How to speed up shedding after laser hair removal?

Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-12-25 Origin: Site

Shedding is a normal part of the laser hair removal process. After each treatment, the weakened hairs fall out to make way for new hair growth. However, the shedding phase can take several weeks and it's tempting to try to speed it up.

Exfoliate gently: Two to three days after your treatment, start gentle exfoliation to help remove dead skin cells and expedite hair shedding. Use a soft washcloth or an exfoliating scrub designed for sensitive skin.

As an esthetician who has performed many laser hair removal treatments, I'm often asked how to make shedding happen faster. Here's what I tell my clients.

Why shedding occurs after laser hair removal

Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in each hair follicle with pulses of intense light. This damages the follicle enough to stunt further hair growth, but not enough to completely destroy it.

The hair fibers are not instantly vaporized either. The laser only weakens them. Over the next few weeks, the fragile hairs will naturally shed as new hairs emerge.

The shedding timeframe varies based on:

· The body area treated

· Hormones

· Medications

· Age

· Ethnicity

· Hair thickness and density

Shedding generally occurs within 2-3 weeks after each session. It may take up to 6 weeks for all the treated hairs to fall out. Continue with your normal hair removal routine during this time.

Can I speed up the shedding process?

While shedding cannot be instantaneous, there are a few tips to help it occur a little faster:

Exfoliate the treated area - Gentle exfoliation with a loofah or scrub removes dead skin cells and clears the way for hairs to shed. Do not scrub too hard.

Continue shaving/waxing - Hair removal methods like shaving and waxing will remove the weakened hairs. This may allow new hairs to emerge sooner.

Avoid irritation - Harsh products, tight clothing and sun exposure can irritate the treated area and delay shedding. Wear loose breathable fabrics.

Massage the area - A gentle massage helps loosen the hair in the follicle so that it sheds easily. Use light, circular motions with your fingertips.

Try a warm compress - The heat helps open up follicles and softens skin to release hair more readily. Do this a few times per week.

Exfoliate and massage - Do these steps together to double down on shedding efforts. The massage pushes hairs out as exfoliation removes dead cells.

Take anti-inflammatories - Swelling and redness can temporarily trap hairs beneath the skin’s surface. Ibuprofen or aspirin reduces inflammation.

Skip the makeup - Cosmetics and creams prevent hairs from naturally releasing. Avoid putting anything besides gentle cleanser on the skin.

What NOT to do

While the steps above can safely optimize shedding, there are some bad ideas that I recommend avoiding:

· No picking or pulling! This significantly raises the risk of scarring and infection. Let the hairs shed naturally.

· Don't use a stiff brush or loofah. Anything too rough can damage skin and follicles. Use moderate pressure only.

· Avoid hair removal creams. Chemical depilatories irritate skin compromised by laser treatment. They can cause rashes, burns and breakouts.

· Don't use skin lightening products. Ingredients like hydroquinone inhibit new hair growth and extend the shedding phase.

· No hot tubs or steam rooms. Excessive heat expansion of the hair shaft makes hairs more likely to become trapped beneath the skin surface.

· Skip the sun. UV exposure can instigate hyperpigmentation and melasma which blends with the hair stubble.

What to expect during the shedding phase

The shedding process is different for everyone based on hair thickness and treatment intensity. Here’s a general timeline of what to expect:

· Days 1-5: Treated hairs remain intact but will feel weaker and thinner. Skin may be slightly red.

· Days 5-10: Hairs begin falling out on their own or with minor activity like washing. Stubble becomes visible as hairs shed.

· Days 10-14: Shedding peaks. Patches of hair may come out with minimal tugging or friction. Avoid pulling.

· Days 14-21: Shedding slows down. Most hairs have fallen out by this point. Only sparse hair remains.

· Days 21-42: Last few hairs shed leaving mostly smooth skin. No thick hair regrowth yet.

Tips for managing during the shedding phase

Follow these tips to stay comfortable as your treated hairs shed:

· Shave or trim hair as needed to prevent a messy appearance

· Exfoliate daily to clear away shedding hairs

· Use aloe gel or hydrocortisone cream for irritation

· Take antihistamines to reduce swelling and redness

· Wear loose, breathable fabrics until the itching subsides

· Apply Tend Skin to prevent ingrown hairs

· Get electrolysis for stray resistant hairs if needed

· Wait until all shedding ends before your next laser session

How long does the shedding phase last?

On average, shedding lasts 2-3 weeks after each laser hair removal treatment. But the timeframe varies based on these factors:

· Treatment areas: The face, underarms and bikini line shed faster than legs which require more treatments.

