Chantelle FarrellAfter getting laser hair removal, proper care for your skin is vital for guaranteeing the best results from the treatment.
But as much as laser hair removal is an effective way to keep target areas hairless and flawless, the results will only be as good as your post-treatment care. Ignore post-care guidelines for laser hair removal and you can end up with irritated and even damaged skin and hair follicles.
One of the usual questions when it comes to this treatment is – can you shower after laser hair removal?
If you’re getting laser hair removal for the first time, you should know the protocols beforehand. Here are all the things you have to know about showering after laser hair removal.
Can You Shower Right After Laser Hair Removal?
Showering after laser hair removal is acceptable but remember that not all showers are the same. You’re better off taking a cold shower than a hot shower right after the treatment. In fact, stay out of the hot shower and steam for a while.
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive treatment to reduce or remove hair in certain parts of the body. This means you don’t have a lot to worry about when it comes to side effects or recovery time. You can expect the lasered area to look a bit red or tender after the treatment, but it often lasts only a day or two. Still, this minimal irritation is enough reason to take extra care of your skin.
During the first two days, it’s best to avoid heat and steam as they can both further irritate your already sensitive skin after a treatment. So, if you want to take a shower and freshen up, opt for a cold one, and it might even help ease any tingling feeling you may have in treated areas. A cold shower can also act as a cold compress for your sensitive skin after laser hair removal, reducing any swelling and sensitivity.
But some clinicians also recommend avoiding showers altogether, at least for the first 24 hours. This is especially true if you have ultra-sensitive skin.
When Can I Shower After Laser Hair Removal?
Stay away from anything that can aggravate your sensitive skin after laser hair removal, like hot showers, for the first 48 hours following your laser procedure.
Even after 48 hours, you might want to keep the water temperature lukewarm instead of hot. This is so that you can avoid excess heat directly hitting and irritating the treated areas. If you can, also keep your warm showers short to limit skin irritation.
Along with hot showers, you’ll also need to keep away from hot baths and saunas for the first couple of days following your laser hair removal treatment.
Can You Exfoliate After Laser Hair Removal?
Although you can shower right after laser hair removal as long as it’s a cold shower, you will need to avoid some parts of your typical shower routine, like exfoliating.
Gentle exfoliation is always a fantastic way to boost your skincare routine. But since treated areas can be extra sensitive after laser hair removal, exfoliation will only lead to skin irritation.
As your skin heals after the treatment, it’s best to avoid rubbing or scratching the skin. That includes all sorts of exfoliators from a washcloth, even the softest ones, salt scrubs, and sugar scrubs. After laser hair removal, exfoliating your red and irritated skin will only make your skin itchier and drier afterward.
When Can You Start Exfoliating After Laser Hair Removal
The key to exfoliation after laser hair removal is to avoid doing it right after the treatment. Instead, wait at least a whole week before you start exfoliating your skin again. It’s also best to stick with gentle exfoliators once you start back up.
You might think that you should opt-out of exfoliating altogether to be extra safe, but that isn’t a good option either. The hair will start shedding as the new hair grows between the first week to at least the first month following laser hair removal. Technically, they are not new hairs but dead hairs trying to push out of the follicles. Exfoliating is a must during this period to speed up the shedding of dead hair.
Exfoliator Tips After Laser Hair Removal
After the first week since your laser hair removal, don’t panic if you start noticing what looks like blackheads starting to crop up in the lasered area. It’s normal, it’s just dead hair beginning to shed, and the process will be over before you know it.
But, this is the best time to start exfoliating — just remember to keep it light and gentle. The best exfoliators after laser hair removal include:
- Puffy shower sponge
- Washcloth
- Loofah
- Exfoliating shower wash
Avoid exfoliating scrubs that are too rough, like salt scrubs, since your skin will still be sensitive during the shedding period. If you are using an exfoliating shower wash, you might also want to consider getting a product with little to no artificial scent, as fragrances also irritate sensitive skin.
Laser Hair Removal Post-Care FAQs
Can You Put On Deodorant After Laser Hair Removal?
If you have gotten your underarms lasered to remove unwanted hair, it’s best to avoid using deodorant at least for the initial 24 hours following the procedure. This is a safety precaution that helps minimize anything from aggravating your sensitive skin after laser hair removal. Your typical deodorant might contain ingredients that can cause severe skin irritation. Opting out of using your deodorant will help you avoid any dire side effects after the treatment.
Can You Use Makeup After Laser Hair Removal?
If you had the laser hair removal procedure for your face, then any makeup or other skincare product could cause skin irritation. Makeup with harsh chemicals or perfume is one of the things you need to take a short break from after the treatment.
Can You Moisturize After Laser Hair Removal?
Moisturizing is a safe option following laser hair removal, but only certain types of moisturizers are safe for your sensitive and irritated skin. In fact, applying moisturizer to lasered areas of your skin can help with the dryness and itchiness you may feel after the treatment. Colder types of moisturizers can also soothe the redness and tenderness of the treated areas.
There are many moisturizers that you can choose from. You can get those specially designed for use after laser hair removal, but you can also use anything that doesn’t contain perfume or harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin. Aloe vera gel is also a fantastic natural moisturizer that can soothe your skin after laser hair removal, and it won’t cause any aggravation.
Can You Wax After Laser Hair Removal?
It’s not recommended to start waxing right after laser hair removal. In fact, it’s best to skimp on any hair removal methods after the treatment. This includes shaving and plucking hairs in treated areas.
You might notice some stray hairs a day after the laser treatment. This is because hair grows in cycles, and the laser treatment only targets the hairs currently growing. As tempting as it may be to start waxing or plucking those, doing so will only further irritate, and eventually damage, your skin and hair follicles. That doesn’t mean you can’t wax, but wait for at least 48 hours. You can get back to waxing, shaving, or using a hair removal cream a few days after the procedure.
