How close of a shave for laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection (2024)

FAQs

How close of a shave for laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection? ›

My recommendation is to have a close shave a day or two before your treatment. However, it's crucial to avoid shaving too closely immediately prior to the session. Shaving too closely right before your appointment can increase the sensitivity of your skin, making the treatment more uncomfortable.

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.

Shave at the Appropriate Time

If you shave too far in advance then the hairs will be too long and the laser can't hit the follicle as it should, while shaving too soon after your treatment can cause more irritation as your skin is still healing.

Shaving 24 Hours Before Laser Hair Removal

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 in the direction of the hair growth first, and then you can go against the hair growth direction for a closer shave. Make sure to use special creams such as Harley Sooth (post-laser treatment balm) to eliminate the irritation.

You can shave 5 hours before laser hair removal, but it isn't recommended. Anywhere from 12-24 hours before your session is ideal. Shaving too close to your treatment time can lead to skin irritation.

Your Laser Technician will not be able to go over areas with hair that's above the skin. They can't even go over areas with hair that has a rough stubble because it damages the laser and increases the chances of getting burned/pigmented, as well as makes the laser treatment hurt more.

If you forget to shave, the effectiveness of your treatment may diminish. The laser, instead of focusing on the follicles, might target surface hair.

Cuts and Abrasions

There is no room for debate here – if you have a cut, abrasion, or any other kind of open wound, we cannot laser the injured area. If it's just a small cut or scrape in a larger area, we can simply use the laser around the cut.

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 I stop laser hair removal after 4 sessions? ›

If treatment is stopped before all of the hair follicles have been destroyed, some may continue to grow. It is important to complete the recommended treatment plan to achieve the best results. Sometimes, the patient sees hairs are thicker and darker after the treatment when they have original light and fair hair.

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.

In order for the treatment to be successful, that pigment in your hair has attract the laser light into the skin. Without the pigment unfortunately the procedure will not be effective. Because peach fuzz in general is lighter in colour it's not likely the laser will be able to target it successfully.

Post-treatment, you may find hairs that seem stubborn and resistant to shaving. This is perfectly normal, and an important part of the shedding process. Remember, each hair on your body is at a different stage of growth. Which means multiple sessions may be necessary to capture each hair in its growth stage.

On smaller areas of the face that you don't feel comfortable shaving, you can also trim or cut the hair as close to the surface as possible. Remember no hair should be left above skin's surface but it must be attached to the follicles. This will ensure your treatment will be as effective as possible.

It's recommended to shave the night before, to avoid any chance of razor burn. If you do have any razor burn, you'll want to move the appointment until it has calmed down as applying heat to an already warm area can be painful.

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.

Razor bump treatment with laser hair removal is very fast. However, the treatment time will depend on the size of the bumps and the area being treated. You can use laser hair removal to eliminate razor bumps anywhere on your body including the pubic area, bikini line, chin, neck, and lower cheeks.

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.