The short answer: three things decide whether the first session works — arrive without a fresh tan, shave the area — with a trimmer any time from right away up to a few hours before, with a razor about 24 hours in advance so the hair has time to come out, and do not touch wax or tweezers in the weeks before. That is everything you need to do. We do all the rest at the assessment.
The weeks before
Stop waxing, tweezing and threading — completely
This is the most important rule, and also the most missed. The laser works against the melanin in the hair root. Wax, tweezers and thread pull the root out of place — and if the root is not there, there is nothing to aim the energy at. The treatment will look identical, but nothing will happen in it.
From the moment you decide on laser, the only way to remove hair in the meantime is shaving. It shortens the hair and leaves the root where it is. That is true before the first treatment, and true between treatments throughout the series.
Tanning — the real rule
We put it simply: tanned is not a problem, burnt is. As a general guide — about three to four days after sun exposure, and after a burn until the peeling has passed. What actually decides is what we see through the dermatoscope on the day, not the calendar.
If you have dark or permanently tanned skin — that does not rule you out. The 1064 nm wavelength is absorbed least by the melanin of the upper skin layer, and that is exactly what it is for. More in how laser hair removal works.
The 24 hours before
Shave the area the evening before or on the morning of the day. You do not need to leave a particular length — the hair needs to be inside the follicle, not above it. Hairs standing above the surface absorb energy before it gets inside, and that is felt too.
If you forgot to shave — tell us when you arrive. We can shave here at the clinic. Shaving is included in the hours-bank service and is not charged separately, but it is done within the time of your visit — so arriving shaved leaves all of that time for the treatment itself.
On the day itself
Come with clean skin: no creams, no oils, no deodorant on the treated area and no make-up if it is the face. It is worth wearing comfortable clothes that are easy to take off and that will not rub the area afterwards.
If you take regular medication, or have recently had a skin treatment on the area — tell us at the assessment. It changes the way we calibrate the device.
What actually happens at the first session
The first session here starts with an assessment, not with a treatment. We scan the skin and hair with the device’s dermatoscope, look at the contrast between hair colour and skin tone, and only then set the intensity. From there we do a short pass so you feel the sensation for real before committing to anything.
Our device is the Advance Titanium SHR 4 ICE — four wavelengths with continuous cooling down to minus 41 degrees. For anyone who has not tried laser, it is usually far less dramatic than imagined.
What to ask before you start
- How many treatments are expected for my area, and why that number
- How long the treatment takes, and what the price is accordingly
- What happens if I need to postpone a treatment
- What I should expect to feel in the hours afterwards
The price question can be settled right now: the price calculator gives a duration and a price for the areas you mark, and the full list is on the price list.
How often you have a treatment
The gap is not arbitrary, and it is not a dodge — it follows from the growth cycle of the hairs in that particular area. The laser only affects hairs in the active growth phase, so you come for the next treatment when the next batch has come up.
In practice: facial areas bring hair back faster than large body areas, so the gap there is shorter. We set the next date at the end of every treatment, according to what we see on your skin and not according to a table. Coming early, before the hair has come up, does not speed the process — it just wastes a treatment. The full picture is in the interval guide.
Getting married? When to start
A question we hear a lot. A full series is about 12 treatments in three stages with a gap between them — that is a process of months, not weeks. Two practical recommendations:
- Start as early as you can — so you arrive at the event with an advanced series rather than a first treatment
- Do not book a treatment in the week of the event — mild redness is an expected reaction, and you do not want it in the photographs
At the assessment we can tell you practically what is realistic to achieve by your date.
Laser on the face — what is different
Facial areas — upper lip, chin, sides of the face — are more delicate and need a small head and adapted intensity. Our device has a dedicated head for small, delicate areas.
What to know before facial laser: come without make-up and without creams on the area; tell us about any retinol or acid products you use, because they change the skin’s sensitivity; and be careful with sunscreen afterwards, because the face is the area most exposed to the sun. More in the face guide.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin does not rule out a treatment — it changes the calibration. What matters is that we know in advance: regular medication, recent skin treatments on the area, a tendency to redness or acne. With the dermatoscope we see the actual state of the skin and adapt the intensity accordingly.
Questions that keep coming up
Can I come to the assessment with long hair?
To the assessment — yes, it does not get in the way. For the treatment itself you need to arrive shaved. If you are coming for a free trial and want us to do an actual pass as well — come shaved.
I am pregnant / breastfeeding — is it possible?
We do not treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. A series that started earlier can be continued after the birth. The minimum age for treatment is 18.
How long does the first session take?
The assessment itself is short. The total depends on the areas — a single small area takes about 15 minutes, and a combination of several takes longer. Here you pay by time, so you know in advance what to expect.
And what do you do after the treatment?
72 hours without heat — and that is more or less all of it. The full before & after guide.
Book the first session – a free trial — a dermatoscope assessment with Shahar Oz and a gift treatment on one area of your choice, with no credit card and no commitment.
