Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment and destroying hair follicles to inhibit future hair growth. Shaving before laser treatment will help the laser target these follicles effectively.
But be careful. Shaving too close to an appointment could create stubble that causes confusion for the laser, lessening its effectiveness and rendering your treatment ineffective.
Shaving
Shaving is a time-consuming and costly aspect of daily life for many individuals. If you are sick of shaving and waxing to remove unwanted hair, laser hair removal could be a viable alternative solution – however before scheduling any treatments it’s essential that you understand whether shaven is required prior to receiving treatments.
As a rule, it’s best to shave prior to laser hair removal sessions in order to facilitate finding and targeting of hair follicles more effectively, and reduce thermal injury on your skin surface.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, it’s advisable to avoid plucking, waxing or bleaching the area where laser hair removal will be administered for at least six weeks prior. These treatments remove hairs at their roots which makes it more challenging for laser technology to target them during treatment.
If you decide to shave, make sure that it is done carefully and lightly; overshaving can cause razor burn and skin abrasions, so take extra caution if shaving too often or too frequently. It would also be beneficial if exfoliation were performed a few days prior to your appointment in order to clear away dead cells that could impede its effectiveness.
Many individuals report experiencing 90% permanent hair reduction after receiving laser treatments, yet it’s essential that you adhere to your specialist’s post-treatment care instructions for optimal results. If your hairs begin to grow back, there are various treatments, like hormone therapy, that may help slow their progress. Premiere Center for Health and Wellness experts can assist in identifying if hormone or testosterone levels are causing your hair to grow faster than usual, helping you manage its growth more effectively and reduce laser treatments. They may also suggest lifestyle changes to control hair growth such as avoiding sun exposure when outdoors, wearing sunscreen when necessary and staying away from tanning beds/self-tanners.
Waxing
Shaving is an everyday routine performed by both men and women alike, whether for going to the beach, wearing miniskirts or simply feeling more comfortable in their own skin. Unfortunately, shaving takes both time and money over time – so laser hair removal provides a fast, safe solution that permanently destroys unwanted follicles to eliminate shaving needs for good.
Step one of laser hair removal begins by making an appointment with a qualified medical expert. He or she will evaluate your skin type, hair length and skin sensitivity in order to provide you with optimal laser treatments. In addition, an experienced specialist will also explain any potential benefits or risks of laser treatments to make sure you are well informed of all their aspects.
Your specialist will set up the machine, targeting your hair follicles with laser light beams. Shaving is essential before or on the morning of your laser hair removal appointment so as to create an even surface and capture all of the light that shines down onto it. Waxing or plucking too close to an appointment could strip away too much pigmentation from the skin’s surface and leave nothing for laser light to attach itself onto.
Some medical facilities will not permit laser hair removal if you have recently shaved, as freshly shaved skin can easily be damaged during the procedure and lead to pain and discomfort. Furthermore, it’s also advised that you wait at least 24 hours after shaving to undergo laser hair removal, since hair growing will likely be too coarse for laser light to attach and destroy its follicle.
After attending a laser hair removal session, you will notice that any newly growing hairs will be finer and sparser than before – although you should still shave regularly between your appointments in order to keep hair beneath the surface of the skin.
Shaving and waxing can be time-consuming tasks that result in ingrown hairs – hair follicles that grow back into the skin instead of outward – which may cause redness, swelling and infections. To reduce their likelihood, use an electric razor regularly while exfoliating to assist new hair growth. To stay safe when shaving or waxing your body’s surface.
Exfoliating
Clean-shaven bodies are essential to effective laser treatments. Shaving prior to your appointment makes it easier for the laser to find and target hair follicles more effectively, so be sure to shave lightly and carefully – using a new razor is recommended to avoid nicking or irritating the skin; for optimal results shave in the morning several hours prior to receiving laser therapy treatment.
Although it’s essential to shave on the day of a laser appointment, exfoliation 2-3 days beforehand is also vitally important in order to remove dead skin and prep for laser treatments more easily. Excessive exfoliation may cause irritation or sensitivity as well as making laser procedures harder than necessary.
Avoid plucking or waxing in the week prior to laser treatment as this will stop it targeting properly and reach all roots of the hair for best results. Lasers need to reach all corners of the root structure in order to be effective.
On the day of your appointment, it is also recommended to avoid tanning as this could compromise results as sun rays may interfere with laser targeting of hair follicles.
After your laser treatment, it is important to avoid taking hot showers or baths for 48 hours post-procedure as hot water may irritate and make your skin even more sensitive. Instead, opt for cool or lukewarm showers in order to soothe your skin and avoid further discomfort.
If you have any additional queries or concerns about shaving or not shaving before beginning laser hair removal treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out – our team is here to assist you with finding the best treatment option to meet your individual needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
Skin Care Products
After laser hair removal, using natural skin care products is key. We suggest selecting an extra gentle non-comedogenic cream or gel that’s fragrance free and suitable for sensitive areas – this will help your newly smooth skin remain calm and nourished. You should also protect it with an adequate sunscreen as too much sun exposure can cause reddening of the skin which in turn could become inflamed and cause further reddening and irritation.
Preparing for laser hair removal appointments involves doing everything possible to avoid products which will prevent the laser from reaching its target – the roots. As such, you should avoid shaving, plucking or waxing the areas to be treated. Shaving encourages hair follicles into active growth mode which the laser targets; if shaving nonetheless takes place prior to an appointment it should occur on that same day rather than within 24 hours of scheduling an appointment.
Stay away from self-tanning lotions and self-sunless tanning solutions as these could increase the chance of adverse reactions to laser treatments. Furthermore, for two weeks prior to any laser procedure you must not wear makeup, deodorant, sunless tanning products or anything that alters skin color such as deodorants and antiperspirants containing DEET that alter its hue in any way.
After your procedures, it is recommended to exfoliate frequently to help remove any hair left after treatments have finished. Exfoliation helps accelerate hair shedding and will typically begin within one to three weeks post procedure.
Laser hair removal treatments leave your skin extra vulnerable, so it is wise to avoid direct sunlight after each session. Depending on the results you want and your skin type, six to twelve treatment sessions might be required in order to achieve long-lasting and beautiful skin. To get maximum benefit out of each treatment session, space out sessions four to six weeks apart for maximum effectiveness.
