Summer is here and this checklist is for you. Here is everything you need to know, do, and avoid to get laser ready. Smooth, hair-free, and not a razor in sight!
Picture this: a beach bag packed with sunscreen, a good book, and your favourite SPF. No razors. No shaving foam. No last-minute panic the night before your holiday. No razor bumps, no rashes, no ingrown hairs, and absolutely no stubble. Just smooth, confident skin ready to flaunt — whether that is on the beach, by the pool, or anywhere the summer takes you. That is what laser hair removal gives you. And that is exactly what this checklist is here to help you achieve.
✓ Understand Why Timing Matters
Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in the hair follicle. It is most effective on hairs in the active growth phase — and because not all hairs grow at the same time, a course of multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart is needed to catch every follicle at the right moment.
And here is something worth knowing — even if you only manage one or two sessions before your holiday, you will notice a real difference. Less hair, slower regrowth, and no need to shave while you are away. For the best results on holiday, aim to book your last session roughly three weeks before you travel — this gives the treated hairs enough time to shed fully, so your skin is at its smoothest when you need it most.
✓ Book Your Consultation First
Before anything else, book a free consultation at your nearest LaserHQ clinic. This is where one of our expert practitioners will:
- Assess your hair type, skin tone, and Fitzpatrick skin type
- Recommend the right wavelength and settings on the Primelase Excellence for your specific needs
- Create a treatment plan with session spacing tailored to your summer timeline
- Answer any questions and make sure you are fully informed before you commit
There are no obligations and no surprises. Just honest, expert advice.
✓ Stop All Other Hair Removal Methods — Except Shaving
This is one of the most important steps — and one of the most commonly overlooked.
Laser hair removal works by targeting the hair root. Waxing, threading, epilating, and using depilatory creams all remove the root, leaving the laser with nothing to target. These methods must be stopped at least 4 weeks before your first session and avoided entirely throughout your treatment course.
Shaving is the only method of hair removal that leaves the root intact, which is why it is the only one permitted between sessions. In fact, you will be asked to shave the treatment area 24 hours before each appointment.
So ditch the wax strips, put down the threading thread, and pick up a razor.
✓ Stay Out of the Sun
Sun-exposed or tanned skin — whether from natural sunlight, sunbeds, or fake tan — significantly increases the risk of burns, blistering, and pigmentation changes during laser treatment. This is because the laser targets pigment, and a tan means there is pigment in the skin as well as the hair follicle.
Before your course begins:
- Avoid sunbeds and sunbathing for a minimum of 2 weeks before your first session
- Avoid fake tan products for at least 1 weeks prior
- Apply SPF 30 or above daily to any areas being treated, even in winter
The same rules apply between sessions throughout your course. Protect the skin you are investing in.
✓ Check Your Medications & Skincare
Certain medications and topical products can make skin more photosensitive and may affect whether it is safe to proceed with treatment. Before your consultation, make a note of:
- Any prescription medications you are taking — particularly antibiotics, retinoids, or hormone-based treatments
- Any topical skincare containing retinol, retinoids, AHAs, or BHAs — these should typically be paused for 2 -4 weeks before each session, depending on the strength used. Your thearapist can best advise.
- Any recent use of Roaccutane (isotretinoin) — a minimum clearance period of 6 months is usually required before laser treatment can begin
Your practitioner will review all of this at your consultation, so there are no nasty surprises on the day of your first session.
✓ Arrive Prepped on Treatment Day
Once your course is underway, a little preparation before each session goes a long way:
- Shave the treatment area 24 hours before your appointment — not on the day, as freshly shaved skin can be more sensitive
- Arrive with clean, product-free skin — no moisturiser, deodorant, fake tan, or SPF on the area being treated
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, Aspirin, and Ibuprofen for 24 hours beforehand, as these can increase sensitivity
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment, particularly if you are having legs, underarms, or the bikini area treated
✓ Look After Your Skin Between Sessions
What you do between sessions is just as important as the treatment itself. After each appointment:
- Avoid intense exercise, saunas, hot baths, and steam rooms for 24 to 48 hours — heat can irritate freshly treated skin
- Keep the area moisturised after treatment with a gentle, fragrance-free product. Aloe Vera is perfect for this.
- Apply SPF daily to any treated areas exposed to daylight — no exceptions
- Do not wax, thread, or epilate — shaving only if removal is needed
Any redness or mild sensitivity after a session is completely normal and will settle quickly.
✓ Stay Consistent — Do Not Skip Sessions
We understand that life gets busy, but consistency is everything when it comes to laser hair removal. Each session targets a specific phase of hair growth, and spacing sessions correctly — typically every 4 to 6 weeks — ensures you are catching follicles at the right moment every time.
Skipping or delaying sessions can set back your progress and may mean you need additional treatments to achieve the same result. Keep your appointments, follow the plan, and the results will follow.
Your Summer Checklist at a Glance
- Book your free consultation at LaserHQ
- Stop waxing, threading, and epilating — switch to shaving only
- Avoid sunbeds, sunbathing, and fake tan before and after treatment
- Apply SPF 30+ daily to treatment areas
- Check medications and skincare with your practitioner
- Shave 24 hours before each session
- Arrive with clean, product-free skin
- Avoid heat and exercise for 48 hours after each session
- Book your last pre-holiday session roughly three weeks before you travel
- Keep every appointment — consistency is key
With clinics in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, and London (Knightsbridge), and 0% finance options available to spread the cost, there has never been a better time to start your journey to a hair-free summer with LaserHQ.
Book your free consultation today — your future self will thank you.
LaserHQ — Award Winning Laser Clinic | Your Dream Skin Within Reach