When Should You Stop Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal? | Illuminate (2024)

When Should You Stop Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal? | Illuminate (1)

Have you been considering undergoing laser hair removal to get that silky-smooth skin you’ve always wanted? Want to put an end to that embarrassing body hair that makes you reluctant to remove your shirt when you’re at the beach?

Then it’s time to schedule your laser hair removal procedure at Palo Alto med spa, Illuminate Plastic Surgery.

One of the benefits of laser hair removal is that it greatly reduces your time between shaves; for some patients, laser hair removal completely removes the hair follicle.

Patients often ask the following question to best prepare for their laser hair removal treatments.

“When Should I Stop Shaving?”

When you’re getting ready for your laser hair removal procedure, make sure you shave the night before or the morning of your treatment. The reason for this precaution is simple – you want to remove as much hair as possible so that it doesn’t absorb most of the laser’s energy.

When shaving, try to get as much of the hair follicle as possible. If you were unable to shave your hair or couldn’t remove enough, your laser hair removal technician can remove the rest of it before your treatment.

Make sure you don’t shave immediately before your Palo Alto laser hair removal treatment, as this increases the odds for inflammation and swelling.

“What Else Should I Do?”

In addition to shaving before your treatment, make sure you wear sunscreen when going outside. You should also avoid tanning and using any kind of tanning lotion or spray.

After your laser hair removal treatment, you should avoid putting on perfumes and taking hot showers for at least 24 hours.

SculpSure Contouring in Palo Alto

Want to get silky smooth skin in as little as three months?* Clients in Palo Alto, CA, can contact Illuminate Plastic Surgery for more information on Palo Alto laser hair removal treatments, as well as what you should do before undergoing your procedure. Call (650) 433-8621 today to set up a consultation with Dr. David Boudreault or our Nurse Practitioner, Molly.

When Should You Stop Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal? | Illuminate (2024)

FAQs

When Should You Stop Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal? | Illuminate? ›

Even though it's suggested that you stop plucking

plucking
Plucking or tweezing can mean the process of human hair removal, removing animal hair or a bird's feathers by mechanically pulling the item from the owner's body. In humans, hair removal is done for personal grooming purposes, usually with tweezers. An epilator is a motorised hair plucker.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Plucking_(hair_removal)
and waxing the area being treated, shaving it 24 to 48 hours prior your appointment is essential. Even though your hair is invisible to the naked eye, the laser is still able to target the pigment located in the hair's root.

How long before laser hair removal should I stop shaving? ›

2. 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.

What happens if you shave less than 24 hours before laser hair removal? ›

Therefore, if you shave less than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment then there won't be enough hair present to burn, and this can cause irritation to the treatment area.

Is it OK to have stubble before laser hair removal? ›

Shave within 24 hours of your laser appointment. Your Laser Technician will not be able to go over areas with hair that's above the skin.

What if I cut myself shaving before laser hair removal? ›

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.

Can I shave 7 hours before laser? ›

To prepare for your laser hair removal, shave the area 12-14 hours before your appointment with a clean, sharp razor. Be sure to remove all hairs especially longer hairs sitting above the skin as this can cause burns.

What happens if you shave too early after laser? ›

Immediately after your treatment your skin is likely to be sensitive – if you shave too soon after your session you may irritate the skin. Generally you'll need to wait a week , but everyone's skin is different so it might be worth shaving a small patch first to see how your skin reacts.

What happens if you laser over unshaved hair? ›

If you forget to shave, the effectiveness of your treatment may diminish. The laser, instead of focusing on the follicles, might target surface hair. This can lead to heightened discomfort, potential stinging, and a risk of burns. Surface impurities like dirt and oil can also reduce efficacy.

Will laser get rid of stubble? ›

Reduction of In-Grown Hairs

By destroying the hair at the root, you will no longer need to worry about hair curling back into the body and becoming ingrown or irritated after shaving. Laser hair removal is a proven and effective way to ensure your skin is smooth and stubble-free.

Why do I still have stubble after laser? ›

With hairs at different stages at any given time, a single laser session can only target hairs in the active growth phase. This discrepancy means that hairs not in the active phase during treatment will continue to grow, leading to the perception of stubble.

Do I tip for laser hair removal? ›

It is generally accepted that tips are voluntary and appreciated. The standard 15 to 20 percent rule applies in most cases, but some discounted sites may recommend tipping 20% of the original price.

How do you get a close shave before laser? ›

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.

Can I trim instead of shave before laser? ›

Shaving prior to your laser session is not just a recommendation; it's a strategy for optimizing your experience and results: Decreases Discomfort: Shorter hair means less heat absorption on the skin's surface, translating to a more comfortable treatment.

What happens if you laser over a cut? ›

Using laser treatment to remove unwanted hair from damaged skin can further irritate the skin, especially if your skin is sensitive. Ultimately, this will increase the damage and prolong the healing process. Avoid treating areas with the following types of skin damage: Scrapes and cuts.

What happens if you wax before laser hair removal? ›

No, we recommend you stop waxing at least 4 weeks before your first session of laser hair removal. For laser hair removal to work, your follicles must contain hair. Waxing removes the entire hair from the follicle. If you were to wax and remove all your hair, then laser treatment would be completely ineffective.

Should you tip for laser hair removal? ›

It is generally accepted that tips are voluntary and appreciated. The standard 15 to 20 percent rule applies in most cases, but some discounted sites may recommend tipping 20% of the original price.

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