The laser hair removal process is easy and non-invasive. However, there are certain things you should keep in mind if you are undergoing laser hair removal treatment to ensure you get the best results possible.
Here are some tips for you if you are getting laser hair removal:
- Apply Numbing Cream Before Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment
- Apply Aloe Vera After Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment
- Remember to Shave
- Avoid Sun Exposure
- Don’t Go to the Gym Right After Treatment
- Space Your Treatments Out Accordingly
Apply Numbing Cream Before Your Treatment
Although laser hair removal is not unbearably painful, it can be uncomfortable for those with a low pain tolerance.
In comparison to other forms of hair removal, like waxing or threading, laser hair removal is not nearly as painful. However, the amount of pain someone experiences varies by individual and varies depending on the area they are getting treated, some being more sensitive than others.
If you are concerned about the pain associated with laser hair removal and are afraid to get a treatment for this reason, applying a numbing cream prior is a great solution.
Not all laser clinics have numbing cream or apply numbing cream before treatment. However, you can easily get a topical numbing cream and apply it to mitigate any discomfort. If you choose one on your own, be sure to consult with your laser clinic to ensure the cream will not result in unintended side effects.
Apply Aloe Vera After Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment
As the skin can be irritated after getting laser hair removal treatment, it is important to help soothe the skin.
Aloe vera is a great natural option known for its soothing and cooling properties. You can easily get it in gel form or plant form and apply it to your skin.
However, it is important to avoid any perfumed creams or gels for 24 hours after your treatment to avoid irritating the skin.
Remember to Shave
One of the primary benefits of laser hair removal is that you can shave between sessions. You are supposed to.
Other hair removal techniques, like waxing, encourage you to not shave between treatments for the best results.
However, this can leave you with some patchy hair growth between sessions that you cannot get rid of.
With laser hair removal, however, it is important to shave before either the day of or the night before the treatment.
This is because laser hair removal works by emitting a light that is absorbed by the melanin in your hair follicle. If you do not shave, the grown-out hair will absorb the light, not the follicle.
The follicle is responsible for hair growth. Therefore, to inhibit this growth the follicle needs to be targeted, not the hair itself.
Avoid Sun Exposure
One of the key tips to remember when getting laser hair removal is that you must limit sun exposure.
The added heat from sun exposure can cause hyperpigmentation and scarring on the skin.
This also means you have to avoid tanning before and after sessions and could be asked to reschedule your appointment once the tan fades.
A great way to avoid this is by planning your laser hair removal treatments based on the season, avoiding the spring and summer months when you are more likely to be doing outdoor activities in the sun and not covering your skin as much.
In the same regard, it is crucial to put on sunscreen after your laser treatments.
The treatment makes your skin more sensitive than normal, meaning you are at higher risk of sunburns and damaging your skin, consequences that could be irreversible.
By wearing sunscreen you are protecting your skin from possible burns or hyperpigmentation.
Don’t Go to the Gym Right After Treatment
Similar to avoiding the sun after a treatment session, it is also important to avoid going to the gym.
This does not mean you are banned from the gym until you have completed every session of laser hair removal. Just avoid going to the gym 24 hours after a treatment.
This is because working out usually means sweating, which could provide a greater chance for bacteria to grow, irritate, or even an infection.
So in general, it is important to avoid any activities that could cause you to sweat, like going to a sauna or hot shower.
Space Your Treatments Out Accordingly
If done consistently, laser hair removal is a permanent hair removal treatment.
Unlike waxing and shaving, with laser hair removal the hair does not grow back or grows back much thinner than before.
However, to permanently stop hair growth, multiple laser hair removal sessions are necessary, ranging from 8 to 12 full treatments. Overall, the treatment process takes approximately 6 months.
Additionally, for the treatment to be fully effective, it must be timed accordingly. This means scheduling appointments six to 10 weeks apart.
Although it may seem arbitrary, timing is important. This is because the treatment must be done while the hair is in a growth phase, or you risk allowing the hair to grow back and not being responsive to the treatment.
While this might sound tedious, LaureateLA will help schedule your appointments to ensure your treatment is most effective.