pigment in hair follicles, while any long hairs above the surface could hinder this process, making your treatment less effective.

Shaving

Men and women spend hours of their lives shaving, waxing, or otherwise removing unwanted body hair – not only is this task time-consuming but it can become expensive as well! Laser hair removal offers one possible solution by permanently damaging hair follicles that cause you to produce unwanted hair growth; however, prior to any appointment it is wise to abide by certain shaving guidelines to maximize effectiveness of treatment.

Before beginning with laser hair removal, be sure to use a high-quality razor and take your time during shaving sessions – this will reduce irritation that could interfere with laser’s ability to damage hair follicles. Furthermore, avoid plucking or tweezing any individual hairs between treatments as this will aid the natural process rather than disrupt it. Laser treatments tend to produce finer and sparser results over time so allow nature to take its course rather than interfere.

On the day of a laser hair removal treatment session, shaving may be beneficial in maintaining an ideal level of hair growth for laser treatment. Hair that is too short may not be targeted by the laser while excessive long locks could be singed during treatment session.

Laser treatments work by targeting melanin or pigment in your hair follicles, so if there is too much hair in its way it could make targeting these follicles difficult and possibly damage them from heat of laser treatment; leaving behind an unpleasant burn in your skin afterward.

As with laser hair removal treatments, shaving should also be postponed until after your laser hair removal procedure has taken place. You should shave whenever you like before this timeframe – however be careful not to cut or nick your skin when shaving with an electric shaver, which reduces chances of accidental cuts during shaving sessions.

Waxing

Shaving, plucking and waxing can all be time consuming ways of hair removal that waste both your time and money. Instead of continuing this routine of spending both your time and money on these methods, why not consider laser treatment instead? Laser hair removal is an efficient solution that can permanently reduce or even stop unwanted hair growth from returning; but before booking an appointment at LH Spa & Rejuvenation clinic near your area there are some key points you’ll need to understand first.

Before beginning laser treatment on any area, it’s essential that tweezing, shaving and chemical depilatories be avoided in order to maximize effectiveness of this noninvasive hair removal method. Such techniques reduce effectiveness as they damage pigment in hair follicles – light-based technologies cannot target dark colorations present within hair follicles preventing laser from working effectively and therefore hair won’t be effectively eliminated from that location.

Plucking and waxing both disturb hair follicles, so it is recommended that these processes stop at least six weeks prior to receiving laser hair removal treatment. This will enable each follicle to return to its healthy state; when this has happened, waxing and plucking can resume at their normal frequency and intervals as before.

Men and women spend hours shaving, waxing and plucking away unwanted hair on themselves – taking up much of their free time while incurring costs over time. If this task has become tedious for you, permanent laser treatment might offer a viable solution to permanent hair removal.

At each laser hair removal appointment, a doctor will press a handheld device against your skin while using cooling gel or another feature designed to minimize side effects like redness or blistering.

Prior to your appointment, it will be necessary for you to shave the area being treated, but between treatments it’s crucial that the hair follicle returns to a healthy state so your technician can effectively target that area during treatments.

Exfoliating

Preparing your skin for laser hair removal requires regular exfoliation to keep it in optimal condition, helping remove dead cells that could hinder the procedure and promote healthy glow. Exfoliate at least two weeks prior to an appointment so your skin is at its optimal performance level and ready for success!

Shaving should be completed 24-48 hours before an appointment in order for the laser treatment to focus on only your hair follicles without being blocked by other hair. Waxing or other forms of hair removal such as plucking should also be avoided in the days prior as these methods can damage hair follicles and compromise its results.

After your laser hair removal treatment, it’s vitally important that you protect your skin by staying out of direct sunlight or self-tanners for as long as possible. Your skin will likely be extra-sensitive following your appointment; by limiting sun exposure for too long it will help avoid unwanted pigmentation changes and protect it against harmful UV rays from sunlight. It would also be wise to invest in high-quality broad spectrum sunscreen.

As exfoliation can help speed up the hair shedding process, it’s also wise to exfoliate regularly after laser hair removal, using a gentle exfoliation scrub such as shower loofa or non-abrasive hand mitt. Once or twice every week using such an exfoliation scrub can keep skin looking vibrant while also expediting natural shedding process of your laser treatments.

After your laser hair removal session, it’s also wise to forgo deodorant for 24 hours afterward to allow your skin to recover and prevent your pores from becoming clogged up, leading to ingrown hairs that can be difficult to treat. By giving yourself ample time for recovery, this may also reduce any chance of ingrown hairs occurring! Ingrown hairs can be difficult to manage; so doing everything possible to ward them off!

Preparing Your Skin

Laser hair removal is one of the most permanent solutions to unwanted body hair. Before scheduling your first session, however, it’s essential that you understand what to expect and how best to prepare.

Follow all the guidelines outlined here in order to maximize comfort and results from laser hair removal treatments. One effective method for prepping for laser treatments is applying topical numbing cream (available over-the-counter at most pharmacies) 24 hours prior to your appointment; this ensures your skin is completely numb before the technician begins his or her procedure. Furthermore, avoid tweezing, waxing or using other hair removal products within this area before your treatment session begins.

After your procedure, make sure your skin is free of makeup, lotions and deodorant for at least 24 hours, as these could potentially irritate or burn it. A cooling aloe vera gel or lotion could be useful to alleviate any redness, swelling or bumps which might arise afterward. Also it’s advisable to stay out of direct sunlight, self-tanners and tanning beds on treated areas for at least 2 weeks pre and during laser treatments.

Exfoliating regularly will speed up the shedding process post-procedure and help maximize the benefits of laser treatment sessions. Once 24 hours have passed, however, you can resume normal skincare practices, with shaving or waxing being avoided until further notice.

Laser hair removal is an effective long-term solution to unwanted body hair, as well as one of the safest options for people with sensitive skin. Most people don’t experience discomfort from laser treatments; if this is your first time having one it would be wiser to start off slowly by having trial sessions first before committing to full treatment sessions. Not only does laser removal remove unwanted hair but can also alleviate issues related to growth like folliculitis or discoloration and reduce grooming maintenance time requirements significantly.

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