How should clients prepare their skin before a laser hair removal session?

Shaving the treatment area 24 hours prior to a laser hair removal session is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness and safety of the procedure. This timing allows the hair to be short enough for the laser to target the follicle directly while minimizing the risk of burns or discomfort from longer hair that could absorb excessive heat.

When hair is shaved, it is at a length that the laser can effectively penetrate and disrupt the follicle without having to deal with the hair above the skin that could interfere with the laser's path. Additionally, shaving helps to prevent any potential irritation that may occur during the treatment if longer hair is present.

Other preparation steps are also important but occur at different times or hold different significance. For instance, moisturizing the skin can be beneficial for general skin health but isn’t a specific preparatory step for laser hair removal. Exfoliating too close to the treatment time can lead to skin irritation, and applying sunblock is vital for aftercare rather than pre-treatment since excess sun exposure can increase the chances of post-treatment complications.