Shaving prior to laser hair removal is generally safe as long as plucking and waxing are avoided. Both treatments disrupt hair follicles, potentially interfering with laser treatment success.
Your hair may start shedding shortly after receiving laser therapy, which is completely normal and an indication of its success. We advise exfoliation to get all damaged follicles out before you shave again.
The day before
Laser hair removal has quickly become one of the most sought after and sought after treatments for unwanted body hair. It provides fast, effective, and virtually pain-free removal methods; typically taking six-12 sessions to achieve permanent results. Professional salons utilize only FDA approved laser equipment for safe and effective treatments. Shaving is recommended before your session so your technician can get a more accurate read on how many sessions will be necessary as well as to expose hair that would otherwise remain hidden under skin surface layers for laser targeting and remove dead cells that might block its light energy output.
Waxing, plucking or tweezing must also be avoided in the area where skin treatment will take place, as this can affect hair follicles in ways which make laser treatments ineffective and result in less-than-stellar results. In order to maximize effectiveness for laser treatments it’s recommended that any hair growth methods (waxing etc) be kept to a minimum in these two weeks leading up to your session with laser.
Prior to laser hair removal, it is best to refrain from using any sunless skin bleaching creams as these may darken the skin and reduce its effectiveness. Also try and stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible for three or four weeks prior to your appointment so as to prevent an unnatural or artificial tan in the area being treated.
Laser light energy is used to heat the hair shaft and destroy it. Damaged follicles stop producing new hair growth but can still be reactivated through other means (tweezing or waxing, for instance).
After receiving laser hair removal treatment, it’s common for the treated hairs to begin falling out within days after your appointment. Although this may appear disconcerting at first glance, these are actually just damaged follicles shedding.
Laser hair removal should be undertaken between October and February as higher temperatures tend to cause your skin to sweat more, leading to irritation post-treatment. Furthermore, cooler weather helps soothe skin inflammation and facilitate faster healing times.
After your laser treatment, shaving may or may not be necessary; if so, use only razors that are sharp and clean. Also avoid skincare products that increase photosensitivity as this could cause laser light to burn or damage your skin – these include products with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinol that could trigger photoburns or damages.
The day after
Laser hair removal does away with waxing or shaving altogether, yet still requires ongoing sessions to prevent unwanted hair from reappearing. If time commitment concerns you, rest assured that many laser clinics offer free consultations so you can ask all of your questions and receive answers before making a commitment to treatment.
Shave before your appointment (ideally the night before), to remove any extra hair that needs to be treated by laser and thus reduce the likelihood of irritation or burns after treatment. Furthermore, moisturizers could interfere with how well laser works.
Before your appointment, in addition to shaving the day prior, it is also advisable to avoid plucking or waxing as this will damage the hair follicle and prevent laser from reaching it – however any damaged hairs should grow back once treated by laser.
If it becomes necessary for you to shave after laser hair removal, be sure to use a gentle razor with reduced pressure; this will minimize the likelihood of razor burn and hasten skin recovery. In addition, exfoliation is beneficial as it removes dead cells which clog hair follicles and cause ingrown hairs.
After laser hair removal, your skin may feel slightly irritated or sensitive – this is completely normal, and can be soothed with cooling gel or cold compress. In order to ensure best results from laser treatment, try not to sweat excessively as sweat can clog the pores with bacteria that could possibly clog them further.
Direct sunlight should also be avoided on the treated area to minimize discoloration on your skin. If necessary, when going outdoors it is wise to apply broad spectrum sunscreen and wear sunglasses as protection from its UV rays.
Once your area has healed, it’s safe to resume shaving. However, to achieve optimal results when next shaving again it’s best to wait for any damaged hairs to fall out naturally – doing otherwise could result in painful abrasions and irritation to the skin.
Care should also be taken when using a razor, with emphasis placed on using only sharp, clean and dry blades that have been stored properly. Furthermore, high-quality shaving cream will reduce risk of razor burn and ingrown hairs significantly; additionally abrasive scrubs should be avoided as they could damage delicate skin in treated areas.
The day of your appointment
Before your laser appointment, or the night before, it is advisable to shave the treatment area. This is because for proper laser targeting of hair above the skin’s surface. Shaving also removes any scabs formed while shaving and reduces risk of razor bumps after treatments have taken place. It is important not to remove too much hair as this could interfere with their results.
Use an electric razor for a closer shave and reduced risk of irritation, while opting out of moisturizer as this could irritate the skin further.
Bear in mind that you should avoid plucking or waxing the area as this will hinder the laser from targeting individual hair follicles and finding pigment within them. Shaving will prevent it from seeing the root colour which helps with its detection by the laser.
Staying out of the sun and using self-tanners may also help protect the area being treated from discolouration, while tanning beds may damage surrounding skin.
After laser hair removal, it may take a few days for damaged follicles to shed. Although this may give the appearance of hair growth back, this is actually normal and simply due to damaged follicles shedding off.
If your skin feels irritated or sensitive, it is best to wait until all treatment has completely healed – this may take two weeks in some cases.
If you are concerned about the pain associated with laser hair removal, a topical numbing cream may help make the procedure more comfortable and can be purchased over-the-counter at most pharmacies.
Attending all maintenance appointments is key to reaching your desired results quickly and effectively. Skipping one appointment could slow the rate at which hair growth reduces, meaning more treatments may need to be completed to achieve results that you desire. It is recommended to schedule maintenance appointments quarterly or twice annually and set reminders in your phone or calendar so as not to miss any.
