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If you are tired of plucking, shaving, and waxing the unwanted hair on your body, it may be time to turn to laser hair removal. Yes, it can be expensive and it's far from a comfortable experience, but the possibility of permanent hair reduction is worth It. Aside from mental preparing for the not-so-fun sensation of a laser zapping your skin, you can get your body ready to maximize the results from your appointments. There's no need to be intimidated because of lot of the preparation actually involves things you should not be doing instead of adding to your to-do list.
Let's be honest: laser hair removal can be expensive. Don't let your time and money go to waste. Prepare your skin to maximize your comfort and results with these tips.
Stop Waxing and Tweezing
Unfortunately, you have to choose between laser hair removal and waxing. The follicle needs to be intact for laser hair removal to work effectively. You should also avoid tweezing and hair removal creams. Thankfully, that does not mean you're stuck with hair in between laser appointments since you are allowed to shave the area.
Shave
Joy Razors for Women, 1 Handle, 4 Razor Blade Refills
You are not supposed to shave before waxing, but shaving at the right time is important for a successful laser hair removal session. Ideally, you should shave 24-48 hours before laser hair removal. The laser targets the root of the hair, so you don't want some hair to be present. This is a great razor. You can buy this start kit, keep the handle, and just buy the refills when you need. It has 10,100+ 5-star Amazon reviews.
Avoid Sun Exposure and Faux Tanning
You should only do laser hair removal on your natural skin tone. You cannot get laser hair removal if you just experienced sun exposure or if you have a fake tan lingering. Laser hair removal works best when there is a contrast between the hair color and skin tone. A tan reduces that contrast.
Seraphic Skincare Korean Exfoliating Mitt
When you get in the shower, enjoy the warm water for about five minutes. Do not put any soap on your body yet. You want to create friction, which is tough with smooth, oily body washes and soaps. After about five minutes use that exfoliating mitt all over your body. You will see a lot of dead, bronzed skin coming off. It's a gross yet, satisfying feeling. If you love the sensation of pulling off a pore strip, you'll enjoy using this exfoliating mitt, for sure.
This exfoliating mitt has 18,900+ 5-star Amazon reviews.
Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser
If you need additional help with faux tan removal, this is a great product. I leave it on for 20 minutes. I have played around with using this for different lengths of time, and through many self-administered experiments, this has been the most successful for me.
You can apply it with your hands, which is fine since you want to get the tanner off your hands anyway. Or you can use a mitt or another applicator. This product has 1,400+ 5-star Amazon reviews.
Exfoliate
GiGi No Bump Body Scrub with Salicylic Acid, Prevents Ingrown Hair & Razor Burns, Exfoliates and Unclogs Pores, Ideal for Men and Women
Exfoliation is important to slough off dead skin. Don't overdo it though. You should exfoliate 24-48 hours before your appointment. You don't want to give your skin any additional irritation or sensitivity on the day you laser. However, it is smart to exfoliate the area 2-3 days beforehand.
This scrub has salicylic acid and it's formulated with the intent to prevent ingrown hairs, razor burns, and clogged pores, per the brand. It has 1,400+ 5-star Amazon reviews.
Get Rid of the Ingrown Hairs and Bumps
Tend Skin Womens AfterShave/Post Waxing Solution for Ingrown Hair, Razor Bumps and Razor Burn
Prevent ingrown hairs and bumps with this solution that's great to use pre-wax and post-wax. Waxing irritated, ingrown skin is a disaster. Taking care of your skin in between waxes is a definite must. This solution is a miracle worker, in my personal experience. It has 37,300+ 5-star Amazon reviews.
Take a Break from Skincare Treatments
Give your retinol products a break in the days leading up to your laser session. Sometimes, those products can dry out your skin or make the skin more sensitive to irritation. Additionally, don't get facials or skin treatments within a week of laser hair removal for the same reason— ultra sensitive post-treatment skin is not good for laser hair removal. Give your skin a week to recover.
Now that you have your hair removal taken care of, check out these tips to effectively remove self-tanner.