Before Laser Treatment | 24 July 2019
It is important to shave before your laser hair removal appointment, 24 hours before is recommended. Shaving on the day of your session can be dangerous and should be avoided completely.
This is because when you shave the razor may lift a layer of skin off as it passes over your skin. This depends on how much pressure you use when you’re gliding the razor over your skin. This freshly shaved skin will be fragile for a period of time after you shave. In the hours that pass a new layer will develop causing your skin to be less sensitive. If we perform a treatment on freshly shaven skin i.e. skin that has been shaved on the day of treatment, we run the risk of causing damage to your skin with our lasers.
Why do you need to shave before every laser hair removal appointment?
As you are progressing through your course of treatments to remove unwanted hairs, your laser settings will be increased. This will pose a greater risk to your skin as more heat/laser energy will be used to target your finer hair growth. It’s important to make sure you are doing this before each and every one of your treatments in our Dublin or Drogheda studios.
Top tips for shaving before your laser hair removal treatment
Use a good quality shaving foam
To help, moisturise your skin while you are shaving. Immediately after shaving your skin may become dry temporarily. It may take some time for the oil glands to replenish the oil content in your skin. If we perform laser treatment when your skin is very dry it may become extremely itchy and irritated directly after your treatment. This reaction will be uncomfortable and may take a few days to heal. Shaving 24hrs before your laser hair removal appointment is probably one of the most important things to do to avoid an adverse reaction from laser.
Please allow yourself adequate time in order to shave properly
If you rush you may have nicks and cuts that we will have to avoid with the laser beam of light during your treatment. If this happens you may find that you are left with some areas that have been left untreated. Because we cannot laser over broken skin and will have to avoid these areas. Some people will develop slight regrowth overnight, this is normal and will not interfere with your treatment. It is not necessary to remove this hair on the morning of your session with any typical hair removal methods.
Don’t apply too much pressure onto the razor
Use light pressure, try to glide the razor lightly over the skin. Shaving too harshly will make your skin sore and sensitive. If you are finding you have to repeatedly shave over your areas it may be time to buy a new razor. If you are using a multi-use razor make sure to look after your razor blade itself. Clean and dry it after each use before replacing the protective cap when storing. This will avoid a build-up of bacteria on the blade itself and will prevent breakouts after shaving. To avoid your treatment being cancelled on the day it’s important that you shave properly before your laser hair removal session.
Before having laser, it is essential that any excess hair above the hair follicle is removed. If the hair has not been shaven correctly treatment will not be effective and it may result in small temporary grazes on the top of your skin. These tend to take a few days to heal and are nothing to worry about but it is best to avoid this happening as they can be a little sensitive.
To avoid any adverse reactions during laser hair treatments it is essential that you follow these guidelines. Please inform your therapist if you have shaved on the day of your session as your appointment will need to be rescheduled for safety reasons.
How to prepare for your laser hair removal appointment?
To prepare for your appointment please follow these steps
- Lightly exfoliate 3-4 days before your session. This will help remove any dead skin cells from around the opening of your hair follicles
- Close shave 24 hours before your laser hair removal appointment, this is extremely important
- Don’t apply moisturizers, oils, or creams to your skin after showering on the day of your session
- Stop applying fake tan 7-10 days before your session and make sure all tan residue has been removed
- Do not take Ibuprofen 48 hours before your laser session
As you can see there are a number of reasons why it is so important to shave before your laser hair removal sessions, especially taking into account how laser hair removal works when interacting with your skin.
If you are unsure about any aspects of shaving throughout your course of treatment for unwanted body hair please contact us for advice, our team of laser hair removal specialists is on hand to answer any of your questions.
Urbana offers laser hair removal in Dublin and Drogheda for your convenience.
FAQs
By shaving, the lasers will be able to locate the follicles. Using a clean, new razor ensures there is no lingering bacteria that could cause contact dermatitis after your laser treatment. (Contact dermatitis is a delayed type of allergic reaction of the skin resulting from skin contact with a specific allergen.)
