So you’re interested in laser hair removal and the smooth skin that it can offer. Laser hair removal is an effective way of permanently removing unwanted hair for beautifully smooth results. Other hair removal treatments such as waxing or shaving cannot provide the same results as laser hair removal. With laser hair removal, you don’t need to worry about shaving or waxing ever again. However, the process for laser hair removal is much more involved than these other types of hair removal. Before your appointment, there are some things that you should know about preparing for your laser hair removal appointment.
Preparing for Laser Hair Removal
Take a look at some of these tips so that your laser hair removal is as effective as possible.
Stop Waxing or Plucking
You are going to have to stop any type of hair removal that pulls hair out from the root. Don’t even do any touch ups in between appointments. Laser hair removal targets the hair follicles. When you pull hair out of the follicle through waxing or plucking, the laser cannot properly target the hair follicles and the treatment will be ineffective. We recommend that you simply stick to shaving in between your laser treatments.
Shave Within 24 Hours of Your Treatment
As stated earlier, shaving is fine before your appointment. We recommend that you shave within 24 hours of your appointment. You should use a new blade as well as plenty of shaving cream. This is very important for your laser hair treatment. If you do not properly shave, the laser will also target any of the visible hair which can make the laser hair treatment more painful. The laser will still be able to target the follicle, and remove the hair.
Avoid Any Tanning Treatments
You should not be going to tanning beds or using any tanning creams/sprays at any time close to your laser hair removal. Your skin needs to be its natural color before your treatments. The laser is able to detect your hair follicles because of their natural color. If your skin is not its natural color, it may be difficult for the laser to target the follicles and the treatment will not be as effective.
Talk to Your Doctor and Esthetician about Your Medications
There are certain medications that can interfere with your laser hair removal. You may need to stop taking these medications during the term of your treatments. This is something that you need to discuss with your doctor and your esthetician. Certain medications that are known to change the effectiveness of the laser include:
- Birth control
- Acne medications
- Hormone treatments
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Photosensitizing medications
If you are taking any of the mentioned types of medications, you will need to discuss them with your doctor and esthetician. If you are using any other types of medications, you should also discuss them with your esthetician. You should be as cautious as possible when it comes to this tip.
Once your laser hair removal treatments are done, you will have that smooth silky skin that offers permanent results. Laser hair removal is virtually painless and you never need to worry about repeat treatments. Make sure you know what to expect during treatments. If you have any questions, be sure to discuss them with your esthetician. Enjoy your soft, beautiful skin!