PRE + POST CARE FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL
A little prep before and some easy care after make a big difference in your results. Here’s everything you need, in one place.
PREP CHECKLIST FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL
SHAVE THE DAY BEFORE
Laser works best on freshly shaved skin, so shave the treatment area the day before every session. For laser, the hair above the skin needs to be gone and the root below needs to stay put. Our Shave Bar and Razor make it easy.
NO WAXING, SUGARING OR PLUCKING FOR 4–6 WEEKS
Laser targets the hair root. If it’s been pulled out by waxing, sugaring, plucking or electrolysis, there’s nothing for the laser to find. Skip all of those for at least 4–6 weeks before treatment. Also skip bleaching and Nair-type products for 2 weeks before, since they can irritate the skin.
AVOID THE SUN + SELF-TANNER
Avoid sun exposure for 4–6 weeks before and after treatment, and wear sunscreen daily. Tanning beds, tanning creams and bronzers are off the list before and during your whole series. Laser looks for pigment, and we want it finding your hair, not your tan. All the sunscreens we carry are zinc-based, including Dew Me, our tinted one, providing a physical barrier from the sun.
PAUSE YOUR ACTIVE SKINCARE
If we’re treating your face, skip anything with Retin-A, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic or salicylic acid, or astringents for at least 2 days before your appointment. Come in makeup-free if you can. If not, we have cleanser :)
TELL US ABOUT COLD SORES
If you have a history of herpes (cold sores included), you’ll need to start an antiviral the day before treatment and keep taking it for 1 week after. Talk to your doctor about a prescription before your appointment, and let us know at your consult.
When in doubt, tell us. We’ll help you figure out the best plan for your skin.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Being nervous is normal. Most clients say laser feels like a quick rubber band snap, and our device keeps your skin chilled while we work. Your treatment is done by National Laser Institute–certified providers, with Medical Director Eric Heath, MD, as our clinical resource for safety questions. You’re in good hands.
FIRST LASER SESSION? READ THIS!
You are about come in for your first laser session! The consultation covered it all, but it is hard to remember everything we say. This page and the pre + post care sheet we sent home with you are here for reference.
The two biggest things are SHAVE THE DAY BEFORE and STAY OUT OF THE SUN.
If you have these covered, all will be good. We checked over everything and cleared you for safely receiving laser during the consult. Day of, we will confirm nothing has changed since your consult and do test spots to get your settings to where you will get results. Your feedback on how it feels on a scale of 1-5 included.
Want a little extra support? Give us a call/text us at 812-917-2845 and we will walk you through any questions you have.
YOU GOT THIS! 🦫
FIRST LASER SESSION? READ THIS!
You are about come in for your first laser session! The consultation covered it all, but it is hard to remember everything we say. This page and the pre + post care sheet we sent home with you are here for reference.
The two biggest things are SHAVE THE DAY BEFORE and STAY OUT OF THE SUN.
If you have these covered, all will be good. We checked over everything and cleared you for safely receiving laser during the consult. Day of, we will confirm nothing has changed since your consult and do test spots to get your settings to where you will get results. Your feedback on how it feels on a scale of 1-5 included.
Want a little extra support? Give us a call/text us at 812-917-2845 and we will walk you through any questions you have.
YOU GOT THIS! 🦫
AFTERCARE MATTERS, REALLY.
What you do between sessions protects your skin and helps every session count. Here’s how to take care of your skin after laser.
WHAT TO EXPECT THE DAY OF YOUR LASER SESSION
Your skin may look red and a bit swollen right after treatment. That usually settles in a couple of hours, though some redness can hang around for up to 10 days. For the first few hours it might feel like a mild sunburn. It passes.
Be gentle with your skin for at least 24-48 hours. Refrain from picking or scratching. No saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, extra-hot showers or hard workouts. Your skin has had enough heat for one day.
To help calm things down you can ice as needed, 20 minutes at a time and/or apply Soothing Serum it’s in our Laser Aftercare Trio.
SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY
Sun on freshly treated skin can leave dark or light spots behind. Stay out of the sun when you can, and wear sunscreen on treated areas every day for your whole treatment series, not just the day after. Our favorite sunscreens are zinc-based providing a physical barrier. If you’d like a little coverage too, try Dew Me, our tinted sunscreen.
SHAVING ONLY BETWEEN SESSIONS
Yes, a waxing studio is telling you not to wax. Between laser sessions, skip waxing, sugaring, tweezing, electrolysis and hair removal creams. They disturb the follicle the laser is working on. Shaving is fine.
FACE CARE
If we treated your face, hold off on Retin-A, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic or salicylic acid, and astringents for at least 2 days. After that, as long as your skin feels good, you can go back to your normal routine. Keep the daily sunscreen going. 🙂
“WAIT, WHY IS THERE STILL HAIR?”
Some hairs come out during your session. Others fall out on their own over the next 1–3 weeks. That’s the laser doing its job, not a miss.
Laser only reaches hairs in their active growth phase, and your hairs aren’t all growing at the same time. That’s why we treat in a series: facial areas every 3–5 weeks, body areas every 4–8 weeks. Most clients need 6–9 sessions for best results, depending on how much hair you have and what type it is. Staying on schedule is what gets you there.
LASER AFTERCARE TRIO
(the easiest way to start your laser routine)
Everything you need between sessions, in one grab.
The Laser Aftercare Trio covers all three parts of laser care: calming your skin after treatment, protecting it from the sun, and prepping for your next session. It comes in two sizes. The Mini Trio is made for face clients, and the full-size Trio is for body areas.
Kit includes:
- Soothing Serum by Sweet & True: A calming botanical serum for the days after your treatment.
- Mineral sunscreen by Spooge: Wear it daily on treated skin and reapply every 1–2 hours when you’re outside.
- Mini Trio: Face Shot 30 SPF
- Full-size Trio: The O.G. 50 SPF, a sheer, everyday sunscreen for your whole body, face included
- Shave Butter Body Bar by Kitsch: Cushions your shave the day before your next session.
Need a razor? Pair it with the Perfect Glide Safety Razor and grab blade refills while you’re at it.
THE BEST RESULTS COME FROM CONSISTENCY
Laser only reaches hairs in their active growth phase, and your hairs aren’t all growing at the same time. That’s why we treat in a series: facial areas every 3–5 weeks, body areas every 4–8 weeks. Most clients need 6–9 sessions for best results. Staying on schedule is what gets you there, and the Laser Freedom Program
LASER SEASON IS HERE!
GET YOUR LASER CONSULT THIS MONTH AND START YOUR JOURNEY TO HAIR FREEDOM.
We are launching the LASER FREEDOM PROGRAM, our all-in laser hair reduction package — nine sessions on a schedule built to work, followed by lifetime maintenance included at no extra cost.
1 PACKAGE. 9 SESSIONS. MAINTENANCE FOR LIFE.
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