Why can't you pluck during laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection (2024)

FAQs

Why can't you pluck during laser hair removal? | Skin Perfection? ›

Plucking

If you tweeze out hairs, you are disrupting its growth phase, canceling out the treatment you just received to remove it. It can also cause future treatments to be less effective. It is recommended to leave the treated area alone. A few weeks after treatment, the dead hairs will shed and fall out naturally.

Avoid harsh soaps or lotions on any treated areas for 3-4 days. A loofa may be used on treated area to help remove treated hairs faster. Not all the hairs may fall out. Plucking or waxing can be done after one week if you wish to speed up the process of hair removal.

It is important to adhere to the 'no plucking six weeks before your next appointment' rule to get the best results.

Never pluck, wax or thread before treatments

This is because the laser or IPL needs to react with hair still located in the hair follicles in, what is known as, their growth stage. If they are removed prior to your treatment the light will not have anything to heat up and will therefore not destroy your hair follicles.

When you pluck your hair, essentially you rip out your hair follicles. If you then attend your laser hair removal treatment, the light evaporates on the surface of the skin, without destroying anything. Which means your treatment won't be effective.

In order for the laser to be effective, hair has to be present. If you have removed hair by plucking, threading, waxing or epilating, the laser will simply not work.

Moisturise: Keep your skin hydrated with a high-quality, fragrance-free moisturiser. This makes it easier for the shedding hair to push through the skin. Avoid hair removal methods: Resist the temptation to use tweezers, wax, or other hair removal methods on the treated area.

The black dots that appear after laser hair removal are called “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.” They occur when the laser treatment causes damage to the hair follicle and surrounding skin. This results in an increased production of melanin, which is the pigment that gives colour to the skin.

Shave Before Treatment

You should shave within 24 hours of your scheduled laser appointment. Your laser technician cannot treat areas that have hair above the skin. You cannot even receive treatment if there is rough stubble because this may create too much heat for the pigment of your skin.

How to remove dead hair after laser? ›

While you shouldn't be able to pull hair out forcefully, you're free to cut or scrub the hair in order to speed up the shed process. Rub the treatment area with a circular motion with a loofah or gentle washcloth for removing dead hair.

But did you know that some hair regrowth is completely normal following hair removal appointments? If you're wondering why the hair won't disappear entirely, don't sweat it. It's all to do with the body's basic hair growth patterns.

Please do not pluck or wax the treatment area! If the hair has not fallen out naturally it means that the root is still alive and that the hair will need to be targeted again in another treatment. You can shave after your IPL treatments but avoid any treatments that pulls hair out by the roots.

If you don't shave before your laser hair removal session, the light energy may not penetrate the hair follicle, resulting in an ineffective treatment. In addition, if the hair is too long there is a risk of uneven coverage which can cause patchy results.

Everyone's body is different so the best thing to do is touch the skin to determine the sensitivity before shaving. If you shave too quickly you may irritate the skin even more, so waiting at least three or four days after your treatment is usually ideal.

After laser hair removal, avoid plucking or tweezing the treated area, as the hair needs to shed naturally. It's common to experience regrowth initially, but subsequent sessions should lead to reduced hair growth. Follow post-treatment care instructions and consult with your provider for personalized advice.