If you have just been for your laser hair removal and wanted to go outside and tan you might have asked the question if you should tan after laser hair removal?
No, you should not tan after laser hair removal. The reason for this is because the skin will be more sensitive, and this will make it more prone to irritation and burning etc. Therefore, it’s recommended to wait at least 3 days before considering tanning in the sun or tanning beds.
Below we will get into this in more detail to help you what you must know before.
Can You Tan After Laser Hair Removal?
As we briefly mentioned it’s not recommended to go tanning soon after your laser hair removal session.
Ideally we recommend not tanning for at least 3 days’ time but longer would be better. Ideally you would want to wait closer to a week to allow a lot of time for any skin sensitivity you may have after the session to return to normal.
If you have had laser hair removal in a certain area it may be possible to either cover or protect this area and then go for your tanning session sooner.
For example, if you have had the removal under your arms you will be able to tan more safely sooner in the sun. As soon as 2 days after the procedure.
The reason for this because under the arms are usually protected a lot from the sun therefore it would be safer to tan a little earlier in that case. To a more exposed area such as your legs we would recommend waiting at least 3 days and ideally a bit longer.
If you want or need to go tanning sooner after laser hair removal you can. Though if you do decide to go sooner than later we suggest you keep the time in the sun more limited than you would usually for your first 2-3 sessions back.
For example, if you usually tan for 1 hour we suggest going for 30 minutes instead. This is just to be on the safer side of things and make sure your skin is back to normal.
Spray Tanning and Laser Hair Removal
After your laser session it’s recommended not to go for a spray tanning session or even use your own self tanner.
So, to answer the question how soon after laser can you spray tan – we recommend waiting for 3-4 days’ time before applying to your treated area.
It’s the same reasoning here as is with a normal tan, that the skin is more sensitive and irritable in this early time after your laser session so allowing some time before applying anything to this area is best. This is to allow everything to heal and come back to normal without any interference.
Spray Tan Before Laser Hair Removal
If you want a spray tan or fake tan it’s a highly recommended to avoid soon before your laser session. The spray tan can interfere with how the lasers work so it’s advisable to not have used any tanning products on the area you are getting lasered. Ideally you should not use it for at least 1 week before your scheduled time. Also, if there if any tan still there it should be removed by a thorough shower and exfoliation session.
Does a Tan Affect Laser Hair Removal?
Sometimes if you are tanning before your session or have a natural tan in the past weeks before it could potentially lower the effectiveness of the laser hair removal.
In this case a patch test may be needed beforehand to make sure that it will work properly before the whole session is carried out.
Ask your clinic for information on this if already have a suntan. It’s best to not have tanned the area you are wanting to remove the hair on. Because of how it may affect the removal procedure.
If you have tanned in the sun or used tanning beds soon before your appointment it may be problematic.
The reason for this is if you have overexposed yourself to the UV rays it may make your skin more sensitive and prone to irritation.
Therefore, we recommend no sun tanning or tanning bed usage soon before your hair removal session (ideally 1 week).
