Laser Hair Removal Prep: How to Prepare Your Skin for the Best Results

Getting ready for laser hair removal is mostly about giving your skin a good starting point. Avoid tanning, leave the hair root intact, shave as instructed and arrive with clean, calm skin. If you use skincare products or take medication that could affect your skin’s sensitivity, check with your practitioner before treatment.

This guide covers professional laser hair removal. Preparation can be different for at-home IPL, so if you are treating at home, follow the instructions for your specific device and see our guide to [preparing for at-home laser hair removal and IPL].

Start preparing a few weeks before your appointment, but not everything needs to be done that early. Some steps, such as avoiding tanning and hair removal methods that remove the root, need more notice. Others, such as shaving and arriving with clean skin, are closer to the day of treatment.

Your clinic’s instructions come first. The timing can depend on the treatment area, your skin and hair, and the laser system being used.

Avoid waxing, tweezing and epilating before laser hair removal. These methods remove the hair from the root, which is the part the laser needs to target. Shaving and trimming are different because they leave the hair root in place.

You can usually shave or trim between sessions. North Bristol NHS Trust advises patients not to wax, pluck or use depilatory creams during a treatment course. If you have recently waxed or plucked, tell your clinic when you book. It can let you know whether you need to wait before your next treatment.

Avoid deliberate sun exposure, sunbeds and fake tan before treatment. When you are outdoors, use shade, protective clothing and broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher, following dermatology guidance.

Your natural skin tone is not the same as a recent tan. Laser hair removal can be suitable for a range of skin tones when the practitioner uses an appropriate laser system and settings. Recently tanned skin can increase the risk of burns and changes in skin colour, so your clinic may ask you to wait until the tan has faded before treating the area.

There is no set number of days that works for everyone after sun exposure or tanning. Follow the timeframe your clinic gives you.

Tell your clinic about the skincare products you use before treatment. Ask whether you need to pause retinoids, exfoliating acids, benzoyl peroxide, scrubs or anything else that could irritate the treatment area. Avoid starting a new active skincare routine just before your appointment.

Tell your practitioner about any medicines you take, including medicines you buy without a prescription. Some can make your skin more sensitive to light. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Check with the prescriber and your practitioner first.

Before treatment, also mention a recent tan, a history of raised scars or keloids, previous cold sores or genital herpes, isotretinoin use, or any previous reaction to light-based treatment. These details can affect whether treatment should go ahead and how your practitioner approaches it.

Shave according to your clinic’s instructions. Many clinics ask you to shave in the days before treatment, but the timing can vary. There is no need to treat “24 to 48 hours before” as a rule that applies to everyone. 

Use a clean, sharp razor and a gentle shaving product. Avoid dry shaving, repeated passes and shaving over cuts, rashes or already irritated skin.

If shaving leaves the area sore, red or broken, let your clinic know before your appointment. There is no need to keep going over the area just to get an especially close shave.

Often, yes. Shaving the day before may work well if your skin tolerates it, but your clinic may recommend a different timing based on the treatment area and laser being used.

If shaving tends to leave you red or irritated, give your skin enough time to settle and follow the advice from your practitioner.

If you shave immediately before treatment and end up with cuts, razor burn or noticeable irritation, tell the clinic before treatment begins. Do not try to fix the area by repeatedly shaving it or applying harsh products.

Your practitioner can check the skin and tell you whether it is suitable for treatment.

A few things are best left out of your routine before treatment:

• Waxing, tweezing or epilating shortly before treatment. These methods remove the hair from the root, which laser treatment needs to target.

• Tanning or fake tan on the treatment area. Recently tanned skin can increase the risk of burns and pigment changes.

• Shaving so aggressively that you irritate the skin. Cuts, razor burn and inflamed skin can make the area unsuitable for treatment.

• Moisturiser, oil, deodorant, perfume or makeup when your clinic asks for clean, product-free skin. Keep the treatment area free from anything your practitioner has asked you to remove.

• Keeping quiet about recent sun exposure, medicines or changes to your skin. Tell your practitioner before treatment so they can decide whether it is appropriate to proceed.

• Stopping a prescribed medicine without medical advice. If you are concerned that a medicine could affect your treatment, speak to your prescriber and your clinic rather than stopping it yourself.

• Assuming every clinic follows the same preparation timetable. Your clinic’s instructions take priority, particularly for shaving, tanning and skincare.

Arrive with clean, dry and non-irritated skin, unless your clinic gives you different instructions. Remove lotion, oil, deodorant, perfume, makeup or fake tan from the treatment area if your provider asks you to do so.

Wear comfortable clothing that will not rub against the treated area afterwards. You do not need a particular fabric. The aim is simply to keep friction to a minimum.

If you have sunburn, an active rash, open cuts, an infection or significant irritation, contact the clinic before you attend. Bring an up-to-date list of your medicines and tell your practitioner about anything that could affect your treatment.

Use numbing cream only if your clinic approves it and tells you how to use it. Do not apply it yourself before treatment without checking first.

Yes. At-home IPL has its own preparation requirements. Your device may have specific instructions for patch testing, shaving, treatment settings, eligible areas and eye safety.

Clean, dry skin is common preparation guidance, but your device manual should determine exactly how you prepare and use it. Do not assume that instructions for a professional laser treatment apply in the same way to an at-home IPL device.

This article focuses on preparing for professional laser hair removal.

Do not panic and do not guess. Contact the clinic and tell them what happened. In many cases, the issue can be dealt with before your appointment, but the clinic needs to know what has happened first.

• Forgot to shave: Ask whether you should shave before arriving or whether the appointment needs to be moved.

• Applied moisturiser or deodorant: Ask whether you can remove it thoroughly before treatment. You may not need to cancel the appointment.

• Used retinol, an exfoliating product or another active: Tell the clinic what you used and when. Let them decide whether your skin is ready for treatment.

• Had recent sun exposure: Tell the clinic when it happened and whether your skin is tanned, red or sunburned. They can advise whether you need to wait.

• Waxed or tweezed recently: Let the clinic know. Removing the hair from the root can affect when treatment should take place.

Be upfront about anything that could affect your treatment. Your practitioner can only make the right call if they know what you have done and how your skin looks now.

Before your appointment, check that you have:

• Avoided recent tanning and fake tan as instructed by your clinic.

• Avoided waxing, tweezing and epilating for the required period.

• Checked any questions about medicines or active skincare with your clinic.

• Shaved according to your clinic’s instructions.

• Left the treatment area clean and free from products as requested.

• Told the clinic about sunburn, irritation, cuts, infection or other changes before attending.

If you have completed these steps and your skin is clean, calm and suitable for treatment, you are ready to attend your appointment. If anything has changed since you booked, let your clinic know before treatment.

For guidance after your session, read our [laser hair removal aftercare guide].

[1] American Academy of Dermatology: Laser hair removal—Preparation

[2] American Academy of Dermatology: Laser hair removal—FAQs

[3] North Bristol NHS Trust: Hair removal