Laser hair removal before and aftercare: the complete checklist

Why preparation and aftercare matter

Good preparation lets the laser do its job safely, and good aftercare helps your skin settle quickly. Laser targets the pigment in the hair follicle with light, which turns to heat, so the more predictable your skin and hair are on the day, the easier it is to choose appropriate settings.

Most of the steps below are simple habits: a razor instead of wax, sunscreen instead of a tan, and a quiet day or two after each session. Treat this page as general guidance, and follow the specific instructions your specialist gives you.

Four weeks before: stop waxing, plucking and epilating

Stop any hair removal that pulls hair out at the root about four weeks before your first session. The laser needs a hair in the follicle to target. Waxing, plucking, threading, sugaring and epilating remove that hair, which can make a session less effective.

Shaving is fine, and it is what most clinics ask you to use between sessions. Our guide to shaving before laser covers the details.

• No waxing, plucking, threading, sugaring or epilating on the treatment area
• Shaving and trimming are fine
• Book your consultation and patch test if this is your first course

Two weeks before: protect your skin from sun and tan

Keep the treatment area out of the sun and away from any kind of tan in the weeks before a session. Recently tanned skin has more pigment competing with the hair for the laser’s energy, which can raise the risk of irritation or changes in skin colour. Your session may need adjusting or moving.

Fake tan and sunless tan also need to be completely gone from the area, because colour on the skin surface can interfere with treatment. Most clinics ask for at least two weeks without sun or fake tan, and your specialist may suggest longer.

• Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen on exposed treatment areas every day
• No sunbaking and no fake tan or sunless tan on the treatment area
• Let the clinic know if you have been in the sun recently, even briefly

One week before: pause skincare actives and check medications

Pause strong skincare actives on the treatment area for about a week before your session, unless your specialist advises otherwise. Exfoliating ingredients can make skin more reactive to heat.

Medications matter too. Some make the skin more sensitive to light, and some are a reason to delay treatment altogether. Tell the clinic about everything you take, including tablets, creams and supplements. Never stop a prescribed medication for a laser appointment without speaking to your GP or prescriber first.

• Pause retinoids and retinol (such as tretinoin and adapalene) on the area
• Pause AHAs and BHAs (glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid), scrubs and peels
• Pause benzoyl peroxide and other drying or exfoliating products
• Tell the clinic if you take, or have recently taken, isotretinoin (for example Roaccutane)
• Mention antibiotics, especially tetracyclines such as doxycycline, and any other medication known to cause sun sensitivity
• Mention St John’s wort and other herbal supplements
• Tell the clinic if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a history of cold sores, keloid scarring, epilepsy, skin cancer or any active skin condition in the area

The day before and the day of your session

Shave the treatment area the day before or the morning of your appointment, and arrive with clean skin. A close, fresh shave means the energy goes into the follicle rather than into hair sitting on the surface of the skin, which is more comfortable and helps the session.

Skip anything that sits on the skin. Deodorant, lotion, makeup, oils and perfume can all get in the way, so leave them off the area until after your session.

• Shave the area closely 12 to 24 hours before, or the morning of
• Arrive with clean skin: no deodorant, lotion, makeup, oil or perfume on the area
• Let your specialist know about any change in health or medication since your last visit
• Tell them if you have any sunburn, cuts, rashes or irritation in the area
• Reschedule if you have a cold sore on or near a facial area being treated

Straight after: what’s normal

It is normal for treated skin to look red and feel warm, a bit like mild sunburn, straight after laser hair removal. Many people also notice small raised bumps around each follicle. These are a common response to the heat and usually settle within a few hours to a day or two.

Mild tenderness and slight swelling can also happen, particularly on areas with dense or coarse hair. Everyone’s skin responds a little differently.

The first 24 to 48 hours: keep it cool, calm and clean

For the first day or two, the goal is to keep treated skin cool and avoid anything that adds heat, friction or irritation. As general guidance, skip hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, spas and hard exercise for 24 to 48 hours, and stay out of chlorinated pools and the ocean while the skin settles.

A cool compress (not ice directly on the skin) can help with warmth, and a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser or pure aloe vera gel can make the area more comfortable.

• Use lukewarm water for showers and pat skin dry rather than rubbing
• No saunas, steam rooms, spas or hot baths for 24 to 48 hours
• No strenuous exercise or heavy sweating for 24 to 48 hours
• Stay out of pools and the ocean until the skin has settled
• Avoid tight clothing that rubs the area
• Hold off on deodorant, perfume and makeup on the area until any redness has gone
• Don’t scratch, pick or scrub the treated skin

The next two weeks: sun protection and hands off

Sun protection is the most important aftercare step. Treated skin is more sensitive to UV, so keep the area covered or protected with SPF 50+ sunscreen every day, and avoid sunbaking and tanning for at least two weeks after your session.

Between one and three weeks after a session, many people notice treated hairs working their way out of the skin. This shedding is normal and can look like regrowth. Let the hairs fall out on their own or shave over them, but don’t wax or pluck, because you will need hair in the follicle for your next session.

• SPF 50+ on exposed treated areas every day
• No sunbaking, solarium or fake tan for at least two weeks
• Shave between sessions if you need to; no waxing, plucking or epilating
• Return to retinoids, acids and exfoliants only once the skin has fully settled
• Book your next session at the interval your specialist recommends

When to call the clinic

Call the clinic if something doesn’t feel right or doesn’t settle as expected. Redness that fades over a day or two is common. Reactions that worsen, spread or last more than a few days are worth a quick call.

If you have a severe reaction, or signs of infection such as spreading heat, pus or fever, seek medical advice from your GP or healthcare professional promptly. You can reach us by phone or through our contact page, open 7 days, 9am to 9pm.

• Blisters, crusting or weeping skin
• Pain that is getting worse rather than better
• Redness or swelling that lasts more than a few days
• Dark or light patches appearing on the treated skin
• Any sign of infection, such as spreading redness, heat, pus or fever
• A cold sore flare after a facial treatment

Your printable checklist

The short version, to screenshot or print. For other questions, see our laser hair removal FAQ or read more about laser hair removal in Liverpool.

• 4 weeks before: stop waxing, plucking, threading and epilating
• 2 weeks before: no sun, solarium, fake tan or sunless tan on the area; SPF 50+ daily
• 1 week before: pause retinoids, acids, scrubs and peels; list your medications
• Day before or morning of: shave closely
• On the day: clean skin, no deodorant, lotion or makeup on the area
• After: expect some redness and warmth; keep the area cool
• 24 to 48 hours after: no heat, hard exercise, pools, spas or saunas
• 2 weeks after: SPF 50+, no tanning, shave only
• Anytime: call the clinic if anything worsens or doesn’t settle