Shaving can make your skin appear smoother and healthier, however it should not be done immediately before laser hair removal treatment as this could cause temporary itchy grazes to form on the treated areas.
Notably, waxing or plucking should not be performed, as this could prevent the laser from targeting the hair follicle properly.
Shaving
Laser hair removal differs from shaving in that it aims to target pigment in hair follicles by targeting their stem cells, stopping or slowing further hair growth, resulting in permanent hair reduction after four to six sessions with subsequent maintenance treatments as needed. Furthermore, unlike waxing and threading which require multiple appointments at regular intervals with risks such as razor burn, nicks, and cuts; laser requires less upkeep.
As laser energy must penetrate the skin in order to reach the follicle, shaving prior to your appointment is critical for optimal results and to reducing thermal injury to your surface skin. Furthermore, shaving also ensures there’s no stubble obstructing its path and thus further ensuring laser effectiveness.
However, you should wait at least two or three days after shaving to go for laser treatment; otherwise the laser energy could damage the surrounding tissue, diminishing the effectiveness of your session. Also important: using high-quality razor blades so as not to cause skin irritation.
As part of your preparation, it is also important to note that in the weeks before your appointment you should refrain from any form of plucking or waxing as this impedes the laser’s ability to target follicles effectively. As it needs to see them clearly, any extra hair removed over and above your natural ones could confuse its target area and distort its target location. You should inform your specialist if any medications cause light sensitivity as these could make you sensitive to its effects.
Exfoliating
Before laser hair removal, your skin should be free from lotions, oils or deodorants a day and night before treatment to minimize thermal injury from laser light exposure and ensure full access to hair follicles without interference from lotions, oils or deodorants. Doing this also will keep pores unclogged for less painful treatment sessions.
If you plan to shave before your appointment, do so carefully and avoid doing too much too soon; ingrown hairs could occur from close shaves that occur too close together or too soon before treatments. Exfoliation on a regular basis is also key to keeping dead cells off of the skin which trap hair follicles and slow new growth.
Before your initial laser session, it is recommended that you avoid plucking or waxing for two weeks prior to treatment, since laser treatments work by targeting hair roots directly. As this may prove challenging if you are used to plucking or waxing regularly, it would be wise to adhere to your regular routine until all laser sessions have been successfully completed.
If you have any inquiries about how to prepare for a hair removal appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out – our friendly team would be more than happy to answer them all! Removing unwanted hair can be difficult and unpleasant; let us make it simple and enjoyable with laser hair removal services from us – you won’t be disappointed by their results!
Moisturising
When it comes to getting rid of unwanted body hair, there are various methods available. Shaving, waxing and depilatory creams all have their own set of advantages and disadvantages; so which method would work best?
Laser hair removal offers an ideal long-term solution, yet still requires regular appointments for maintenance; usually four to six sessions every few weeks with periodic follow up procedures throughout the year.
Before your appointment, it is essential that any lotions or moisturisers used on areas to be treated are kept off as this could prevent heat reaching the hair follicle and make treatment ineffective. Furthermore, plucking or waxing your hair as this could interrupt its natural growth cycle and lessen its effectiveness of treatment.
As far as moisturising goes, experts advise using a light fragrance-free formula which may be less irritating to post-procedure skin. This can be particularly important if having treatment on sensitive areas such as your underarms.
Applying aloe vera cream after your appointment can also help soothe any itching or redness that might arise after treatment, and apply sunscreen (minimum SPF 30) over the treatment area afterward to protect from UV radiation and reduce hair regrowth.
Laser hair removal also has the added advantage of reducing ingrown hairs by targeting each individual follicle directly – meaning no space for future regrowth! As such, results of laser hair removal are long-lasting without the hassle of dealing with cuts, razor burn or razor nicks that often accompany traditional shaving methods.
Medications
Waxing removes hair from the surface while leaving its follicle intact, while lasers work by targeting its tip to disrupt and slow hair growth. According to Bareskin, to ensure maximum effectiveness during laser sessions it is wise to avoid waxing and plucking in the days leading up to any laser session as this could prevent its energy from reaching the target follicle and hinder it absorbing it effectively, leading to less effective sessions overall.
As with shaving before laser treatments, pre-shaving can make the area easier to shave while simultaneously targeting its energy towards hair follicles rather than scattering across skin surfaces.
As part of your preparation for laser hair reduction, it’s advisable to avoid taking certain medications and supplements in the days leading up to treatment. Garlic and ginkgo biloba can both increase bleeding and bruising during laser sessions; so before beginning laser hair reduction treatments it is wise to inform your specialist of any medication(s) you take or plan on taking in order to determine their impact on results.
As part of your pre-laser treatments regimen, it is also wise to avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds as exposure to light can damage pigment in your skin. Wear high SPF sunscreen whenever possible and wear protective clothing on areas treated by laser treatments when venturing out in direct sunlight. After laser procedures, treated areas will likely become more sensitive; take extra care when handling them if they become swollen or crusted by applying an aloe vera ointment in order to keep moisturised and avoid excessive rubbing as this could open pores up further and increase risk for infections or worse.
Skin Type
Imagine living life free from ingrown hairs and razor bumps — that’s the goal of laser hair removal. Unlike shaving or waxing, laser treatment focuses on your follicles to interrupt their process of producing new hair by sending light energy directly onto them, damaging them so that future hair won’t sprout from them.
Laser treatments are most often employed for facial, underarm and bikini area treatments. Depending on your skin type, two to six sessions every couple of weeks might be needed – still much shorter commitment than daily shaving or waxing salon visits!
As with any treatment, laser treatment may cause some temporary discomfort in the treated area, though this should subside within several days of starting therapy.
Shaving strips the skin of its natural oils, leading to dry and tightened patches of skin which can make laser treatment painfully irritating. As such, it is recommended that you shave 24 hours prior to receiving laser treatment, rather than immediately before an appointment.
As part of your preparation for laser hair removal, it’s also advisable to avoid tanning or sun exposure prior to treatment in order to minimize discoloration and maintain healthy hydration levels for maximum efficiency during your session. Doing this may help avoid discoloration as well as ensure your skin doesn’t react adversely with regards to treatment.
