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If you decide on laser hair removal, congratulations – you will forget about extra hairs for a long time. True, and spend a lot of money. But, in our opinion, the result is worth it. We tell you what preparation for laser hair removal includes and share life hacks.
Why preparation for laser hair removal is necessary
What is laser hair removal? This is the destruction of hair follicles at different stages of their development by exposure to light pulses. Even after one procedure, when the hair in the growth stage is removed from the root, the result is immediately visible. True, to get rid of those that are still sleeping, additional sessions are needed. For them to be successful, preparation for laser hair removal is necessary.
How to prepare for laser hair removal
So, you have decided on laser hair removal – you are tired of going to wax depilation every three weeks or doing home shugaring, trimming your hair as it grows back with a machine or an epilator.
Let’s say right away that for an effective result it will take at least 6 weeks to hour X. What should be done before laser hair removal?
The first thing is to go for a consultation with a specialist and learn in detail about the protocol of the procedure, what points to consider, how to prepare for laser hair removal, what to look for immediately after the session. That is, listen to all the recommendations before laser hair removal.
A good specialist will definitely tell you what type of laser will be used for the procedure (alexandrite, diode, etc.), give you a reminder on how to prepare for laser hair removal (and it starts a month and a half before the first procedure), and explain what you can not do before the session.
General rules:
Limit sun exposure and use sunscreen with a high SPF.
Forget about self-tanners and, of course, no tanning beds (this is generally very harmful).
You need to stop going to waxing and sugaring sessions. The maximum that you can afford is a razor to shorten the length. There is nothing you can do, you have to endure temporary difficulties.
You should not prescribe massage sessions before the session, it increases blood flow, and this is useless before laser hair removal.
If the skin is atopic, you should consult a dermatologist so that there are no unwanted surprises.
Can I drink alcohol before laser hair removal? It’s not worth the risk. It’s not the best way to relieve stress at all.
But that’s not all. You should not sign up for a session if:
you are sick or have just had a cold or viral disease;
you have just returned from the sea, and the skin is tanned;
you have dermatological problems (eczema, psoriasis);
there are scratches and wounds on the skin;
hyperpigmentation is observed;
you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
It is absolutely necessary to abandon laser hair removal in the following cases:
herpes in the acute stage;
the presence of gray hair on the treated areas;
neoplasms of unclear etiology;
diabetes;
fungal diseases.
More details on how to prepare for the first laser hair removal procedure, further tells our expert Maria Nevskaya.
For 4-6 weeks
Six weeks before the first session, cancel any hair removal creams that destroy the hair and have a negative effect on the follicle. It is better to avoid sunburn, it significantly reduces the effectiveness of the method and contributes to a more damaging effect on the skin of the laser beam during the procedure (increases the likelihood of burns).
In 2 weeks
In about two weeks, it makes sense to abandon any hot procedures: baths, saunas. And also from visiting the pool. All this can contribute to the development after the procedure of such a nuisance as folliculitis.
Per day
Do I need to grow my hair before laser hair removal and in general, how long should I shave before the procedure? It is better to grow the hairs a little, but the day before the epilation, adjust their length with a razor in all areas where the epilation is planned. The main thing is that their length should be at least 0,5 cm.
Before the procedure
The expected day has come, what to do before a laser hair removal session? Clear skin and keep calm. Stress can increase negative feelings. Can I shave before laser hair removal or use a scrub? No, because the hairs must be at least 0,5 mm, and the skin does not need additional stress.
Features of preparation for laser hair removal of different parts of the body
Bikini area
How to prepare for laser hair removal of a bikini or a deep bikini is an extremely exciting question for all beginners, yet the area is intimate, sensitive, very scary. Let’s calm down. Thanks to the latest devices, the procedure is completely painless. And in order for the process to be most comfortable and efficient, we recall the most important limitations:
No tanning or tanning beds for a couple of weeks before the session.
Shave your bikini area with a razor a few days in advance, but don’t use wax or sugar paste.
Eliminate scrubs a couple of days before the procedure.
Do not schedule procedures during your period: it is both uncomfortable and painful.
Face
The next top question is how to prepare for laser hair removal on the face, and the preparation for upper lip hair removal is the most worrying. The most important thing is not to sunbathe and be sure to use a cream with a high SPF. On the day of the procedure, it is not necessary to apply decorative and generally any cosmetics. The maximum that you can afford is a moisturizer.
Armpits
Legs
There is nothing special about how to prepare for laser hair removal of the legs. All that is required is to trim the length of the hairs the day before the session and come to the procedure with clean skin without any moisturizing or nourishing creams for this area.
Skin care after laser hair removal
To avoid skin irritation after epilation, the skin must be moisturized.
Do not worry if some parts of the body turn red after the procedure. This happens, especially if the skin is sensitive.
After the session, do not stand for two hours, but rather until the morning, take a shower.
Forget for a while about the sauna and bath.
We recommend using a cream with SPF – the higher the protection factor, the better.
Between treatments, don’t forget to “lubricate” the skin after a shower with moisturizing creams, lotions, oils or milk (it all depends on the time of year and your personal preferences).
Here are the tools that we would recommend to use.
Lipid-restoring balm for face and body Lipikar Baume AP + M, La Roche-Posay
Soothes the skin, reducing the feeling of dryness and restores the lipid barrier. The Aqua Posae Filiformis component in the balm regulates the natural microflora of the skin.
Moisturizing lotion for dry and very dry skin of the face and body, CeraVe
It has a fairly light, non-greasy texture, perfectly moisturizes, restores and strengthens the skin.
Moisturizing body milk with bifido complex and aloe vera, Garnier
The bifido complex in the milk optimizes the water balance of the skin and strengthens its natural protective barrier. Aloe moisturizes and soothes.
Spray that improves the restoration of the skin barrier, Cicaplast Spray B5, La Roche-Posay
Spray based on thermal water, panthenol and madecassoside can be applied to irritated skin. Moisturizes, soothes and promotes its restoration.
Body milk “Precious milk of beauty”, Garnier
Summary results
How to prepare for bikini or deep bikini laser hair removal?
First of all, we list what you can not do before laser hair removal:
exclude tanning and visiting the solarium a couple of weeks before the session;
for a few days, shave the bikini area with a machine, but not with wax or sugar paste, by the appointed day, the length of the hairs should be at least 5 mm;
refuse to use scrubs a couple of days before the procedure;
do not plan procedures during menstruation: this is both inconvenient and painful.
What to do on the day of the laser hair removal procedure?
Make sure that the skin is clean and the hairs are exactly the length needed for an effective result (0,5 cm). And then you need to relax and trust the hands of the master.
Is it possible to do laser hair removal on a tanned body?
No, we would not recommend. The best time for laser hair removal is autumn and winter. In spring and summer, you will have to use sunscreen intensively, even in the city.