Some people still think that a single laser hair removal session will give permanent results and remove the need to shave – forever.

While this is the ideal goal, it’s going to take much more than one session to have a permanent effect on your body hair. Hair grows at different rates and stages, and laser hair removal works best on actively growing hair. Which is why you’ll need between 6 and 8 sessions – and most likely an annual top up.

So you’ll need to keep hold of your razor for the time being!

FAQ about shaving when you’re having laser hair removal

• Can I shave after a session?

While you can shave between sessions, don’t shave right after one. You need to shave 24-48 hours before the treatment–– your clinic will have given you advice about this (or read our blog on preparing for a session here).

Immediately after your treatment your skin is likely to be sensitive – if you shave too soon after your session you may irritate the skin. Generally you’ll need to wait a week , but everyone’s skin is different so it might be worth shaving a small patch first to see how your skin reacts.

• Should I exfoliate?

After your session, your hair may start to shed. This is normal and indicates your treatment is working. These hairs are the ones that have been damaged by the laser. Before you shave it could be a good idea to exfoliate your skin so all the damaged hairs are removed. This could help your first post-session shave to be more effective.

• Will I need to shave as often?

This depends on your individual hair type – but you may find you can go slightly longer between shaves. So if you shaved every five days, you may only need to shave every 2 weeks; generally people have laser hair removal only need to shave twice in between their treatments.

• What about my next appointment?

Your technician will advise you when you should shave before your next appointment to ensure  optimum results.

If you haven’t had laser hair removal before, you can find out everything you need to know at an initial consultation, including advice on shaving in between sessions. Most clinics will provide a free consultation that you can sign up for on the website or by calling.

Brigstock Skin & Laser offers a range of packages for clients because we believe everyone should be able to feel as confident as possible. Our technicians will make sure you get the most out of every treatment, which is why we offer a results guarantee. You can book your FREE initial consultation by calling us now on 020 8683 6730 or by booking online here