Preparing for Laser Hair Removal
Preparing for laser hair removal isn't all that complicated, but proper preparation is extremely important. Not doing so could lead to discomfort after your laser hair removal session - or even light burns!
Plucking and Waxing
For those who routinely pluck out or wax their unsightly hair - stop! Both of these methods of hair removal extract hair follicles from the root, and that's no good. The way that laser hair removal works is that it destroys follicles at the root, and the laser needs a little hair within the follicle to absorb the heat it applies. If there's no hair to absorb the heat, the follicle won't get destroyed and your efforts to remove them will be in vain. Instead, try shaving between sessions; doing so leaves just enough hair below the surface of your skin for the laser to target.
Don't Tan
Refrain from using tanning beds, artificial tanning creams/lotions, as well as natural tanning, before and between your laser hair removal treatments. Remember how the laser works by targeting hair follicles? Well, with extra melanin and color floating around, the more difficult it will be for the laser to target the hair and not the skin around it,
therefore,
increasing the risk of burns. Laser hair removal works better the darker the hair and the lighter the complexion. The higher the contrast between the two, the more of the laser's light will hit the hair follicle. That being said, Gentle Touch also has a laser that can be used on darker skin with dark hair.
Shave the Area Before Your Appointment
Having too little hair for the laser to target is bad, but having too much can be even worse. If there's too much hair showing above the surface of your skin, that part of the hair follicle will absorb the laser's light and cause significant discomfort. Additionally, for those who have a lot of hair follicles in the area they're having laser hair removal, it could result in minor burns. It usually works best to shave within 24 hours of your appointment. For those with hair that grows quickly, shaving the day of is fine too. Remember, you want the hair to be below the surface of your skin, not above it.
If you have any additional questions about laser hair removal in the Grand Rapids area, give us a call at 616-447-9393 or stop by our website at agentletouch.net.