· Hair thickness: Fine hair sheds quicker than coarse thick hair with deeper rooted follicles.

· Hormones: Hormonal changes from birth control pills or pregnancy can accelerate or delay shedding.

· Medications: Drugs like prednisone, β-blockers, or antidepressants affect the hair cycle.

· Skin type: Darker skin is more prone to swelling which traps hairs beneath the surface.

· Age: Due to hormonal changes, younger persons may shed faster than older individuals.

· Ethnicity: Variations in hair texture and growth patterns affect the shedding timeline.

· Post-treatment routine: Proper skin care after each session optimizes shedding.

· Frequency of treatments: More time between sessions means hairs have longer to shed.

When to worry about excessive shedding

While shedding is expected after laser hair removal treatments, excessive or prolonged shedding can sometimes indicate an underlying issue:

See your technician if shedding lasts:

· Over 6 weeks after a treatment

· Longer with each successive treatment

· Well past the timeframe promised by the laser center

See a doctor if you have:

· Unusual pain, oozing, bleeding or ulcers

· Hair shedding from untreated areas

· Patches of hair loss or bald spots

· Itching persisting over 2 weeks

· Signs of infection like pus, fever or red streaks

Does plucking and waxing after laser help the hair come out faster?

Many clients ask me if tweezing, waxing or threading helps remove the weakened hairs faster after laser treatments. While it’s tempting to manually remove those fragile hairs, plucking right after laser is not recommended.

Here's why it should be avoided:

· The hair follicle is still healing from laser damage and needs time to recover. Plucking causes additional trauma which can induce poor hair regrowth.

· Tweezing can potentially remove an actively growing anagen hair that was missed by the laser. This allows it to resume growth sooner.

· Waxing too soon after laser risks lifting some healthy hair not in the shedding phase, requiring more treatments.

· The sensitised skin is vulnerable to burns or rashes from waxing kits. This can cause scarring and pigment change.

· Threading may rip out healthy hair bulbs if performed during early shedding. Let the damaged hairs fall out first.

· Plucking can spread bacteria into freshly opened follicles, increasing risk of pustules and infection.

Instead, wait at least 2 weeks after laser before manually removing any remaining hairs. Use gentle exfoliation and massage to help loosen them until they shed naturally. Avoid any trauma to the treated area in the first 10 days.

Does plucking converted vellus hairs ruin laser results?

Once laser has successfully converted coarse terminal hairs to fine vellus hairs, is it safe to tweeze or wax them without compromising the results?

If a hair has been thinned and lightened into the vellus stage, removing it will not stimulate thicker re-growth. Vellus hairs lack the complex structure needed to transform into terminal hairs again.

So go ahead and tidy up leftover vellus hairs between treatments by:

· Plucking stray ones for temporary smoothness

· Getting them waxed once the shedding phase fully ends

· Using epilators to clear areas that have mostly vellus growth

Just be very careful not to pluck any still-thick terminal hairs. Never wax or bleach until all shedding is complete. Avoiding these mistakes ensures laser keeps converting hairs into the finer vellus stage permanently.

When can I wax or bleach after laser hair removal?

To avoid complications, I recommend waiting 4-6 weeks after each laser session before:

· Using any waxing kits at home

· Getting body waxing services like Brazilian or legs

· Using hair removal creams like Nair or Veet

· Getting your upper lip or eyebrows bleached

This allows the treated follicles adequate time to heal so that harsh hair removal won't worsen laser side effects like redness, burning, or hyperpigmentation.

By week 6, any remaining hairs should be in the vellus stage - safe to remove with wax or bleach without stimulating thicker re-growth. Just avoid plucking the stray coarse hairs still undergoing shedding.

How to prevent ingrown hairs during shedding

A common annoyance during the laser shedding phase is dealing with ingrown hairs on areas like the bikini line. As weakened hairs get trapped beneath the skin they can lead to red bumps and pimple-like lesions.

To minimize ingrowns while shedding:

· Exfoliate daily using a gentle scrub to lift hairs

· Apply glycolic acid toner to keep pores clear

· Use Tend Skin liquid to prevent ingrowth

· Wear breathable cotton underwear to avoid friction

· Avoid tight clothes that press on follicles

· Cleanse the area daily and avoid heavy creams

· Don't pick or scratch the area to limit inflammation

See your technician if you experience recurrent ingrown hairs that don't resolve between treatments. You may need to adjust the laser settings or treatment technique.

Does exfoliating help the hair come out after laser removal?

