You’ll be forgiven if you associate laser hair removal with summers and tans. When the air is balmy and bikinis are on the mind, many start dreaming of being hair-free. Truth is hair removal isn’t just for the bare-it-all days of summer! Here are some essential reasons why you should start laser hair removal in the winter. Read on and find out how you could maximize your laser hair removal results.

How does laser hair removal work?

At BodyLase®, we feature the ProWave and Alexandrite lasers (perfect for a wide range of lighter skin tones) and the Cutera Coolglide™ 1064nm Nd:Yag laser (the gold standard for darker skin tones and tanned skin). All of these lasers send out high beams of pulsating light at a certain wavelength that passes through your skin to accurately target the pigment in your hair follicles. The pulsating light causes those hair follicles to vaporize. This, as a result, destroys the hair follicle’s ability to produce hair so that you are set to live hair free!

Hair grows in cycles: it actively grows (anagen cycle), it transitions into a resting phase (catagen cycle), and then it rests for a period before shedding (telogen cycle). The length of a hair follicle’s growth cycle varies across the different body regions. On your scalp it can average around 3-4 years, while your eyelashes’ growth cycle averages about 3 months. It’s also important to note that human hair growth is not synchronized. This means that on any given body region at any given time, the range of hair follicles will be in various growth stages.

The hair follicles most effectively targeted by laser hair removal are the ones that are in the active phase of their growth cycle, which is when they carry the highest concentration of pigment. Hair follicles in other phases — like catagen or telogen phases — might not be as effectively targeted. This is why patients usually undergo a series of hair removal treatments for smooth, long-lasting results*.

What does laser hair removal feel like?

Laser hair removal feels like a light rubberband snap. Many of our patients describe this as tolerable, temporary sensation. To maximize your comfort, we use ChillTip™ technology to cool your skin before and after each pulsation. Most of our patients undergo sessions without any painkillers or topical creams.

What happens after a session?

After a laser hair treatment, many patients see that all their hair is shed. The hair that grows back after a treatment are the hairs that were not in the anagen stage during the first treatment. Experts say that about 5-10% of the hair not in the anagen stage at any given point. So with each treatment, you will be get closer and closer to becoming completely hair free.

Essential Laser Hair Removal Tips

  • Prepare for the summer by starting laser hair removal early in the year. Because hairs grow in non-synchronized growth cycles and because laser hair removal targets hairs in the active phase, you’ll undergo a series of hair removal sessions to be completely smooth. Winter is the perfect time to begin your journey of getting hair-free*!
  • Skip tanning before your laser hair removal appointments. Many associate last hair removal with summers and tans. However laser hair removal is most effective when you are not yet tan. When you are pale, the laser can more effectively target the pigment in your hair follicles.
  • In between laser treatments, you should not wax, epilate, or pluck. Why? Well laser hair removal treatments are usually spaced anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on your treatment region. Removing hairs by the root during this period will not give it enough time to return to the anagen phase. So in between treatments, in order to optimize your hair removal results, be sure to restrict yourself to your razor.

For more on laser hair removal sign up for a consultation in Raleigh or Cary today!