One of the fastest growing noninvasive cosmetic procedures is laser hair removal, a treatment that uses a laser to reduce unwanted hair growth. Laser hair removal has around for a few years, though many people may have gone the route of using home hair removal kits. However, having laser hair removal done professionally by a certified laser technician is of course the better and safer option.
It‘s not just women who are getting laser hair removal, either – men have begun to consider LHR as well, though they may call it deforestation, manscaping, or de-fuzzing. Professional athletes, bodybuilders, cyclists and others may need to have a hair-free body, while other men just prefer having less body hair so they feel more confident and comfortable.
Whether it‘s your first laser hair removal appointment or you‘re in between laser hair removal treatments, there are some tips to follow for the best possible results.
1. Don‘t Pluck, Wax, or Bleach
You shouldn‘t pluck or wax any unwanted hair before a treatment as doing so interferes with the hair follicle itself as well as the root. The follicle needs to remain intact in order for the LHR to work effectively. For this reason, you should avoid all plucking, waxing and electrolysis for at least six weeks before treatment. Additionally, bleaching hair removes the pigment that‘s necessary to absorb laser energy and kill the follicle. Staying au naturel with your hair color is best between LHR sessions.
2. Shave Just before Your Appointment
While plucking or waxing is a no-no, shaving before LHR is perfectly fine. Shaving helps to preserve the follicle and hair shaft by only taking off the surface hair at skin level. In fact, shaving before your appointment may actually improve your results and comfort level during treatment. After treatment, though, you should avoid shaving for the first days, as this gives sensitive skin a chance to heal.
3. Avoid Sun Exposure
While LHR can be the finishing touch for your bikini body, sun exposure can increase the risk of side effects of laser hair removal, such as skin lightening, a condition that can affect those who have darker skin. If you already have a tan, it‘s recommended that you wait until the tan has faded completely before undergoing laser hair removal. Again, this has to do with the way laser energy is absorbed during treatment, as the contrast between light skin and dark hair often means better results. As with plucking/waxing, you should try to avoid sun exposure for six weeks before and after getting treatment.
4. Keep Skin Moisturized
Laser hair removal will sometimes dry out the skin, so it‘s important to keep your skin moisturized. After the procedure, you may notice some redness and swelling for the first few hours, although this should fade quickly. You practitioner may suggest that you apply ice to the treated area in order to reduce any discomfort, or could even give you a gel or other type of lotion to use. Since everyone‘s experience with laser hair removal is different, skin sensitivity may not be an issue for you at all.
If you‘re interested in laser hair removal, a consultation with a certified laser technician is the first step you should take. During the consultation, the two of you can discuss what goals you‘d like to achieve, the areas that you‘d like to target, and how many treatments you may need to do in order to see the results you hope for.
FAQs
4 Tips to Follow between Laser Hair Removal Sessions
- Don't Pluck, Wax, or Bleach. You shouldn't pluck or wax any unwanted hair before a treatment as doing so interferes with the hair follicle itself as well as the root. ...
- Shave Just before Your Appointment. ...
- Avoid Sun Exposure. ...
- Keep Skin Moisturized.
Shaving and exfoliating can increase follicular activity, making the following laser treatment more effective. Another tip suggested by experts is to pay attention to hair growth during laser hair removal treatment. Some localized areas may grow more quickly than others. This is a detail to share with your provider.
How long should you wait in between laser hair removal sessions? ›
Removing hair often requires a series of laser treatments. Most patients can have laser hair removal once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your dermatologist will tell you when it is safe to have another treatment. Most patients see some hair regrowth.
What happens if I stop laser hair removal after 4 sessions? ›
If treatment is stopped before all of the hair follicles have been destroyed, some may continue to grow. It is important to complete the recommended treatment plan to achieve the best results. Sometimes, the patient sees hairs are thicker and darker after the treatment when they have original light and fair hair.
How do I manage my hair between laser hair removal? ›
If you find yourself wanting to remove hair between your laser hair removal treatment sessions, it's best to opt for alternative methods that do not involve pulling out the hair from the root. These methods can include trimming the hair with scissors or using depilatory creams that dissolve the hair at the surface.
How do you treat hair in between laser hair removal? ›
Hair grows in different stages, and the best way to eliminate it is to get it treated when it's actively growing. This just means you'll have to continue shaving in between your laser hair removal treatments until it has finally stopped growing back.
What makes laser hair removal less effective? ›
It does not work well on dark skin
Laser hair removal works better on people with pale skin and dark hair. It's not as effective on tanned skin or hair that's been bleached by the sun. If you've got a tan you'll need to let it fade before having treatment.
Why am I more hairy after laser? ›
No one actually knows why this happens with laser patients, but after treatment, the laser can do the opposite of what you're expecting and actually stimulate hair growth. And, if that wasn't enough, the hair can actually come back thicker and darker!
What makes laser hair removal ineffective? ›
Laser hair removal is less effective for hair colors that don't absorb light well: gray, red, blond and white. However, laser treatment options for light-colored hair continue to be developed.
How to speed up shedding after laser hair removal? ›
Moisturise: Keep your skin hydrated with a high-quality, fragrance-free moisturiser. This makes it easier for the shedding hair to push through the skin. Avoid hair removal methods: Resist the temptation to use tweezers, wax, or other hair removal methods on the treated area.
6-8 Treatments Every 4-6 Weeks
The face and neck are hormonal areas of the body and, therefore, grow more hair than non-hormonal parts, like legs or arms. It usually takes six to eight treatments for optimal results with treatments spaced four to six weeks apart.
What happens if I shave between laser sessions? ›
Yes, you can shave in between each laser hair removal treatment. During your course of treatment, you can shave any unwanted hair that may regrow. After your first laser hair removal session you will notice that you won't need to shave as much as before.
Why is my hair still growing after 4 laser sessions? ›
However, even though laser treatments damage hair follicles, they're not destroyed completely. Over time, the treated follicles may recover from the initial damage and grow hair again. It's a tall order to eliminate every hair follicle in a given area. Therefore, you may notice a tiny amount of hair regrowth.
Can I wax between laser sessions? ›
A – Effective laser hair removal will require a number of successive treatments to achieve permanent hair removal results. “Can I wax after hair removal” is quite a common question, but the answer is that no, you should not wax the area after any treatment or before the next one.
Is electrolysis or laser better? ›
Electrolysis is considered a more permanent solution than laser hair removal (it stops hair growth completely while laser hair removal slows and reduces hair growth), but it requires more individual sessions (closer to 14), and the sessions can take longer. You might not see full results for nearly 18 months.
Is it okay to shave in between laser sessions? ›
While you can shave between sessions, don't shave right after one. You need to shave 24-48 hours before the treatment–– your clinic will have given you advice about this (or read our blog on preparing for a session here).
Can I shave 2 hours before laser hair removal? ›
2. Shave the Area. As previously mentioned, shaving the area is encouraged as long as no plucking or waxing is going on. A shave 24 to 48 hours before the appointed date is important.
What happens if I wax in between laser sessions? ›
The laser hair removal treatment is effective by making the hair follicle weaker, so by waxing you are working against the effectiveness of the laser and preventing it from disabling the hair follicle as much as possible. This means that tweezing or plucking the hair is also something you should not do.
Is it okay to wax in between laser sessions? ›
There is a risk of skin damage if you wax after laser hair removal. Laser hair removal can cause temporary discomfort, redness, and swelling. Waxing after laser hair removal may increase the risk of blistering and scarring. It is recommended to avoid waxing the area after any treatment or before the next one.