Gentle daily exfoliation is an excellent way to enhance shedding and improve results after laser hair removal. But take care not to be too aggressive.

Here’s how proper exfoliation helps:

· Removes dead skin cells so hairs can shed freely

· Clears debris and buildup from hair follicles

· Allows ingrown hairs to emerge

· Refreshes skin and prevents clogged pores

· Improves penetration of soothing post-treatment products

Use a soft washcloth, cotton pad or gentle scrub. Avoid gritty, harsh exfoliators that can scrape or rub the skin raw. Limit exfoliating to once a day at most.

After scrubbing, apply a soothing aloe-based gel or hydrocortisone cream. This prevents irritation and redness. Exfoliating prepares the skin for maximum absorption of calming post-treatment products.

Time your exfoliation session right before or after a warm shower. The steam softens skin for easier removal of dead cells and release of trapped hairs. Gentle circular massage motions also help loosen hairs from the follicle.

Does hot water help with shedding after laser hair removal?

Warm water is highly effective at boosting shedding and clearing debris from empty follicles after laser treatment.

Here’s how hot water helps:

· The heat loosens up and expands the hair shaft making the weakened fibers more prone to shedding

· It softens the skin surface allowing hairs to exit easily

· The steam dilates pores to release trapped hairs

· It increases blood circulation to carry away waste products

· The moisture flushes out cellular debris from the follicle

· It opens up hair canal grease glands freeing sebum plugs

Take warm showers and press a hot damp washcloth on treated areas for 5 minutes 1-2 times per day. The combination of heat and moisture makes for ideal shedding conditions. Time the compress right after exfoliation for better penetration.

Avoid scalding hot water as excessive temperatures can burn tender skin. Keep showers under 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The goal is to open pores, not cook the skin. Warm water softens skin optimally for easy shedding.

Can I take hot baths after laser hair removal?

While a warm compress helps shedding, avoid hot baths after laser hair removal since the body is immersed in hot water for too long. Limit baths to 15 minutes maximum with lukewarm water only. Prolonged hot water exposure risks:

· Skin swelling and inflammation which delays shedding

· Dilated vessels and fluid retention in the skin

· Post-treatment blistering or burns

· Increased susceptibility to infection

· Skin that's raw and sensitive to friction

· Trapping hairs beneath the expanded, soggy outer skin layer

· Overheating and dehydration from submersion in hot water

Keep showers brief using moderate temperatures. Hot water adversely expands the hair making it more prone to getting stuck. Take quick lukewarm baths or use a damp warm washcloth to the area in 5 minute intervals instead.

Does coconut oil help with post-laser shedding?

Applying coconut oil is an excellent way to ease discomfort and speed up shedding after laser hair removal treatments.

Here's how coconut oil helps:

· Contains fatty acids and vitamin E to deeply moisturize skin

· The lauric acid soothes inflammation and redness

· Has antifungal and anti-bacterial properties to prevent infection

· The warmth from hands helps loosen follicles when massaged in

· Lubricates the skin surface allowing hairs to shed freely

· Is very gentle compared to creams with harsh chemicals

Use virgin or refined coconut oil - not heavily processed varieties. Apply a thin layer to the treated area and gently massage in using small circular motions. Do this 2-3 times per day after washing.

Coconut oil is well tolerated by all skin types. It's an ideal natural moisturizer to promote shedding and healing after each laser session. The skin stays smooth and conditioned.

What is the best way to exfoliate after laser hair removal?

For optimal shedding and results, follow these tips when exfoliating after laser:

· Wait at least 48 hours after treatment before exfoliating to avoid irritation

· Use a soft damp wash cloth, cotton pads or a gentle scrub - no stiff bristled brushes

· Limit exfoliation to once daily - overdoing it can compromise skin barrier

· Gently massage in circular motions - no harsh rubbing back and forth

· Focus on areas prone to ingrowns like bikini line and underarms

· Rinse with cool water and avoid hot temperatures

· Pat dry and apply aloe vera gel to soothe skin

· Schedule exfoliation right before your daily warm compress for added benefit

· Drink extra water post-treatment to keep skin hydrated

· Avoid exfoliating if skin is raw, blistered or overly sensitive

Daily gentle exfoliation removes dead cells for a smooth surface, unblocks follicles and clears debris. When combined with massage, it safely speeds up the shedding process after laser treatments.

Beijing Sano Laser S&T Development Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer specializing in OEM and ODM services within the beauty equipment industry. Our unwavering focus is on driving innovation and establishing the gold standard for excellence in beauty equipment.

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