A little preparation goes a long way toward a smoother, more comfortable session. Come in well hydrated — drink plenty of water beforehand, and if you've had coffee, balance it with about two glasses of water per cup, since well-hydrated follicles are easier to treat. Gently exfoliate before your appointment so built-up oils and dead skin don't clog the follicle and make insertions harder. If you're being treated somewhere like your underarms or bikini line, trim or shave about 3–4 days ahead so the hair is just long enough to grasp after treatment; for a hair removal consultation, though, I'll need 2–3 days of growth to properly assess the area, so please don't tweeze or pull hair beforehand. Arrive with clean skin, since freshly cleansed skin keeps treatment more comfortable and hygienic. If you're using a numbing cream, apply it well in advance following the product instructions — last-minute application won't give it time to work. And try to avoid heavy sweating right after your session, since freshly treated follicles are more open and sweat can introduce bacteria, so plan any workouts for before your appointment or the next day instead.