If you shave too close to your appointment, your razor may nick or cut the skin, leaving temporary grazes which can be quite painful and prevent laser energy from reaching hair follicles effectively. This could prevent laser energy from getting through properly to treat hair growth follicles.
Therefore, before beginning laser hair removal treatment it is advisable to shave. However, other alternatives such as tweezing or waxing are acceptable alternatives, but shaving remains the superior method.
Shaving
Shaving before laser hair removal differs slightly from normal shaving; you should ensure you use a clean razor with an unworn blade and don’t apply too much pressure – too much pressure could result in cuts and nicks on your skin, diminishing its effectiveness during treatment.
Ideal shaving should take place the night before or morning of your laser appointment to ensure there are no remaining hairs on the surface of your skin to absorb energy from the laser treatment. Waxing and plucking should also be avoided since these treatments can damage hair follicles, creating an unhealthy environment for laser treatments to work in. You should also refrain from using skincare products which increase photosensitivity on treatment day – including creams containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid as these may reduce light absorption by your laser treatment sessions.
An additional good practice when planning on having laser treatment is exfoliation of the area you intend to treat with laser. This will help remove dirt, bacteria, or blemishes on the surface of your skin and can also reduce ingrown hairs; often caused by waxing or plucking; exfoliation can prevent ingrowns by clearing away buildup that clogs hair follicle openings and reduce regrowth of ingrowns.
If you are unable to shave before your appointment, it is vital that you inform the laser technician as this could compromise its effectiveness. Laser treatments work by targeting pigment in hair follicles rather than skin; without pigment in place, the laser may singe instead and singe nearby tissue instead of targeting hair follicles; this can result in painful burns as well as small temporary grazes on top layer skin that tend to heal within days – though they can be distracting at first.
Many people assume that one laser hair removal session will eliminate their need to shave, but this is often not true; most will need multiple sessions before experiencing permanent reduction in hair growth due to cycles and only targeting active phases with laser treatment.
Exfoliating
Shaving removes oils from the skin, leaving it dry and itchy. Exfoliation should be performed frequently to maintain its moisture. Furthermore, aloe vera lotion may provide soothing relief after treatments and on days that itchy spots have occurred.
Avoid shaving or using hair removal creams/products before receiving laser therapy as it could compromise results. Also take a shower beforehand in order to rid of excess oil that accumulates on your skin, making it more receptive to laser energy.
Laser treatments work by targeting melanin in hair follicles with light energy. Shaved follicles make this easier as light can more readily access pigment and destroy it; however, too long or thick hair could singe the skin instead of killing off follicles; leading to an uncomfortable experience and possible temporary grazes that take several days to heal completely.
Before your laser hair removal appointments, it is recommended to shave and refrain from plucking, waxing or tweezing of the area in between sessions. This will maximize their effectiveness and help ensure smooth hairless skin after multiple laser hair removal appointments; you will notice that between treatments your body hair has grown back finer and sparser than ever.
Be patient and resist any urges to miss treatments sessions. Hair growth cycles vary among individuals, but most will notice thinner and lighter hair growth after six to nine treatments with laser. By adhering to your treatment sessions and maintaining a consistent routine, eventually you won’t require shaving or other forms of hair removal – though if necessary after laser sessions be sure to gently exfoliate after shaving in order to help avoid ingrown hairs and direct sunlight for several days prior and post treatment sessions.
Sunscreen
Shaving can be rough on your skin. It removes small layers as well as creating cuts and nicks, which isn’t ideal when getting laser hair removal. Shaving too near to an appointment could even hinder its effectiveness; laser works by heating hair follicles to destroy them at their source and stop further hair growth; however if shaved too close it won’t have enough opportunity to burn, possibly leading to irritation instead.
Before your laser hair removal appointment, it is crucial that you use a razor with a sharp blade and apply light pressure when shaving – too much pressure could leave skin more susceptible and increase the chance of nicks or missing patches of skin that could result in redness or irritation after treatment.
Before beginning your treatment, it’s advisable to refrain from tweezing or plucking hairs as this could disrupt their pigment and result in less effective results. Furthermore, sun exposure should be limited, although if necessary make sure you use ample sunscreen with high SPF value and reapply it frequently for optimal protection.
After having undergone laser hair removal treatment, the hairs that have been destroyed will need time to fall out from your body naturally. Without adequate sunscreen protection however, sunlight could potentially cause permanent damage to these vulnerable weakened strands, leading to uneven pigmentation or scarring on their return.
As part of your laser treatments preparations, there are some additional things that you can do, such as refraining from plucking and waxing and removing artificial or natural tanning in the area of treatment. Hydration is key; so remember to drink plenty of water throughout the days leading up to your procedure to keep skin supple and moistened.
Aftercare
Many people spend much of their free time grooming themselves to look their best by shaving, waxing and plucking unwanted hairs from their bodies. According to estimates, men and women spend an estimated two million hours each year shaving alone! Additionally, all the money they’ve spent on razors, shaving cream, wax strips and salon visits adds up quickly; leaving an estimated total expenditure of $240 Million!
Laser hair removal can be an efficient and safe solution to avoid shaving for hair removal, but certain details need to be considered when planning an appointment. Shaving several days prior is recommended so that when you arrive at the clinic, all hair will have been cut to an even length.
As with using any razor, shaving gently with a sharp safety razor will also help lower the risk of any temporary grazes – though these should only cause temporary discomfort on the day of your appointment. You should also forgo using skincare products containing glycolic acid, retinol or scrubs prior to laser sessions as these could increase skin photosensitivity and lead to laser burns.
As part of your preparations for laser therapy, it is also wise to stay away from tanning beds and self-tanners in the lead up to your session. By keeping areas that will be treated out of direct sunlight for several weeks prior to therapy, any discolouration caused by treatment will also be reduced and any discolouration that might ensue post treatment avoided.
Before your laser hair removal session, it’s also wise to avoid treatments that could disturb the hair follicle such as waxing or epilating as this will remove all melanin-rich roots preventing laser light from targeting them successfully.
Before your appointment, it is recommended that you limit caffeine and alcohol intake, as these can make you anxious. Furthermore, any medications which thin blood or cause blood clots should also be avoided as these increase the risk of complications during treatment. In addition, be sure to inform your skincare professional if you are on your period as they may advise tampon use or postponing it until later dates.
