Laser hair removal could look like the solution to all your unwanted hair problems. Whether it is thick hair regrowth, ingrown hair, shaving burns, strawberry legs, or whatever, laser hair removal can help you resolve it all.
Although not permanent as explained in is laser hair removal permanent, it is a safe and long-lasting alternative to all other methods of hair removal. But wait! Is getting laser hair removal really that beneficial? Or is there a loophole in it?
Well, laser hair removal is really that beneficial aside from the cost and the pre and post-treatment care. So, let us know about some preparation and recovery tips for clinic laser hair removal treatment so that you can get the best of it.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: The Preparation Tips for Clinic Laser Hair Removal
- Part 2: The Recovery Tips for Clinic Laser Hair Removal
- Part 3: What if You Use IPL Hair Removal Devices Instead?
- Part 4: Conclusion
The Preparation Tips for Clinic Laser Hair Removal
Here are all the laser hair removal preparation tips for you.
1. Choose a Reliable Clinic
When it comes to laser hair removal, you are already halfway done with preparation if you choose a good clinic. It is because the reliable clinic and a skilled laser expert will guide you through everything you need to know about lasers.
Therefore, choose a suitable clinic by following the tips mentioned in where to get laser hair removal and start your journey towards hairlessness.
2. Consult About the Results You Want and your Skin Conditions
Once you have decided on a clinic, talk to your doctor about your skin type, allergies, sensitivity, and the reason you are getting laser hair removal. Also, ask him about the treatment protocol and care. Moreover, some clinics offer a patch test. So, it will be a wise choice to get one.
3. Start Preventing Yourself from Tanning
Laser hair removal technique works on the contrast between hair and skin color. It gets absorbed into the pigment of the hair while avoiding the pigment-less skin. This is what makes laser safe for the skin.
So, if you want to get the best results and avoid side effects like burns and blisters, do not let your fair skin tan by artificial tanners or sunbathing.
4. Put your Chemical Containing Skincare Products on Hold
Products or ingredients that make skin sensitive, interfere with its barrier, or remove the topmost layer of it should be avoided for a week before the commencement of your treatment.
Thus, if you are using AHA, BHA, retinoids, and any ingredient that is irritating to your skin, do not use it for 1 to 4 weeks.
5. Let the Hair Grow
Laser machines need hair to kill the follicles as the light travels through the hair pigment to the roots. So, do not pluck, tweeze, or wax the area to be treated for about 4 weeks before the treatment.
6. Cleanse and Exfoliate Your Skin
You do not want dead skin cells, excess oils, product buildup, and impurities present in the skin to interfere with the results of your laser treatment, right? Therefore, exfoliate the skin with a mild exfoliating agent 3 days before the treatment.
Always cleanse the skin well right before your treatment session so that the laser can work effectively.
7. Do not wear any Makeup or Skincare products before Appointment
Products like moisturizer, foundation, and any other topical item on the skin before your appointment should be avoided. You would want the skin to be clean and fresh so that laser hair removal treatment can work well.
Also, avoid wearing perfume or deodorants if you are getting your underarms treatment.
8. Shave Before Your Treatment Session
Although you cannot pluck the hair before treatment, you cannot leave them too long either. An appropriate length is essential for laser rays to reach the hair follicles. So, shave the area to be treated right before or 12 hours before the treatment.
9. Attend Your Session in Loose and Soft Clothes
Wearing tight clothes can make the procedure difficult for you as they get rubbed with the skin and irritate it. So, opt for loose baggy clothes on the day of your hair removal session.
10. Check the Side Effects of Your Routine Medication
Some medications make the skin sensitive to radiation. Read the side effects of any medicine or supplement you are taking to find out if it causes photosensitivity or skin dryness. If it does, stop using it.
Also, do not smoke or drink alcohol a day before your treatment. Instead, drink more water and have a healthy meal.
The Recovery Tips for Clinic Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal treatment does not end with your session. Rather you have to take some measures to recover the optimal health of your skin. These measures are given as.
1. Use the Topical Treatment Recommended by your Doctor
Laser hair removal can cause redness and irritation of the skin in some people. Doctors recommend topical creams to help in recovery. This is not mandatory for everyone though.
Moreover, you can simply use aloe vera gel as it helps in the healing of the skin. A 3-day application of such creams significantly improves the recovery speed.
2. Use Gentle Skincare Product
Try using mild cleansers, enriched moisturizers, and lightweight products for at least a week after your laser hair removal. Also, pay attention to the ingredient list and try avoiding mineral oils, dyes, and artificial fragrances.
