Can You Get Laser Hair Removal Over Tattoo? (& Safe Methods) (2024)

Tattoos are the art engraved in a deep layer of skin, the dermis using ink and injections to insert that ink inside the skin. If you have ever looked for ways to have your tattoo removed, you must already know what a laser does to tattoos.

Moreover, did you recently get your tattoo and are you now wondering about how to get rid of unwanted hair over the tattoo ? Or have you had a tattoo since your teenage and now want to go for permanent hair removal? So, are you looking for studies to check out the safety of laser hair removal for people with tattoos?

We got you as we are going to explain all about laser hair removal and tattoos along with both temporary and permanent ways to remove tattoos. So, let us help you make your skin smooth and hairless while flaunting your tattoos without going through any injury or damage.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair removal machines use laser light with varying levels of intensity and wavelengths. This light is absorbed into melanin, the pigment in the hair, and travels through hair strands till the hair roots.

Along the way, the light energy is progressively converted into heat energy so that it can annihilate hair follicles, the hair-forming cells, as it hits them. The point to be noted here is that laser is absorbed into pigment.

Saying that, if your hair has no pigment, laser hair removal will be useless and if your skin has a high proportion of melanin or is tanned, the laser will burn the skin along with hair follicles.

So, what are the tattoos? Artificially pigmented skin, right? Now let us move on to the safety of laser hair removal for skin with tattoos.

Can You Get Laser Hair Removal Over Tattoo Safely?

The simple straightforward answer to if laser hair removal can be done on people with tattooed skin safely is NO. However, if we get into details, it is important to note which area of the skin you are referring to.

So, the area with tattoos can not be safely treated using a laser but an area with no tattoos won’t be damaged if you get laser hair removal on it. For example, if you have a tattoo on your forearm, you can easily have the hair removed through laser on the leg but not from the forearm with tattoos.

Can I Remove Unwanted Hair and Unwanted Tattoos with Laser at Once?

One of the efficient methods to remove undesired tattoos is a laser and one of the permanent methods to get rid of objectionable hair is also a laser. But can you get the best of the two worlds with a hair removal laser?

What Does Laser Do to Tattoos?

Tattoos are pigmented dermis with different designs and art. By now, you should be clear that laser targets pigment. So, when laser hair removal is applied over the area with a tattoo, this laser gets absorbed into the ink of the tattoos instead of the pigment of the hair as the ink has a high quantity of pigment.

And when this laser is converted into heat, it damages the skin in the area of the tattoo resulting in pain, burns, permanent skin scarring, severe skin damage, and the formation of blisters.

Can I get IPL Hair Removal Over Tattoo?

Just like a laser, IPL hair removal devices also use light with high intensity and a particular wavelength to get absorbed into pigmented hair follicles. Additionally, the results of IPL and laser hair removal are also similar.

Although there is a difference in the power output of laser and IPL, IPL is also not safe to be performed on skin with tattoos. The damage might be less as compared to laser hair removal but you have to avoid the tattooed area while doing IPL treatment.

How Can I Get Laser Hair Removal With a Tattoo?

The first solution is to get rid of the tattoo and prepare the skin for laser. And if you want to protect your precious tattoos, have them covered so that the laser does not recognize the ink in that area.

Laser hair removal professionals use a thick safeguard over the tattooed skin so that there is a wall of 2-3 cm between the pigmented skin and the laser which hinders the route of the laser toward the tattoos. As a result, the laser does not detect the ink, and hair removal can be performed safely.

However, the hair in that area won’t be removed and you will have to stick to conventional methods of hair removal for a few strands of hair on the tattoo.

Safe Hair Removal Methods for People with Tattoos

So, if you decide to get the laser on your full body without the part with tattoos or give up on it completely, you would be eager to find out the methods to remove hair over the tattoos safely.

Shaving

The simplest, painless, and easiest method for removing hair on tattoos is shaving. Take your razor, pull the skin taut, and trim off the unwanted hair. You can use an electric shaver or manual razor to remove hair over the tattoos.

However, shaving is inconvenient as you have to shave every other day.

