When you book in for a beauty treatment, you may think that you’re handing off all responsibility to the beautician to perform their magic. But the truth is, there are some things you must do before your appointment to maximise your results, including telling us the truth about your current routines.
Here’s the scoop on what to do and what not to do before a beauty appointment.
Do I Need to Shave Before Laser Hair Removal Treatment?
One of the common misconceptions of laser hair removal treatment is that we treat the hair when the growth is visible. In fact, you must shave the treatment area 24 hours before the laser to penetrate the skin and target the hair follicle. If hair is present, this can impact the overall performance of the laser, causing a need for more sessions and a lower rate of hair reduction.
Can I Get a Wax when Using Retinol?
We love a seven-step skincare routine as much as the next person but if you’re using high-strength products on your skin, you’ll need to avoid using them a week before and a few days after facial waxing.
For example, if you use retinoids, especially high-strength ingredients such as Tretinoin, you must skip application in the lead up to facial waxing, and that includes eyebrow waxing.
Retinoids, retinols, and retinoic acids are all designed to increase cell turnover, and therefore, they make the top layer of skin sensitive to things like sunlight and some beauty treatments such as waxing.
Waxing, by its nature, not only removes hair but can take off old skin cells with it, and if you’re using products such as Tret, those dead skin cells are no longer there, so the waxing is applied straight onto your newer skin cells on the surface of your skin. When wax (hard wax or strips) is used, it can pull at the skin, causing damage that looks like blistering or burns.
This reaction will clear up in time with the help of some barrier repair creams, but they are sore and can take a few days to improve their appearance of, so your best bet is to stop the use of Tret in the lead up to a wax appointment, and flag to your beautician beforehand.
Having a Massage with Pre-Existing Conditions
A massage is supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and all practitioners who carry out this beauty treatment are trained to do so. If, however, you suffer from existing conditions that could be impacted or irritated by a massage, you need to tell us.
The team must know to treat you correctly and avoid making anything worse if you suffer from the below:
• Muscle and joint inflammation
• Varicose veins
• Broken bones
• Pregnancy
• Fever
• Blood clots
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Issues with blood pressure
• Organ conditions (eg, Kidney or liver)
It’s also a good idea to let us know if you’re hungover, as a massage could make the symptoms of the morning after worse because both the massage and alcohol can have dehydrating effects. This doesn’t happen to everyone, but we want you to be mindful if you’ve had a skinful.
Can I Have a Brow and Lash Tint Without a Patch Test?
We understand that popping into the salon just for a patch test can sometimes be a little inconvenient, but we will not take a client on for dye-treatments if a patch test hasn’t been carried out at least 48 hours before, and you have had no reaction to that patch test.
If you have had a reaction but choose not to tell us, we are not responsible for any reaction you may then have during the full treatment. It’s your obligation to inform us of any changes to your skin or hair from the patch test.
How Do I Remove Gel Nails?
We’ve all been there when our nails are starting to grow out – or in rare occurrences chip – and we can’t help ourselves but start to pick away at them, but we urge you not to give in to temptation and peel and pick your own nails.
You can easily pop into the salon for a soak and removal of your nails, or you can buy products such as Acetone to safely remove them yourself at home.
If you pick your gel manicure off, you’re not only taking off the colour, but you’ll also be removing the very top layer of the nail, and when this gets damaged, it causes rough, brittle, and weak nails.
Not only that, but the next time you also come to see us for a manicure and your nails are sitting under the UV light, it can cause a stinging and hot sensation as your nails become sensitive due to the damage.
Can anyone have Fat Freezing?
Anyone healthy can have fat freezing treatments for weight loss, but if you’re pregnant, it’s important to wait until at least a few weeks after giving birth to undergo any advanced beauty treatments. Please also consult your doctor before starting a course of treatment.
This would be covered in a consultation, so you have ample opportunity to tell us if your circumstances change.
What Information Do I Need to Give in a Consultation?
When you’re in for a consultation, whether that’s for a glowing facial or non-surgical fat loss treatments, you must be honest in your session. Bending the truth about your situation won’t get you the results you want when having certain treatments. We advise any client that comes into the salon to fill in the consultation form as accurately as possible and if there’s anything that you’re nervous or unsure about, please speak confidentially to a member of our trusted team.
Book a Beauty Appointment in Stowmarket
Whether you’ve made some of the mistakes above or you’re ready to book in for your routine appointments, give the Stowmarket salon a call and we will be happy to help you get back to looking and feeling yourself.
