How to prepare for your laser.
Good preparation is what makes a laser session safe and effective — and it’s simple. Shave the area 12–24 hours before, keep it out of the sun and off the fake tan for two weeks, and don’t wax, pluck or epilate for four weeks beforehand. Arrive with clean, product-free skin. Get these right and you get the best result with the least risk.
In short
- Shave 12–24h before — root in, surface hair off. Never wax or pluck for 4 weeks prior.
- Avoid sun & fake tan for ~2 weeks — tanned skin raises the risk of burns and pigment change.
- Clean, bare skin on the day — no make-up, deodorant, lotion or perfume on the area.
- Flag medications — some (e.g. certain antibiotics, Roaccutane) affect light sensitivity; tell your practitioner.
- Skip other treatments — no retinoids or exfoliating acids on the area for a few days before.
Why prep matters so much
Most laser complications trace back to one of two things: treating tanned skin, or the wrong hair state on the day.
Laser works by aiming energy at pigment. If there’s extra pigment in your skin from sun or fake tan, the laser can’t tell it from the hair and the risk of a burn or pigment change rises. And if the hair is waxed out or left long on the surface, the treatment either has nothing to target or wastes energy at the surface. Prep is simply about getting your skin and hair into the right state.
Do this — not that
Do
- Shave the area 12–24 hours before
- Keep the area out of the sun for ~2 weeks
- Arrive with clean, bare skin
- Tell us about any medications or changes
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing
Don’t
- Wax, pluck or epilate for 4 weeks before
- Use fake tan or sunbeds for ~2 weeks
- Apply deodorant, lotion, make-up or perfume
- Use retinoids or acid exfoliants for a few days
- Book right after strong sun exposure
Shaving: the one people get wrong
Shave, don’t wax. It feels counter-intuitive, but laser needs the hair root in place to target — and waxing or plucking pulls the root out, leaving nothing for the laser to work on. Shaving removes only the surface hair while leaving the follicle intact, which is exactly what you want. Do it 12–24 hours before so the skin isn’t freshly irritated but the hair hasn’t grown back above the surface.
The two weeks before
Stop waxing & plucking. Switch to shaving only, so the roots are present by your appointment.
Sun & tan off. No sunbeds, holidays-worth of sun or fake tan on the area from here on.
Ease off actives. Pause retinoids and exfoliating acids on the area.
Shave. Clean shave of the whole area to be treated.
Clean & bare. No make-up, deodorant, lotion or perfume on the area; loose clothing.
Medications and skin
Some medications increase light sensitivity — certain antibiotics, some acne treatments like Roaccutane, and a few others — and some conditions or recent treatments change what’s safe. This isn’t about catching you out; it’s about protecting your skin. Always tell your practitioner what you’re taking and flag anything that’s changed since your consultation, even if it seems minor.
If you’ve caught the sun or used fake tan, tell us and we’ll reschedule — it’s never worth risking your skin to keep an appointment.
On the day, and after
Come with clean, bare skin and wear something loose and comfortable over the area you’re treating. Afterwards, you’ll follow simple aftercare — keep it cool, avoid heat, sweat and sun for 24–48 hours — which we’ll walk through at the end of your session. If you’re in the City of London and have a first appointment coming up, we’ll confirm your exact prep at a free consultation at our Aldgate clinic.
Common questions.
Should I shave or wax before laser hair removal?
Why can’t I have laser on tanned skin?
What should I avoid before a laser appointment?
Do I need to tell the clinic about my medication?
Can I wear make-up or deodorant to my session?
Come prepared, leave delighted.
A free consultation where we confirm your exact prep and answer every question. One minute from Aldgate Underground.
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