Can I shave before I have my IPL Hair removal?

I am going to do my first IPL section in about a month, and I haven't waxed for more than 6 months and I have been shaving all this time. My question is, am I not supposed  to shave my hair during this month, or its ok to shave? Is it ok if I stop shaving only 4 to 5 days before the IPL thing?

2 answers to “Can I shave before I have my IPL...”

A: Shaving and IPL

Steven Wallach, MD

I tell my patients that for the initial consult they should not shave so that I can see where the hair growth is, then a few days prior to the procedure, they can shave. It is good to see some hair growth so that the IPL can be targeted appropriately.

A: It's ok to shave, just don't shave 4 days prior to IPL hair removal

Don Mehrabi, MD

Thanks for your question. It is ok to shave, but I would recommend not shaving for 4-5 days prior to your procedure. You were right on and have a good understanding of what to do. Not shaving for 4-5 days prior to the procedure allows you to have some hair growth in the follicular bulb that will serve as a... more

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