If you’re on the fence about getting a professional salon service or an IPL machine for home use, these are the five things you should know before starting.

I’ve very important to learn about the proper way to prepare and what the potential side effects are. This will ensure that you will be able to have the best experience and results for each of your sessions.

1. You will need to shave before you get laser. - Lasers react to the pigment of your hair. If there are any strays above the skin, this can lead to burning and skin irritation.
   
   
2. Results takes weeks and multiple sessions. - As much as we want to see results ASAP, it takes several sessions in between 2-3 weeks to really see the outcome. You’ll need about 8-12 treatments with IPL to get the full result. The good news is, it’s a pretty fast process that takes about 20 minutes on each body part.
   
   
3. Avoid saunas, the gym, and hot showers afterwards. - Getting into a hot and humid environment after a hair removal session is a one-way ticket to bacterial infection. Your pores are all opened up and the risk of getting spots is higher than normal.
   
   
4. You can’t get IPL laser hair removal with a tan. - Laser hair removal is banking on the difference between your hair color and your skin. Getting a tan can reduce the effectivity and less than optimum results. You’ll need to wait until your tan fades before you can go in for another treatment.
   
   
5. Avoid AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), scrubs, and retinol before your treatment. - You’ll need to avoid the said ingredients about at least two days before your session. Your skin needs to be in optimum condition and the above compromises your skins integrity. Any form of chemical peels are discouraged at least 2 weeks before and after.
   
   
6. Laser hair removal can help with ingrown hairs. - You can avoid ingrown hairs, cuts, and almost all the side effects of traditional hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, and sugaring. This is because encourages to let the hair grow straight and sparser as time goes on.
   
   
7. You can’t wax, pluck, or dye your hair. - All of the above obstructs the laser hair removal process. The laser targets the hair’s root so they need to be there during treatment. If you’ve recently done any of this, you’ll have to wait until the hair grows back before you proceed with the treatment.
   
   
8. IPL is not painful with the right setup. - Pain tolerance differs with every person. Before you start, your dermatologist will check the needed intensity of the laser for your hair type. The pain should be quick and sharp but not overly painful. There are numbing creams applied if you can’t tolerate the pain, as well as a cooling mechanism from the device to help.
   
   
9. Avoid sun exposure before and after your treatment. - While this is a general rule to adhere in basic skincare, this is extra important if you’re undergoing treatment.
   
   
10. The best candidates for laser hair removal have light skin and dark hair. - This is true for most at-home laser hair removal devices. For professional clinics however, the have different machines that they use for all types of hair and skin combination.