Meanwhile, do not use acids, self-tanners, chemical exfoliants, and retinol as well. Additionally, you should avoid DIY and physical exfoliants as well.
3. Never Skin Sunscreen
Your skin is more prone to be affected by the UV rays from the sun. so, protect your skin by staying indoors, applying a liberal amount of sunscreen when you go out, reapplicating sunblock, using UV protective hats, and UV-protective outfits.
4. Use Cold Compresses
As a laser uses high-energy radiation, it can give you a stinging and burning sensation. One of the easiest ways to calm this skin irritation is using cold compresses. Cold compresses can reduce skin redness and after-laser pain.
5. Avoid Swimming or Sweating
Swimming pool water contains chlorine and sweat also has salts. Both of these can irritate the skin. Moreover, it is recommended to keep your skin dry for 2 days after laser hair removal.
Therefore, you should avoid activities that make you sweat like exercise and that exposes you to damp environment like swimming.
6. Skip Deodorants and Makeup for a While
Deodorant and makeup immediately after your laser hair removal session can irritate the skin and delay discovery. As explained can you wear deodorant after laser hair removal, do not use deodorant if you have had laser hair removal on your armpits for 1 to 2 days.
Furthermore, keep your skin makeup-free for 12 to 24 hours as well. So, it is better to plan laser hair removal sessions on weekends when you can stay indoors.
7. Avoid Hot Showers
Hot showers have a bad effect on laser-treated skin as they can aggravate the pain, redness, and swelling. So, do not take steam or hot showers for 2 days after your laser hair removal session.
8. Do not Remove Hair from the Roots
Hair regrows after a single laser hair removal session and it requires multiple sessions to achieve optimal results. When you notice hair regrowth in between the sessions, shave hair instead of plucking or waxing it as it can interfere with the hair roots and decrease the results of laser hair removal.
9. Do not Scratch or Touch Your Skin
You will feel skin irritation for a few hours after the session. Use calming lotions, creams, and cold compresses during this time. Never scratch or touch the skin too often. Because it can aggravate the condition instead of helping you. If you do so, the skin can blister and scar.
10. Wear Loose Clothes
Continue to wear loose clothes for 1 to 2 days after the laser hair removal session to let the airflow and prevent skin friction caused by clothes.
What if You Use IPL Hair Removal Devices Instead?
Laser hair removal can be quite a hassle. So, you can give Ulike Air3 IPL hair removal handset a try. With the features of Ulike mentioned in Effectiveness of Ulike for men and women, below are some benefits an IPL device has over laser hair removal.
Convenient Hair Removal
Finding a reliable clinic, taking a consultation, and commuting for clinic laser hair removal sessions can be hectic and frustrating. Instead, an IPL hair removal device provides you with the opportunity to do a hair removal session easily at home. Even with this convenience, the results of IPL are comparable to that of laser hair removal.
Less Pre and Post-Care of the Treatment
The pre and post-treatment care of IPL hair removal is similar to that of laser hair removal. However, because IPL uses less energy and allows you to customize the treatment, this care is not too intensive and you only need to be cautious for a few days instead of a week or so.
Furthermore, you need no painkillers and numbing creams with IPL.
Affordable
If you consider the cost of laser hair removal as mentioned in facial laser hair removal cost, you can expect how expensive would it be to get your whole body treated. In contrast, an IPL device comes at half the price of a single laser hair removal session and treats full body and face.
Faster
The treatment window of an IPL device is larger and it uses broad-spectrum light in comparison to the small window of a laser hair removal device. It covers a greater surface area in one flash.
Therefore, IPL hair removal devices only take a few minutes for the treatment while laser hair removal treatments can take hours excluding the time taken to travel to the clinic.
Nearly Painless
One cannot imagine getting laser hair removal without the application of topical anesthesia and the post-laser skin discomfort is another story. On the other hand, IPL devices are not as painful as that of the laser.
Furthermore, some devices like Ulike use sapphire ice cooling technology to decrease the discomfort significantly. You do not need any oral or topical painkillers as well.
Conclusion
We have talked about all the necessary pre and post-treatment care for clinic laser hair removal in this article. As you can see, the most important thing for getting a laser is keeping your skin in a healthy condition, avoiding tanning, and choosing a reliable place to get treated.
To do this, your main focus should be on avoiding sun exposure, harsh chemicals, tight clothes, plucking of hair, and hot environments. Instead, try wearing comfortable clothes, using gentle products, and shaving unwanted hair on the area to be treated.
