In the salon
Before and after hair removal: sun, tan and summer
In short
What should a client do before and after light-based hair removal?
Before the session, the client shaves the area and does not wax, pluck or use an epilator, because the light needs the hair root in place. A fresh or intense tan is a reason to postpone: the skin then holds more melanin and absorbs more light. After the session, the treated skin needs protection from the sun, and the client follows the specialist's instructions. Mild redness right after the treatment can occur. Anything unusual, or anything that does not pass, is a reason to contact the specialist. In sunny months, a salon plans courses so that the treated areas are not tanned between sessions, or starts the course in autumn. The exact rules come from the protocol and the specialist, who decides at the consultation.
What to do before the session
- Shave the area before the session, as the specialist says.
- Do not wax, pluck or use an epilator before and during the course: the light needs the hair root in the follicle.
- Avoid a fresh tan on the areas to be treated, including sunbeds and self-tanner, as the specialist instructs.
- Tell the specialist about medicines, especially antibiotics and retinoids, and about skin conditions.
- Come with clean skin, without cream or deodorant on the area.
Why a tan matters
Light-based hair removal works through melanin. A tan means more melanin in the skin, so the skin absorbs more of the light that should go to the hair. An intense tan is in the list of contraindications, and the specialist may postpone the session or change the parameters according to the protocol.
How skin colour affects the treatment is explained in the article on dark skin and light hair.
What to do after the session
- Protect the treated skin from the sun, and follow the specialist's instructions on sunscreen.
- Avoid hot baths, saunas and intense sport for as long as the specialist recommends.
- Do not scrub or irritate the area in the first days.
- Do not pluck hair that falls out on its own. Shaving between sessions is fine.
- Contact the specialist if anything unusual appears or does not pass.
Mild redness right after the treatment can occur. Side effects are possible with any procedure, and when the specialist and the client follow the protocol, the risks are very low.
Who should postpone, or see a doctor first
The common contraindications are an intense tan, flare-ups of chronic skin conditions, taking antibiotics or retinoids, severe hypertension and a history of melanoma. The specialist decides at the consultation. Moles and tattoos on the area are discussed in advance, and any changing mole is a reason to see a doctor first.
How to plan around summer
- In spring, discuss which areas will be in the sun, and plan the sessions around holidays.
- Keep treating areas that stay covered, such as the bikini or underarms, if the protocol allows.
- Postpone sessions on tanned areas until the tan fades, as the specialist decides.
- Start new full-leg or arm courses in autumn, so that most sessions fall in the darker months.
- Give clients a written sheet with the before and after rules.
A printed sheet with these rules saves the specialist time at every consultation and answers most questions before they are asked.
Questions and answers
Can you do hair removal in summer?
Yes, on areas that are not tanned and are protected from the sun, as the specialist decides. Tanned areas are usually postponed until the tan fades.
Should I shave before the session?
Yes, as the specialist instructs. Waxing, plucking and epilators are not used before and during the course, because the light needs the hair root.
What should I avoid after the session?
Sun on the treated skin, and anything the specialist names in the instructions, for example saunas or intense sport, for the time they recommend.
Is redness after the treatment normal?
Mild redness right after the treatment can occur. If anything unusual appears or does not pass, contact the specialist.
Can an area with a tan be treated?
An intense tan is a contraindication. The specialist may postpone the session until the tan fades.
This material is for general information and is not medical advice. The specialist gives the client the instructions for their treatment. Checked on 10 November 2026.