Waxing

The second on the list is waxing. Although wax pulls the skin while removing unwanted hair from the roots, it leaves the tattoo intact. Moreover, hairless skin with waxing lasts for 2-4 weeks giving you enough time to breathe before your subsequent waxing treatment.

So, it is a safe and efficient method of hair removal over the tattoo. But be prepared for the pain associated with waxing.

Tweezing

If your tattoo is small and you have gotten laser hair removal from the full body except for the area with the tattoo, tweezing can work well for you. Tweezing is a precise method of removing unwanted hair from a small area. However, it is time taking.

Hair Removal Creams

The active ingredients and chemicals of hair removal creams might raise concerns about their safety for tattooed skin. But rest assured as hair removal creams do not go deeper than the epidermis of the skin and tattoos lie on a deeper dermal layer.

Electrolysis

Lastly, we have electrolysis on the list as a safe and permanent method of hair removal for people with tattoos. This process uses fine needles to burn hair follicles with an electric shock. There is no absorption in pigment.

But It is expensive. So, if you get laser hair removal from other parts of the body, electrolysis on tattoos can save you from having to remove hair from a small section every now and then.

Conclusion

While tattoos are associated with adventure, art, and a carefree spirit for people, they can put women and even men under confusion when it comes to removing hair. Because the process of tattooing is itself painful and no one wants to trigger the pain by going wrong with it.

So, you must avoid getting laser over tattoos. But there are several safe methods of removing hair like waxing, tweezing, depilatory creams, or electrolysis.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I can provide information on various topics, including tattoos, laser hair removal, and methods of hair removal for people with tattoos. I have access to a wide range of information sources, including search result snippets. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.

Tattoos:

Tattoos are designs or art engraved in the deep layer of the skin, called the dermis, using ink and injections to insert the ink inside the skin Tattoos are artificially pigmented skin and contain a high quantity of pigment.

Laser Hair Removal:

Laser hair removal is a method used to remove unwanted hair from the body. It involves using laser light with varying levels of intensity and wavelengths. The laser light is absorbed into the melanin, the pigment in the hair, and travels through the hair strands until it reaches the hair roots. The laser energy is converted into heat energy, which destroys the hair follicles, the cells responsible for hair growth.

Safety of Laser Hair Removal for Skin with Tattoos:

Laser hair removal should not be performed on areas of the skin with tattoos. The laser used for tattoo removal is different from the laser used for hair removal. The laser used for tattoo removal targets deeper layers of the skin and breaks down the ink in tattoos, while the laser used for hair removal targets the pigment in the hair follicles. Therefore, using a laser designed for tattoo removal on skin with tattoos will result in damage to the skin and may cause pain, burns, scarring, and blisters.

Methods of Hair Removal for People with Tattoos:

If you have tattoos and want to remove hair from the surrounding areas, there are several safe methods you can consider:

Shaving: Shaving is a simple and painless method of removing hair over tattoos. You can use an electric shaver or a manual razor to trim off the unwanted hair. However, shaving needs to be done regularly, as the hair will grow back quickly.
Waxing: Waxing is another method that can be used to remove hair over tattoos. It involves applying wax to the skin and then removing it, along with the hair, from the roots. Waxing provides longer-lasting results compared to shaving, but it can be painful.
Tweezing: If you have a small tattoo and have undergone laser hair removal on other parts of your body, tweezing can be a precise method for removing unwanted hair from the tattooed area. However, tweezing can be time-consuming, especially for larger areas.
Hair Removal Creams: Hair removal creams can be used to remove hair over tattoos. These creams work by dissolving the hair at the surface of the skin. It's important to choose a hair removal cream that is safe for use on tattooed skin. However, keep in mind that hair removal creams may not be as effective as other methods and may need to be reapplied regularly.
Electrolysis: Electrolysis is a safe and permanent method of hair removal for people with tattoos. It involves using fine needles to deliver an electric shock to the hair follicles, which destroys them. Electrolysis does not rely on pigment absorption and can be effective for removing hair from small areas. However, it can be expensive.

In conclusion, laser hair removal should not be performed on areas of the skin with tattoos. If you want to remove hair from areas surrounding your tattoos, you can consider alternative methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing, hair removal creams, or electrolysis. Each method has its own advantages and considerations, so choose the one that suits your preferences and needs.