Most people start thinking about summer way too late. If you start scrambling to get ready for swimsuit season in April or May, you won’t have much time at all to reach your goals and feel great on the beach. Physical changes take time, and you need to prepare well in advance.

A good example of this need for planning is laser hair removal. To get smooth, hairless skin for next summer, you need to plan well in advance and prepare for a long process. But the reward is worth it—you’ll have beautiful, fuzz-free skin without the annoyance of shaving or the pain of waxing. Here’s why you should think about getting started with laser treatments ASAP.

How Laser Treatments Work

Laser hair removal is a non-invasive procedure that involves destroying hair follicles with a special laser device for permanently smooth skin. During each treatment, laser light is directed at each unwanted hair, zapping every follicle to prevent future hair growth.

Depending on the size of the treatment area, a laser hair removal session might only take 10 minutes to an hour. While the zaps from the laser aren’t especially comfortable, most people don’t need any kind of topical anesthesia and don’t require any downtime after each session.

After a laser hair removal treatment, the hair won’t fall out immediately. It takes a week or two for the hair to begin shedding. After all of the hair falls out, it should not grow back. The process is the same whether you’re getting your armpits or your legs treated!

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Multiple Treatments are Needed!

So why should you plan so far in advance for laser treatments? The first reason is that it isn’t possible to get rid of all your unwanted hair in just one treatment. This is because of the way hair grows.

Not all of our hair follicles are active at one time. In fact, hair growth involves three different stages:

• Anagen—active growth
• Catagen—transition (hair preparing to fall out naturally)
• Telogen—resting

Hair follicles can only be eliminated during the anagen phase when the hair is visible and actively growing. The laser targets the pigment in the hair, so it must be above the skin and not ready to fall out on its own.

Because not all of the follicles will be active at the same time, multiple treatments are required. Many people are surprised to learn that a minimum of 6 treatments, spaced about 8 weeks apart, are required for effective hair removal. More treatments might be needed depending on the treatment area and the patient.

With this in mind, you can expect laser hair removal to take at least a year to complete, longer if you frequently wax. It’s a good idea to get started with treatments in the fall so that your skin will be nearly hair-free by the following summer.

Sun Exposure is a No-No

Another reason to consider starting your laser treatments in the fall is to prevent as much sun exposure as possible during the treatment series. Like all laser treatments, hair removal can make the skin much more sensitive to the sun. Exposing treated skin to the sun after laser treatment can result in uneven, patchy brown pigmentation known as hyperpigmentation.

While it is possible to protect laser-treated skin from the sun with lots of sunblock, it’s risky to spend a day at the beach right after a laser session. It’s better to get the majority of your treatments out of the way before sunny weather arrives, just to be on the safe side.

The Reward: Long-Lasting Smoothness

Fact is, laser hair removal isn’t the most convenient cosmetic treatment out there. Multiple treatments and lots of patience are required. However, most people who go through the process of removing unwanted body hair with laser treatments are thrilled with their results and are glad they decided to move forward.

There are lots of other hair removal methods, including waxing, shaving, and creams, but none of them offer permanent results and can become expensive and annoying after a while. The reward of going through laser treatments is zero-effort silky-smooth skin you can bare at the beach with pride!

Get Ready for Next Summer

Modern skin lasers are safe and effective for every skin type. If you want smooth, sexy skin to go with your bikini next summer, now is the time to get started. Don’t wait until the pool parties are a month away and you’re still waxing!

View more before & after Photos*

It’s important to choose a provider you can trust to prioritize your safety and results. Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, TX, is known for expert aestheticians and cutting-edge procedures. If you’d like to learn more about laser hair removal at our medspa or you’d like to schedule a consultation, call (281) 810-9083 today!