What to do before and after laser hair removal treatment

At Ministry of Laser, your safety and ensuring that you get the most out of your laser sessions is always our top priority.

And while our state-of-the-art lasers will be working their magic during your sessions, you also play an important roll in making sure your laser hair removal treatments go to plan. To ensure your complete safety, we might have to cancel a session on the day if we don’t think your skin is adequately prepared.

So consider this your go-to dos and don’ts checklist for before and after laser hair removal sessions and you’ll be delighted with the results!

Before laser hair removal treatment

Before coming to your laser hair removal treatment at Ministry of Laser, please make sure you do the following:

• Remove fake tan – Your laser technician will choose your laser settings based on the density of your hair and your natural skin tone from your initial consultation. Therefore, if you come to an appointment with fake tan on your skin, the laser will be attracted to the darker pigment and this can lead to blistering. We suggest avoiding fake tan for at least 2 weeks prior to your session and be sure to exfoliate the treatment area daily in the days before to make sure there’s no residue clinging to your skin. Scrubbing the area with an oil-based Mercellar water and cotton wool also works well .
• Avoid sun exposure & sunbeds – This one is really important – make sure you avoid any sun exposure or using sunbeds for a minimum of 4 weeks before your appointment. We know this can be hard during the summer months – particularly for face treatments – but wearing SPF 50 daily and wearing a cap on sunny days is essential.
• Shave the area the night before – Shaving before laser sessions helps the laser attack the hair follicle rather than the hair itself. But it’s best to avoid shaving your laser hair removal area too soon before your appointment to ensure your skin isn’t raw or irritated by the razor. Shaving the night before your session is ideal. (Note: if you’re preparing for an initial patch test, please leave a couple mm hair growth).
• Tell us if you’re taking any medications – Most medications don’t interfere with laser hair removal treatments, but antibiotics can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. If you’re on a course of antibiotics, it’s best to wait until you’ve stopped taking the medication for 7 days before having your laser session. Some other skin medications, like acne treatments (Accutane, for example), also increase your skin’s sensitivity. It’s important to let your laser technician know about any medications you’re taking before you begin treatment so they can plan your sessions around it.
• Avoid taking certain pain killers – Some people like to take pain killers before a laser hair removal session. However, we recommend you opt for paracetamol instead of Ibruprofen or aspirin as these can react to the laser light.
• Let us know if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding – Unfortunately, you can’t have laser hair removal treatment if your pregnant or breastfeeding, so please let the salon know if your circumstances change.

After laser hair removal treatment

After your laser hair removal session, you might experience a bit of redness in the area where the laser treatment was performed. But don’t worry, this is absolutely normal.

However, there are a few things that you’re best to avoid after laser hair removal that will ensure your skin stays cool and you stay comfortable.

• Tight clothing – It’s a good idea to wear loose clothing to your laser appointment so there’s no rubbing against your skin as this can cause irritation in treatment areas. If possible, it’s best to avoid clothes-to-skin contact for a day after your treatment.
• Hot baths and showers – Your skin will feel hot after laser hair removal treatment, so hot water won’t feel good against your skin for a while afterwards. Take cool showers when necessary and avoid saunas and steam rooms for at least 48 hours after your session.
• Working out – Exercising causes your body temperature to rise and your skin to sweat, which can cause irritation after laser hair removal treatment. Tight gym clothing also leads to rubbing and chafing, which is never what you want! We recommend avoiding any exercise (except for walking) for 48 hours after your treatment. This includes swimming, as the chlorine in swimming pool water can irritate too.
• Applying products to your skin – Depending on your skin type and sensitivity, products like perfumed moisturisers can cause redness and irritation after a laser session. Please wait 24 hours before you apply any skin product to the treated areas.

What to avoid between laser hair removal sessions

Your laser technician will book you in for your next session around 6 weeks after each treatment (4 for face treatments). In between these sessions, there are a few important things to avoid so you’re ready for your next appointment when it comes around.

• Sun exposure – Wherever possible, please avoid sun exposure to your treatment areas. If complete cover isn’t possible (for example, you’re going on holiday or you’re having a facial treatment during the summer months), apply SPF 50 every 3 hours to the treatment area. If you’ve been on holiday, consider taking a short break from your treatments, or come in for a patch test before completing a full session.
• Sunbeds – In the same way that your should avoid fake tan before laser hair removal treatment, you should also avoid sunbeds. Sunbed use can cause complications for the laser settings and lead to blistering.
• Waxing and plucking – Any hair removal technique that pulls the hair out by the root should be avoided completely once you begin your laser hair removal treatment. Laser works by targeting the root of the hair, so this needs to be preserved for the laser treatment to be successful. Please only shave in between sessions to ensure you get the best results.

Got a question that isn’t answered here? Check out our laser FAQ page for more information or book a consultation with a member of our team.