Laser hair removal can help you break free of years of shaving, plucking and waxing – but many have misconceptions when it comes to shaving post-laser hair removal.
Follow these expert guidelines to maximize your treatment results: – Don’t exfoliate until all hairs destroyed during laser therapy have fallen out; this allows time for them to shed naturally.
1. Shave a few hours before your appointment
Laser hair removal can be a highly effective solution to unwanted body hair, but you should first shave the area a few days beforehand in order to ensure the appropriate length for targeting by the laser. Lasers work by sending light beams into the skin that destroy stem cells in hair follicles – once destroyed they cannot grow back; consequently hair gradually falls out over time. You may require multiple sessions until seeing full results.
Avoid waxing before beginning laser hair removal treatments to increase their efficacy and decrease side effects, such as ineffective treatment or sensitive skin issues. Waxing can prevent laser from targeting hair follicles effectively and make treatments less effective overall; furthermore, waxing removes top layers of skin leaving it more susceptible than before; you should wait at least four to six weeks after waxing before proceeding with additional procedures such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion in that area.
Your skin may become extra-sensitive following laser hair removal, so it is best to avoid scrubbing or exfoliating. Instead, opt for a mild cleanser without fragrances instead. Furthermore, do not take hot showers/baths/sauna sessions within 48 hours post treatment as these activities could further irritate the skin and potentially lead to hyperpigmentation of the treatment area.
If you’re uncertain about when or how often to shave, consult with your laser technician for guidance. They’ll be able to tell you how much hair there is and provide a tailored schedule based on this information. It is also wise to be transparent about medications which could cause light sensitivity so as to assess whether their use affects laser treatment’s efficacy; otherwise you will need to reschedule.
2. Exfoliate the skin
After laser hair removal, your skin may begin to shed; this is a sign that the treatment is working. Once this happens, exfoliating is highly recommended to remove any damaged hairs before shaving; this will make for more efficient shaving sessions and greater success for all parties involved.
When exfoliating, always use only gentle products – like mild cleansers and exfoliators with light scrubs – in order to minimize irritation to your skin and hasten healing. Cool aloe vera gel may also provide soothing comfort for sensitive areas.
Exfoliation after laser treatment is one way to help minimize ingrown hairs and clogged pores from appearing post-treatment, though it should not be applied immediately post-session as sensitive skin will cause irritation and redness if shaved too soon.
Once your skin has healed, exfoliating regularly is key for optimal laser hair removal results. Exfoliation helps you prevent ingrown hairs and clogged pores from forming as well as speed up how quickly laser-damaged hairs fall out.
Avoid tweezing or waxing the area as this will disrupt the growth cycle and negate the effects of laser therapy treatment. Tweezing and waxing will also result in thicker crust formation, prolonging healing. Ideally, only shave as necessary to keep the area comfortable.
3. Don’t use moisturizer
After your laser hair removal appointment, it is wise to avoid applying moisturizer to any treated area immediately afterwards. Your skin will likely be sensitive and using moisturizer could aggravate its discomfort. Furthermore, cosmetic products (deodorant or otherwise) containing chemicals that could exacerbate sensitive areas should also be avoided due to potential sensitization issues.
If the area feels itchy following treatment, natural remedies like aloe vera gel may be beneficial in soothing it instead of scratching. Scratching only exacerbates an already sensitive condition and could even result in scarring; while exfoliation could further irritate it further.
After your laser hair removal treatment, it is also important to avoid hot showers, saunas and heating pads for 24 hours following. Heat can irritate the skin and lead to burns or blisters which could potentially result in permanent discoloration; so it is wise to opt for cooler showers, baths and saunas instead.
Moisturizer should not be applied after receiving laser hair removal treatments because this could prevent the laser from reaching all hair follicles to successfully destroy them; moisturizing could prevent this and potentially ruin your results.
People often assume that one laser hair removal session will produce long-term results and eliminate their need for shaving, but this is often not true. Hair grows in cycles and laser can only target active follicles at any given time; for this reason, most individuals require six-8 laser treatments before seeing desired results.
4. Don’t wax
Men and women spend hours shaving, waxing, and removing unwanted hair with razors or wax strips – this takes up both their time and money, often leading to irritation of skin or ingrown hairs. One way of alleviating these hassles is laser treatment – its cutting-edge technology can eliminate shaving altogether while giving you smooth skin free from ingrown hairs!
Before scheduling your laser appointment, there are a few steps you should take in order to prepare yourself. One key component is avoiding shaving or depilatory cream in the days leading up to it – shaving only removes hair at its surface; laser hair removal works by targeting roots of hair with laser energy, so shaved hair can interfere with this process.
Waxing and plucking can impede the effectiveness of laser hair removal treatments, as the surface hair needs to be at an appropriate length to be targeted by laser treatments. Therefore, it’s recommended to wait until your hair has grown into approximately an inch-length before waxing or plucking it.
Keep this in mind when using laser hair removal treatments on any areas of your body where body scrubs have been applied; body scrubs contain abrasive components which could irritate your skin, making healing slower after laser hair removal. Furthermore, any products containing fragrance or perfume after your laser session could irritate it further and make reddening, swelling and flakiness worse.
5. Don’t apply makeup
Waiting a few hours post-laser hair removal appointment before applying makeup can give the area time to recover, prevent irritation and avoid inflammation. Ice can also help soothe any swelling or redness in the area. If wearing makeup anyway, use gentle formulas which will not irritate skin further; avoid rubbing as this could result in infections.
Once your skin has settled down, it is best to avoid products containing active ingredients, such as retinol, alpha hydroxy acids and hydroquinone products. Also make sure that you apply sunscreen regularly as sun exposure may cause hyperpigmentation or other side effects after laser hair removal.
Your skin may experience mild irritation after receiving laser hair removal treatment, however this should subside within several hours. Common side effects are redness or swelling/tenderness in the treated area, however other possible symptoms could include tenderness/swelling in that same spot and tenderness in adjacent areas. If these occur it’s recommended that taking some anti-inflammatories such as paracetamol/ibuprofen is taken to help alleviate both pain and inflammation.
Facial laser hair removal is an increasingly popular solution to unwanted facial hair, offering permanent results over other methods like waxing or shaving. Although more invasive than these practices, laser hair removal offers numerous skin benefits; the key to successful laser hair removal treatments lies in knowing what steps should be taken prior to and post treatment to achieve maximum effectiveness – use our tips above as they will ensure the maximum return from this investment! If interested, make an appointment for a consultation at LH Spa & Rejuvenation by either calling them directly or booking online now!
