Templates · Free template · Aftercare
Laser Hair Removal Aftercare Instructions
A printable handout for clients after laser hair removal: what the skin will do, why hair keeps appearing for a while, what to avoid between sessions, and when to call.
How to use this sheet
This is a draft to adapt, not a finished protocol. Timings such as how long to avoid exercise, heat, or active skincare differ between devices, products, and practitioners, so check every line against what you actually tell clients, fill in the blanks at the bottom, and have your medical director or clinical lead review it before you use it.
Print it, save it as a PDF, or send it digitally. Tick the aftercare box on the client's chart so there is a record that the instructions were given.
Why a written sheet matters
Clients forget most of what they are told in the room, especially straight after an injection or a peel. A written sheet answers the 9 p.m. question of whether something is normal, tells them exactly when it is not, and shows that you gave the instructions.
Laser Hair Removal Aftercare Instructions
Your treatment
What is normal
- Redness and small raised bumps around each hair, a bit like goosebumps. These usually settle within hours to a couple of days.
- Mild warmth or swelling, a bit like a light sunburn.
- Hairs that keep appearing for a while. The treated hairs do not fall out straight away. Over the next one to three weeks they shed, and this can look like regrowth.
The first 24 to 48 hours
- Soothe with a cool compress or fragrance-free aloe if the area feels warm.
- Avoid hot showers and baths, saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga, and pools or hot tubs.
- Skip strenuous exercise, and wear loose, breathable clothing over the area.
- Avoid scrubs, perfumed products, and deodorant on treated underarms unless we said otherwise.
Between sessions
- Avoid the sun, tanning, and self-tanner on treated areas, and wear SPF 30 or higher.
- Do not pluck, wax, thread, or use hair-removal creams. The laser needs the hair root in place. Shaving is fine.
- Shave before your next appointment as we instruct.
- Keep to your schedule. Sessions work best at the intervals we set for your area.
Call us if
- You see blisters, crusting, or burn-like marks.
- Pain or swelling is severe, lasts beyond a few days, or is getting worse.
- You notice pus, spreading redness, or a fever.
- Darker or lighter patches appear on the skin.
- You get a cold sore after treatment near the lips or face.
Your clinic
Your practitioner fills this in before you leave.
- Instructions explained verbally
- Client received a copy
Template from zdrovia.ca/templates/laser-hair-removal-aftercare-instructions/ · Adapt to your clinic's protocol and have it reviewed by your medical director or clinical lead before use.
Send the right aftercare to every client automatically
In Zdrovia you write an aftercare sheet once under Patient Instructions and attach it to the service as its post-visit instruction. Every booking for that service delivers it to the client through their portal or by message, and you can embed it on your own website. Free for solo practitioners, with data stored in Canada.
See how Zdrovia is set up for med spas.
Frequently asked questions
Why is hair still growing after laser hair removal?
Treated hairs shed gradually over one to three weeks, and untreated hairs in a different growth phase appear later, which is why a course of sessions is needed. Tell clients so it doesn't cause needless calls.
Can clients shave between sessions?
Yes, shaving is usually fine and is often required before the appointment. Plucking, waxing, and threading remove the follicle the laser targets, so they are usually not allowed.
Does the sheet change by skin type or device?
The core rules stay the same, but some devices and skin types have their own instructions. Check the device manufacturer's guidance and your protocol, and add anything specific.
Related
This sheet is general patient education, not medical advice for any individual. Timings and products differ between treatments, devices, and practitioners, and your clinician's instructions for a specific client always take priority. Have your medical director or clinical lead review and adapt it before you give it to clients.