Should I Shave Before Laser Hair Removal? | Laser Clinics Australia (2024)

FAQs

Should I Shave Before Laser Hair Removal? | Laser Clinics Australia? ›

At Laser Clinics Australia, we recommend shaving the treatment area 12 to 24 hours before your appointment.

Shave Before Treatment

You should shave within 24 hours of your scheduled laser appointment. Your laser technician cannot treat areas that have hair above the skin. You cannot even receive treatment if there is rough stubble because this may create too much heat for the pigment of your skin.

We need to essentially avoid the laser reaching the area of skin above the follicle, as this can lead to painful and uncomfortable skin irritation and skin burns. Shaving helps to ensure this does not happen, so make sure you shave before your treatment session.

Immediately after your treatment your skin is likely to be sensitive – if you shave too soon after your session you may irritate the skin. Generally you'll need to wait a week , but everyone's skin is different so it might be worth shaving a small patch first to see how your skin reacts.

The laser needs hair to target if it's going to reach and disable the follicles, so removing all the hair the way these treatments do is counterproductive. However, you don't have to just let the hair grow for six weeks! It's perfectly fine to shave it. In fact, you should shave the day before.

Cuts and Abrasions

There is no room for debate here – if you have a cut, abrasion, or any other kind of open wound, we cannot laser the injured area. If it's just a small cut or scrape in a larger area, we can simply use the laser around the cut.

To prepare for your first IPL treatment, you will need to shave the treatment area beforehand so that the hair follicles can adequately absorb the laser light.

Take a shower right before your appointment and clean the treatment area, making sure to remove dirt and oil from the skin. Avoid using any skincare products (including moisturizer) after you cleanse. Avoid lotions, oils, and deodorants prior to treatment. Arrive to your appointment with clean, dry skin.

Yes, electrolysis safely and permanently removes hair from all skin tones. It is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal treatment. Because electrolysis permanently destroys the growth cells in the hair follicles, the hair will not grow back.

What happens if you laser over unshaved hair? ›

If you forget to shave, the effectiveness of your treatment may diminish. The laser, instead of focusing on the follicles, might target surface hair. This can lead to heightened discomfort, potential stinging, and a risk of burns. Surface impurities like dirt and oil can also reduce efficacy.

Shave at the Appropriate Time

If you shave too far in advance then the hairs will be too long and the laser can't hit the follicle as it should, while shaving too soon after your treatment can cause more irritation as your skin is still healing.

On smaller areas of the face that you don't feel comfortable shaving, you can also trim or cut the hair as close to the surface as possible. Remember no hair should be left above skin's surface but it must be attached to the follicles. This will ensure your treatment will be as effective as possible.

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

A shave 24 to 48 hours before the appointed date is important. While the hair root is invisible, the laser can seek it out within the pigment. By shaving, you reduce the chances of burns with the hair being below the skin's surface.

In rare instances, laser hair removal may cause thicker, darker hair to grow or regrow in an adjacent area to the one being treated. This condition is known as paradoxical hypertrichosis. Paradoxical hypertrichosis can occur anywhere on the face or body.

Using scissors, trim off all long hairs before going in with a razor. Ensure your bikini area is wet. We don't advise shaving the area while it's dry. Don't be in a rush to finish.

Do not wax, tweeze, epilate or use chemical depilatories for two weeks before treatment, or at all in between laser treatments. Since the laser targets the root of the hair, it must be present for the treatment to be effective. Shaving is the only form of hair removal recommended during the course of your treatments.