Laser hair removal can be a wonderful thing. It’s quick, painless, and removes hair permanently, so you won’t have to worry about it coming back for a long time. However, laser hair removal isn’t without some potential risks—specifically if you’re not prepared before your appointment. This article covers everything you need to know about shaving before laser hair removal: Why it’s a good idea, the risks involved, and more.
Laser hair removal is an effective way to get rid of unwanted hair, but it comes with some potential risks. If you shave before your appointment, you can significantly reduce these risks. Shaving reduces the amount of time your hair is in contact with the laser. This means less scarring and less risk of permanent hair loss. Shaving also reduces the amount of time the laser is in contact with your skin, so it’s less likely to cause burns or other blemishes.
How Long Before Laser Hair Removal Should I Shave?
You should shave a few days before your laser hair removal appointment. During this time, you should shave every single hair, regardless of length. Shaving too soon can cause burns or razor bumps around your hair removal appointment, so don’t shave too early. Ideally, you’ll shave a few days before your appointment. Shaving too close to your appointment may cause you to have razor burn around your appointment, so shave no closer than a day before your appointment.
Can you shave 3 hours before your laser hair removal appointment?
You can, but it’s highly recommended that you shave at least 24 hours prior. The biggest concern with shaving the day of your appointment, 3 hours beforehand, 12 hours before, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours… however long before your laser session… is that you can actually leave exposed, sensitive skin that can get a nasty burn from the laser.
It’s best to do a good, clean shave about 1 to 3 days before your appointment. Period. This will give you a lesser chance of having any complications and help you get the best results possible.
Other Things to Consider When Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal
Not all laser hair removal systems are the same. Before you shave, find out which system your laser uses and what the maximum length of hair it can remove. Once you know this, you can shave a few days before your appointment to ensure that your hair is in the laser’s path when it works.
This will minimize the risk of razor burns and blemishes from the laser and minimize the time the laser is in contact with your skin. You can also shave a few days before your appointment to reduce the amount of time the laser is in contact with your skin. Shaving reduces the chances of burns, but it also helps reduce the likelihood of permanent hair loss.
Reduced skin exposure means less risk of permanent hair loss, but it also means reduced effectiveness of the treatment. Talk to your doctor or laser technician about whether shaving a few days before your appointment is safe and effective.
Tips for Shaving Before Your Laser Hair Removal Appointment
- Shave before your laser hair removal appointment.
- Longer, thinner hairs are more likely to be in the laser’s path, so shaving before your appointment will help minimize the risk of burns and reduce the amount of time the laser is in contact with your skin.
- Shave every hair, no matter how short. Shaving just a few longer hairs reduces the risk of burns but also reduces the likelihood of hair loss.
- Shave daily, especially the day before your appointment. Daily shaving reduces the risk of razor burn and reduces the risk of more permanent hair loss, but it also reduces the time the laser is in contact with your skin.
- Shave with an electric razor rather than a standard razor. Electric razors are safer than standard razors, and they reduce the risk of razor burns.
Conclusion
Preparation for your appointment is key for your safety, comfort, and optimal results. Shaving before your appointment in particular drops your risk for complications significantly. If you need to, set a reminder on your phone to help you remember to do a nice, clean shave ahead of your appointment day.
Don’t wait to shave until you have 3 hours left before your laser hair removal appointment. Not only will it impose unnecessary risks during your session, but it’ll also make it so that your shave isn’t the best because you’ll be rushing to get it done. Don’t leave behind stray hairs or stubble. It blocks the lasers from doing their job to the best of their ability.
So, instead of procrastinating – just get it done!