Shaving and waxing may be the two most common forms of body hair removal, but they’re time consuming, painful, and end up costing hundreds of dollars in the long run. On top of all that, shaving and waxing are short term solutions that last only a few days before unwanted hair grows back.

By switching to laser hair removal, you can say goodbye to spending money on razor refills and inconvenient regrowth periods in between waxing appointments. Laser hair removal targets the root of each hair follicle, providing long lasting results that other methods can’t. While this form of hair removal is low risk, there is some preparation required to ensure both your skin’s safety and the best results. If you’re considering getting laser or have an appointment coming up, keep reading to learn how to properly prepare for your first treatment!

How to properly prepare for your first treatment

Book A Consultation

Before a laser comes anywhere near your skin, it’s essential to have an informative consultation with a certified practitioner. Together, you and your nurse will discuss any questions or concerns you may have, along with confirming that you’re a good candidate for laser hair removal.

Avoid Bleaching the Targeted Area

Laser hair removal works by sending a small ray of concentrated energy, in the form of light, into each hair follicle. Naturally occurring melanin (pigment) in the hair absorbs the light, damaging the root without harming the surrounding skin and tissue. Because laser is so dependent on melanin, it’s important to stop bleaching the hair in treatment areas 6 weeks prior to your appointment so the pigment can fully develop.

Don’t Tweeze or Wax

Tweezing and waxing are meant to completely remove the hair follicle, which makes it impossible for laser hair removal to work effectively. It can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks for roots to regrow after waxing or plucking, so you shouldn’t do either of those things in the time leading up to your first appointment (or in between any appointments afterwards)!

Shave Before your Appointment

Unlike waxing or tweezing, shaving doesn't affect the hair follicle itself. In fact, shaving 1-2 days before your appointment is recommended and reduces the chance of burns and skin damage! Laser is low risk because it only targets hair below the skin’s surface; by shaving off any excess growth before treatment, you eliminate the possibility of any contact between the laser and the outer layer of your skin.

If you’re getting laser hair removal done on your bikini area, it is recommended that you shave around 2 days before your appointment. This is because the skin around the bikini area is typically more sensitive than other places, and it may need time to calm down after shaving to avoid additional sensitivity from the treatment.

Avoid Sun Exposure and Self Tanners

You should avoid prolonged sun exposure and the use of self tanners for 2 weeks prior to your appointment. Self tanners affect the pigmentation of your hair, and can result in discoloration after treatment or the inability to properly target hair follicles.

Unprotected sun exposure can result in a sunburn, which will greatly increase the risk of developing blisters after treatment. Most practitioners will refuse to treat areas with any amount of sunburn in the first place, as it’s better to be safe than sorry! This step is even more important during the weeks in between appointments, as laser increases your skin’s sensitivity and susceptibility to sunburns.

Stop Using Products that Increase Photosensitivity

Many common skin care products increase photosensitivity, which in turn increases the risk of obtaining burns from laser treatments. To avoid putting your skin at risk, swap out these products for a gentle cleanser and warm water for 3 days leading up to your appointment. These products include:

Retinols
AHAs
Salicylic acid
Benzoyl peroxide

How to Arrive

Similarly, you should avoid arrive at your appointment with clean skin, free of any ointments, fragrances, lotions, or makeup. All of these products can affect the accuracy and effectiveness of laser hair removal.

When these preparatory steps are taken, laser hair removal is a safe, low risk, high reward form of hair removal. Treatments are typically short – around an hour for larger areas (legs) and about 20 minutes for smaller areas (chin, under arms, etc). Results become longer lasting with each session, and can be permanent once an entire treatment cycle is complete. Noticeable results appear in as little as one week after your first appointment! You can routinely shave while your treatment cycle is ongoing if desired.

Most medical spas and clinics include 4-5 cycles in a laser hair removal package, but Urban You offers 9 treatment cycles with unlimited touch ups in our Treat to Complete package! Our practitioners are certified, informed, and want what’s best for you. If you’re interested in learning more about laser hair removal, book a consultation at Urban You today!

Book Your free consultation here!