Why is it important to shave before laser hair removal? ›
Shaving before laser hair removal reduces the risk of skin irritation. When the laser is applied to shaved skin, it minimises the chances of the laser energy interacting with longer hairs, which can lead to discomfort and potential skin reactions.
What happens if you don't shave properly before laser? ›
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.
Do I need to shave before a laser hair removal consultation? ›
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.
What if I cut myself shaving before laser hair removal? ›
If it's just a small cut or scrape in a larger area, we can simply use the laser around the cut. For smaller treatment areas or larger injuries to the skin, it's important to wait until you've had a chance to heal before attempting to remove the hair.
Is it OK to have stubble before laser hair removal? ›
Shave within 24 hours of your laser appointment. Your Laser Technician will not be able to go over areas with hair that's above the skin.
Can I shave 2 days after laser hair removal? ›
It is generally recommended to wait at least three or four days after laser hair removal treatment before shaving the treated area. This allows time for the skin to recover and reduces the risk of irritation. Some sources suggest waiting until shedding occurs, which typically happens a few days after treatment.
What happens if I shave 2 hours before laser? ›
Therefore, if you shave less than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment then there won't be enough hair present to burn, and this can cause irritation to the treatment area.
What happens if you shave too early after laser? ›
Wait until the skin has fully healed before shaving, which can take up to two weeks. Shaving too soon can cause further irritation and damage to the skin, which can lead to scarring and hyperpigmentation.
What happens if you never shave your pubic hair? ›
The benefits of not shaving pubic hair are avoiding irritation, cuts, and ingrowns—when you don't shave, you won't get irritated. If you don't shave your pubic hair, nothing happens, but it's important to keep it clean with a daily genital-friendly wash and exfoliant to keep odor at bay.
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.
What is the prep for laser hair removal? ›
What to do before laser hair removal
- Consider your medical history. ...
- Limit sun exposure. ...
- Don't wax or tweeze the treatment area. ...
- Shave the treatment area. ...
- Stop bleaching your hair. ...
- Arrive with a clean skin. ...
- Wear loose clothing. ...
- Don't use skin products for 24 hours.
Do not wax, tweeze, pluck, Nair or otherwise remove the roots of the hair follicles 4 weeks prior to your appointment. Lasers will not be able to “see” your hair if the roots are removed; therefore your treatment will be less effective.
What happens if you don t shave properly before laser hair removal? ›
Quite simply the hair will absorb the energy that was meant to penetrate under the skin in the first place. The energy would burn the hair, leaving the skin with marks and scarring. While wasting away on the surface level of the skin.
What happens if you accidentally cut yourself while shaving? ›
To speed up the healing process, keep the cut clean, apply a styptic pencil or a cold compress to stop bleeding, and use an antibiotic cream to prevent infection. Should a cut appear infected or not heal within a reasonable timeframe, seeking medical advice is recommended.
Why shouldn't you shave between laser hair removal? ›
If you shave too quickly you may irritate the skin even more, so waiting at least three or four days after your treatment is usually ideal. A few days following your laser hair removal treatment, you may notice your hair shedding. This is completely normal and is a sign the treatment worked.
What happens if you laser over a cut? ›
Using laser treatment to remove unwanted hair from damaged skin can further irritate the skin, especially if your skin is sensitive. Ultimately, this will increase the damage and prolong the healing process. Avoid treating areas with the following types of skin damage: Scrapes and cuts.
Can I trim instead of shave before laser? ›
Prior to laser treatment, it is important to shave the area. Otherwise hair gets pressed to the surface of your skin. When the hair shaft is destroyed by the laser it can injure the surrounding skin. Shave a day prior to your appointment, so if you nick yourself, the area will not be bleeding during your procedure.
Should I shave my pubic hair before laser? ›
Shaving is the only method recommended prior to laser hair removal so the hair is still within the follicle to be targeted. If you have any questions about how to prepare prior to a laser hair removal treatment your practitioner can provide you with more tips and recommendations for the most effective treatment.
Are you supposed to shave before at home laser hair removal? ›
You will need to shave the area within 24 hours before laser treatment.
