For those who are sick of regular shaving, painful waxing and other hair removal methods, laser hair removal is a fantastic option. The only truly permanent form of hair reduction, laser hair removal is a quick and simple process that leaves your skin smooth and healthy.
At Beauty Now, we’re happy to provide laser hair removal services for men and women alike as part of our med spa program. We can help with any questions you may have about the process, plus with some basic tips for how you should prepare – here are some basic pieces of advice in case you’ve never had laser hair removal done before.
Avoid Other Hair Removal Methods
Laser hair removal works by targeting hair follicles at their base, slowing their ability to regrow and eventually stopping it altogether. For this reason, other hair removal methods that involve the follicle should be avoided in advance of this treatment.
Shaving is okay in most situations – this is because it does not affect the hair shaft and the follicle. In fact, you may be asked to shave the area with a clean razor the day before laser hair removal. However, methods like waxing, tweezing or even electrolysis all disturb the follicle in some way, and they should be avoided.
Check Products
There are also certain skincare products that you may be advised to avoid in the leadup to your laser hair removal treatment. These are usually anti-aging products that contain ingredients like salicylic or alphahydroxy acid, or perhaps benzoyl peroxide. If no particular direction is given and you use products with these ingredients, it never hurts to ask in advance whether they should be discontinued for a few days.
Sun Exposure
While side effects like skin lightening are uncommon during laser hair removal, too much sun exposure increases their likelihood. This is an area that actually goes back a little while – if you have any significant tan beyond the way your skin would normally appear, we recommend letting it fade before you schedule a laser hair removal process. A good rule of thumb here is six weeks, though this may depend on how quickly your skin leaves tans behind.
Day-Of Tips
A couple basic tips for the day of the laser hair removal appointment:
- Clothes: You should wear clothing that’s both comfortable and leaves easy access to the area that’s being treated. Wear clothes you’re comfortable with a little cream rubbing off on – a topical cream may be used to soothe the area. We generally recommend avoiding tight or restrictive clothing, which may cause pain after treatment.
- Cleansing: The morning of treatment, cleanse the skin in the treatment area. Do not use other cosmetics or creams, or even deodorants, which will have to be removed before treatment can begin.
For more on preparing for laser hair removal, or to learn about any of our dermal fillers, microneedling processes or any of our medical spa services, contact the pros at Beauty Now today.