It is possible to shave after receiving an IPL treatment, but it is important to avoid any hair removal methods that involve removing the hair from the root. Philips recommends waxing, sugaring, or threading before sessions. However, it is best to wait 24 hours after the treatment before epilating or shaving the area. This allows any redness and irritation of the skin to subside and for some of the hair to grow back on the follicles.
About two to three weeks after a laser hair removal treatment, 10-20% of the treated hairs will fall out. During this healing phase, it is important to be gentle with the area and not shave if it is swollen or crusted. If a scab develops, let it fall off on its own and apply a thin layer of aloe vera ointment to the treated area several times a day to keep it moisturized. In addition to moisturizing the skin two nights before a permanent hair removal treatment such as IPL and VPL, you should also shave. However, it is important to do so lightly and briefly with some excess hair left behind as this is necessary for the light to be attracted for the treatment to be effective.
It is not necessary to allow hair to grow before treatment, as you should shave (not wax or epilate) the day before or on the day of your treatment.
