Laser hair removal is a popular option for permanently reducing hair on your body. By using a specialized laser, this hair removal technique uses the melanin (the substance that gives your body color) in your hair to direct the energy from the laser to each hair follicle. This energy disables the follicle's ability to grow new hair strands. Because laser hair removal works through melanin, there are several ways you will need to prepare before your laser hair removal procedure.
Step 1
Change the way you remove your hair four weeks prior to treatment. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you should not pluck, wax or use electrolysis on the area of skin that will be treated in the weeks leading up to your treatment. You can shave or use a depilatory cream instead until after the procedure has been completed.
Step 2
Stay out of the sun and tanning beds. Due to laser hair removal's use of melanin to guide the laser during treatment, the lighter your skin is, the easier it will be for the laser to pick out the melanin of your hair. Tanned skin creates less of a contrast between the skin and the hair and may affect the results of hair removal. You should also avoid sunless tanning lotions, because they also darken the skin. The AAD recommends wearing a sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher to help prevent skin darkening.
Step 3
Shave the treatment area within 24 hours before your appointment. If you do not, the hair removal technician will do it for you and may charge an additional fee for the service. Having too long of hair during treatment causes the laser to not only target the hair in your follicles, but also the hair outside of the follicles. This burns the hair and can make the treatment less effective.
Step 4
Refrain from putting substances on the treatment area the day of your procedure. Lotions, deodorants, perfumes and makeup can create a reflective coating on the skin's surface, which can affect the ability of the laser to work properly.
Things You'll Need
- Razor
- Depilatory cream
- Sun Block (SPF 30 or greater)
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