Pre- and post-laser care: before and after your session
Good laser results are made in the days around each session. Before: shave the area, arrive without a fresh tan, and tell us about any new medicines. After: expect mild redness and warmth for a few hours, keep the area away from sun, heat and friction for 48 hours, and never wax between sessions. Here is the exact checklist we give our own patients.
The week before your session
No waxing, plucking or threading — ideally for four weeks before. The laser needs the follicle in place to target; pulling the root removes the target.
Avoid deliberate tanning and long sun exposure on the area. Freshly tanned skin carries extra surface pigment that competes with the laser and raises the risk of irritation. And mention any new medication — some antibiotics and acne treatments increase light sensitivity, and isotretinoin needs a gap.
The day of your session
Shave the area 12–24 hours before. This surprises people, but it is exactly right: shaving leaves the follicle intact below the surface while removing the hair above it, so the laser's energy goes where it works instead of burning surface hair.
Arrive with clean skin — no creams, deodorant, perfume or makeup on the area — and wear loose clothing so treated skin isn't rubbed on the way home.
What's normal afterwards
Mild redness and warmth like light sun exposure for a few hours. Small goosebump-like swelling around follicles that settles within a day. Both are the expected response, not a problem.
Over the next one to two weeks, treated hairs shed — they are pushed out, not vaporised on the spot. Hair 'growing' a week after a session is usually this shedding, and it falls away on its own.
The 48-hour rules
Sun protection on the treated area — sunscreen where exposed, clothing where practical. This is the single biggest factor in avoiding post-treatment pigmentation on Indian skin.
Skip the gym, saunas, steam and very hot showers for 24–48 hours; heat and sweat irritate freshly treated follicles. No scrubs, peels or actives on the area for a few days, and let it breathe in loose cotton.
Between sessions
Shave whenever you like — it does not affect results. Never wax, pluck or thread; that undoes the next session's target.
Keep the spacing your plan sets, because it tracks your hair's growth cycles, and keep the sun discipline going. Patients who protect their skin between sessions are consistently the ones with clean, even results at the end of the course.
When to call us
Blistering, crusting, spreading redness, or any patch turning noticeably darker or lighter than the surrounding skin — call the clinic rather than waiting for the next appointment. Almost everything is easily managed when it is seen early, and your photos help us advise immediately over WhatsApp.
Frequently asked
Should I shave before laser hair removal?
Yes — shave the area 12–24 hours before your session. It removes surface hair so the laser's energy reaches the follicle, while leaving the follicle itself intact as the target.
Why is hair still visible after my session?
Treated hairs shed over one to two weeks rather than disappearing instantly. What looks like regrowth in week one is usually this shedding working its way out.
Can I exercise after a laser session?
Give it 24–48 hours. Heat, sweat and friction irritate freshly treated follicles — a short pause protects the result and your comfort.
What happens if the area gets sun?
Sun on freshly treated skin is the main driver of post-treatment pigmentation in deeper skin tones. Sunscreen or covering for the first days isn't optional on Indian skin — it is part of the treatment.