How to prepare for laser hair removal treatments: shaving, skincare, sun exposure and more

In the ranking of the most frequently asked questions about laser hair removal treatments, this one consistently features among the top entries. This comes as no surprise, nor do the many searches on the topic of “shaving after laser hair removal between sessions”. After all, safety and security come first, and being well prepared reduces risks and brings greater peace of mind. Preparing for a laser hair removal course, which will leave you smooth almost forever (or at least for about 15 years), is a serious undertaking. However, it is just as serious as the results you’ll achieve if you follow the necessary guidelines. As all our visitors say – it’s absolutely worth it!

1. Avoid sunbathing shortly before and after laser hair removal treatments

Before and after laser hair removal, exposure to the sun is strictly prohibited. Do not visit a solarium or use any form of artificial tanning for at least two weeks (or for as long as possible) during this period. Our device is a medical-grade alexandrite laser for hair removal, which targets the melanin in the hair with very high energy. When there is as much melanin in the skin as in the hair (or more), this can cause pigmentation or burns. That is why we often say: sacrifice one summer without a tan for all the summers to come with carefree, smooth skin. There are lasers that allow treatment on tanned skin, but the results of this type of hair removal are not long-lasting. This is because the settings used are relatively low to ensure the treatment is safe for the skin.

Как да се подготвя за лазерна епилация процедури: бръснене, козметика, излагане на слънце и още 1

2. Don’t forget your sun cream

Apply sun cream with an SPF of at least 50 to the treated area every day throughout the entire course of hair removal. This way, together, we’ll protect the area from darkening and sunburn. If the skin darkens, even if we wait two weeks after your last laser hair removal session before sun exposure, we will be forced to use lower or safer settings. This is because we will be aiming to avoid skin damage, rather than increasing the pulse power at each subsequent visit, as recommended for maximum effect. This could compromise your results and mean that additional treatments are required.

3. Avoid using exfoliants before and after laser hair removal treatments

Do not use exfoliants 10 days before or after laser hair removal. Any exfoliation causes minor damage to the skin, which can lead to unpleasant reactions following the hair removal procedure. These include, for example, irritation, dryness or a tight feeling, and sometimes even a burning sensation. So be kind to your skin and allow a longer period between the two treatments.

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4. Stop using alternative hair removal methods for at least three weeks

Do not remove hair from the treatment area using wax or other hair-removal methods for at least 3 weeks before your first laser hair removal session. For the treatment to be effective, the hair must be attached to its root. The reason is that, as we’ve already mentioned, the laser light is absorbed by the melanin in the hair, is conducted down to the root, where it is converted into intense heat and destroys the follicle. If the hairs have been recently plucked, there is no root. And if there is no root, there is no effect. So forget about the tweezers!

5. Make sure you have a trim or a shave after laser hair removal before your next session

Between treatments, remove unwanted hair only by shaving or trimming.

Don’t worry – if you shave after laser hair removal, your hair won’t become coarser or darker, nor will it grow back thicker. On the contrary – even after the very first treatment, your hair will not only become sparser, but also finer and grow much more slowly. This is the effect of the world’s number one medical alexandrite laser, the GentleLase Pro.

Как да се подготвя за лазерна епилация процедури: бръснене, козметика, излагане на слънце и още 2

6. Shave or trim the hair in the area the evening before your laser hair removal treatment

It’s not just important to know whether you can shave after laser hair removal. You also need to know when to do it beforehand, so here’s our advice. Do this on the evening before your laser hair removal treatment, so that your skin isn’t still irritated from shaving just before the procedure. Shave the area carefully, because where there are longer hairs, there will be two unpleasant effects. The first is a stinging sensation caused by the hair on the skin’s surface being burnt. The second is the loss of some of the pulse’s energy along the length of the hair, rather than using it to destroy the root.

You can use a razor or a trimmer (or even small scissors for the facial areas), but under no circumstances should you use depilatory cream. It contains an acid that damages the skin and may cause a reaction with the laser. If you have used such a cream on the area we are going to treat in our laser centre, please wait at least 7 days before the procedure. And please do let us know so that we can take this into account.

7. Do not use cosmetics on the treated area

On the day of your laser hair removal treatment, do not apply lotions or other cosmetics to the treated area. Every cosmetic product has a different composition, and sometimes its ingredients include acids, alcohol or other substances. These can cause an adverse reaction on the skin during or after laser hair removal. If you arrive with make-up on, we will waste time removing it. It is best to have a shower and come with completely clean skin.

8. Prepare yourself mentally: one treatment won’t be enough

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had a lot of colmaska done before, whether you have sparse hair, or whether you’ve undergone a course of photoepilation.

Unfortunately, the hair on the human body does not grow all at once, but in phases. At any given moment, only around 20% of the hair follicles are supplied with blood, and it is from these that hair grows. Then these hairs fall out, their follicles „go to sleep“ (unless we treat them with the laser whilst they are in their active, so-called anagen phase) and the next 20% wake up. That is why a full course usually consists of at least 6 laser hair removal sessions. This ensures that we have targeted all the active phases of hair growth.

Как да се подготвя за лазерна епилация процедури: бръснене, козметика, излагане на слънце и още 3

9. Never expect the hair in that area to disappear completely

This is beyond the capabilities of any hair removal method or device – the best realistic result is the removal of 89% of unwanted hair. And this is after all the preparation requirements have been met following six treatments with the laser proven to be the most effective in the world GentleLase Pro (ours). This applies for a period of at least 15 years, provided that no sudden hormonal or health-related changes occur during that time.

However, we cannot and must not be greedy – after all, 9 out of 10 hairs are removed almost permanently! In reality, this means the battle has been won: we consider a course of laser hair removal to be successful if it leaves the skin visibly smooth. And don’t forget that we cannot treat transparent hairs and vellus hair, nor white, age-related hairs. The reason for this is that they lack melanin, which is why you need to start your laser hair removal treatment in good time.

Many of our clients are concerned about what might happen if fine hairs reappear years later – whether due to hormonal changes, medication or the body’s natural processes. Our Lifetime guarantee on laser hair removal It gives you peace of mind: there’s no need for a new package or one-off treatments. With it, you get entitlement to an unlimited number of maintenance procedures with a 25% discount and ongoing access to professional support on preferential terms, whenever and if you need it.

10. Don’t expect to feel nothing during laser hair removal treatments

Although laser hair removal is the least painful method of permanent hair removal, don’t expect it to be completely pain-free. You may feel a slight prickling or stinging sensation. More sensitive clients report feeling a slight ache, but say it is nowhere near as painful as a colmaska. Please also bear in mind that some women experience heightened sensitivity around the time of their period or ovulation.

To conclude

You already know everything about how to prepare for your treatments and about shaving after laser hair removal in the period between sessions. For best results, please arrange a detailed and completely free consultation with our specialists before starting a course of laser hair removal treatments. Please do not withhold any information from them regarding your hair removal needs. Please be sure to let us know if you are taking any regular medication or using any medical creams. Our team of medical experts will give you the best personalised advice on how to prepare and what to expect.

We at Body Aesthetics make no secret of the fact that successful laser hair removal At our centre, this requires a special approach and dedication from both sides – from our team as well as from you. On the contrary, we believe that this is precisely what makes hair removal at our centre a service that is truly different from the standard offerings.

And that’s where the real difference shows in the final result.