How Long After Waxing Do You Wait to Get Laser Hair Removal?

You want the hair shafts,which are the target for the laser energy, to be present. If you do waxing, the laser energy won’t be absorbed in the best area and the follicle would have a better chance surviving. It is best not to wax for two to four weeks prior to laser hair removal depending on the rate of your hair growth. You would like to see the hair just starting to point out of the epidermis as it grows back to have effective treatment.

Most lasers work by targeting the melanin in the hair follicle so the hairs must be present in the skin for the treatment to work. I usually instruct patients not to wax for at least 2-3 weeks prior to laser hair removal. The hairs do not have to be long (in fact it is better if they are short or freshly shaved) but nothing that removes the hair from the root (i.e. waxing, plucking, tweezing) should be done for at least a few weeks prior to treatment.