There is a reason why unwanted hair is called that – it is hair on your body that you really don’t want and you probably spend a fair amount of time and effort removing it. However, no matter how many times you remove this unwanted hair, they grow back and it all turns into a vicious cycle. But if you have ever heard about laser hair reduction, you would know that this is probably the best way to get rid of all unwanted hair, pretty much permanently. What is great about this method is that you can have your hair removed from pretty much every part of the body and over the sessions, you will see that your hair growth has reduced drastically and it becomes almost invisible.
When you are looking to get laser reduction, there are several factors that you need to keep in mind and the dos and don’ts that need to be kept in mind before you head for the procedure are important:
· You will be asked to shave the area that is being treated 24 hours before the appointment
· The closer the shave, the better it will be, but no waxing or tweezing
· If it is the very first time, then you might be asked to leave a small patch of hair for the expert to examine
· You will be asked to avoid any and all makeup, body lotions, and deodorants
· Avoid all tanning products because that could lead to more side effects of laser hair removal
· You will also be asked to avoid direct sunlight for at least 3 days before and then 3 days after the session
· You will also need to avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours before the procedure
Now, there are precautions that you need to take before you get your procedure done, but the list of precautions that you need to keep in mind, post-session, is far more important.
Let’s first take a look at all the things that you should do:
· You will be given very specific instructions on how to take care of the treated area post the procedure, and it is imperative that you pay attention to the same and do as asked. These steps are meant to not only fasten the healing process but also reduce the chances of any side effects of laser hair removal emerging.
· Using a clean washcloth, which is soft to the touch, you will be asked to make a cold compress and apply it to the treated area, several times during the day. You can dip the cloth in cold water, squeeze it out and then apply it to the skin or you can wrap an ice pack in a clean towel and use that as well. This will help reduce the temporary swelling and help ease the mild pain as well.
· You will be prescribed certain ointments, which will not only soothe the skin but also help reduce any discomfort and pain. These creams are also meant to help with the healing process.
· The sun can play havoc on your skin at any time, but it is especially troublesome when your skin is fresh from a laser hair removal session – ideally, you should not step out into direct sunlight for at least three days post-procedure. But should you have to step out, you need to make sure that you apply sunscreen and keep the treated area protected.
· Post the laser hair reduction session, you will also be given instructions on how to clean the treated area – you will be asked to use a gentle soap and perhaps an exfoliating towel to keep the area clean and speed up the hair loss process. However, the exfoliation should be done only after the first week of the procedure.
Now that we have looked through what all needs to be done, we can move on to what you should not do:
· You will need more than one session to see the kind of results you are expecting, but do not rush into scheduling sessions with no space. Ideally, there are should be a gap of 4 to 6 weeks, between each session.
· One of the side effects of laser hair removal is hyperpigmentation and should you get any form of tanning (tanning beds or tan sprays), it could aggravate the same.
· There is an overall sensitivity on the skin post-procedure, which is why you should not apply makeup or fragrances, which could irritate the skin. You should not apply even your under-arm roll on products or deo sprays.
· You should not use anybody's scrubs, till the time the technician says so and the same goes for makeup too.
· Do not tweeze or pluck your hair, because that will hamper the healing and the results of the procedure.
As long as you pay attention to these dos and don’ts, you should be able to see proper results from your laser hair reduction.
