This means you might require more sessions than initially planned, delaying your journey towards that attractive, hair-free body. Possible skin reactions. Not shaving can also lead to adverse skin reactions. The laser's energy, when absorbed by the surface hair, can cause discomfort and, in rare cases, minor burns.
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.
Answer: Stubble prior to laser hair removal Thank you for your question. The less stubble present the better. The laser targets the pigment in the hair follicle. If there is a significant degree of stubble on the surface of the skin, this can create a heat sink that increases pain and raises the risk of a burn.
You can shave right before or 24 hours in advance, it's usually recommend that you shave 24 hours in advance to help avoid extra irritation and so you don't have completely fried hair beneath the skin.
If you don't shave first, it mostly just burns the surface hair and doesn't get the root (also it will smell like burning hair). And if you wax, tweeze or epilate instead of shave it pulls the hair out by the root, so there's nothing for the laser to target and it won't work.
Yes, you can shave up to an hour before your IPL treatment. However, it's best to give yourself enough time for the skin to calm down and any nicks or cuts to heal so that irritation is minimized during the procedure.
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. While the hair root is invisible, the laser can seek it out within the pigment.
If you have active razor bumps or burns, it's best to let the skin heal before considering laser hair removal. Dr. Hardik Soni of Ethos Aesthetics + Wellness suggests waiting at least one week after shaving to ensure any irritation has subsided.
The Mechanics Behind the Laser Hair Treatment
After undergoing the treatment, hairs begin a shedding phase which can last between 10 to 14 days. It's crucial during this period to let the hairs naturally fall out. Shaving too early can risk complications like ingrown hairs and other skin irritations.
If you choose to shave, use a new, clean razor every time, as used razors can carry bacteria. It's best to shave in the direction of hair growth if you can, but that can be hard to tell. It's common for pubic hair to grow in multiple directions.
Shaving too closely right before your appointment can increase the sensitivity of your skin, making the treatment more uncomfortable. It can also increase the risk of skin irritation or redness.
There are no hard rules. While laser hair removal centers may not expect tips, it's a thoughtful way to show your appreciation for exceptional service.
For most laser hair removal providers, the common small treatment areas include the chin, upper lip, hands, or ears. These areas usually only take up around 2-3 square inches of space, and they can be treated effectively in just a few minutes. Most small treatment areas for laser hair removal are found on the face.
If you miss a spot while shaving, the laser will still act on the hair that is above the skin's surface. This can lead to several issues. The laser may burn the longer hair, which can cause discomfort and potentially harm the skin's surface.
Dry shaving on the day may leave your skin with dryness, irritation and prolonged redness. If you cut yourself and the skin is open, bleeding or compromised your practitioner would not be able to laser over it. Which means you'll have patches of hair untreated for that session.
Dry skin during laser hair treatment can lead to itchy, irritated skin. This is another reason why you should leave 24 hours between shaving and your appointment, and you should also take care to use shaving cream or shaving gel to keep the skin on the treatment area moisturised.
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.
This is a sign that the laser successfully treated the follicle, and it's clearing out the dead hair shaft. This shedding process, also called “peppering,” can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. In some cases, it may feel like the hair is growing back because it's breaking through the skin.
It could indicate that the follicles were not sufficiently damaged during the procedure, which may necessitate further sessions or even alternative treatments, conducted with the same precision you'd expect from plastic surgery procedures.
Laser hair removal can actually remove ingrown hairs rather than simply alleviate the irritation that they cause. You can get laser hair removal even while you have ingrown hairs and the treatment will still be as effective and even lead to permanent hair removal after enough laser hair removal sessions.
You can shave after laser hair removal, just not immediately. Laser hair removal is permanent but requires a few sessions to fully zap all the hair follicles in the treatment area. While some hairs may regrow between sessions, your skin will be sensitive for a few days afterward, so don't reach for the razor yet.
It is critical for the success of the laser hair removal treatment to shave before the procedure. The laser is targeting the pigment in the hair. The laser energy is channeled down the shaft of the hair follicle and zaps the stem cells making the hair, killing the follicle.
You may also notice differences in body odor after laser treatment. This is because odor-causing apocrine sweat glands open into hair follicles. So while the laser does not damage the glands themselves, it may alter some of their secretions that contribute to body odor.
DO I HAVE TO CANCEL MY APPOINTMENT IF I HAVE MY PERIOD? Absolutely not, we would ask that you use a tampon if having your bikini area treated. You may be more sensitive but it is not necessary to cancel, it happens all the time and is not a problem.