Laser hair removal is not a one-visit treatment. A course runs over several months, and the laser works best on skin that has not been tanned. Both facts point the same way: autumn and winter are the most practical time to start.
Why a course takes months
Hair grows in cycles. The laser can only disable a follicle while its hair is in the active growth phase, and at any one time only part of the hair in an area is in that phase. Each session treats the hairs that are growing then, so sessions are spaced to catch the next group as it comes through. Our usual plan is 6 to 8 sessions, four to six weeks apart: roughly six to nine months from the first session to the last.
Why sun and tan matter
The laser is drawn to pigment. In the hair, that is what makes it work. In tanned skin, the extra pigment competes with the hair for the energy, which raises the risk of burns, blistering and patches of lighter or darker skin. That is why we ask you to keep the area out of the sun and away from sunbeds and fake tan before each session. Through autumn and winter most treatment areas stay covered and UV levels in the UK are low, so there is far less to work around.
A course started now
- November: a consultation and patch test, then your first session once the test area has been checked.
- December to April: sessions every four to six weeks.
- May and June: the last sessions of a typical course, with most of the reduction already done.
- Summer: protect treated skin with SPF. If a few hairs return later, a maintenance session can be booked when your skin is not tanned.
What results to expect
Laser hair removal reduces hair; it does not remove every hair for good. A Cochrane review found good evidence that diode and alexandrite lasers reduce hair for at least six months after treatment, and less evidence about the longer term. In practice, most people see fewer, finer and lighter hairs after a course, and some need occasional maintenance sessions.
Very fine, blonde, grey, white or red hair has little pigment for the laser to find, so it responds poorly or not at all. We will tell you at your consultation if that applies to you, rather than sell you a course that will not work.
Who should wait or check first
Laser is usually avoided during pregnancy, over tattoos, and over moles or marks that need a doctor to look at them first. Some medicines make the skin more sensitive to light. Hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome can keep new hair coming; laser can still reduce it, but progress is often slower and maintenance more likely. A review of laser hair removal notes that the main risks, such as blistering and changes in skin colour, rise when settings do not suit the skin type, which is why the assessment and patch test come first.
Before each session
- Shave the area 12 to 24 hours before. We do not shave the area at the clinic.
- Do not wax, tweeze or epilate: the laser needs the hair root in place.
- Avoid sun exposure, sunbeds and fake tan.
- Come with clean skin: no creams, oils, deodorant or perfume on the area.
- Stop retinol, strong acids and exfoliating products for several days beforehand.
- Tell us about any new medicine, or a change in your health.
Laser hair removal at KCLINICS
We use a diode laser with a cooled handpiece, and every course starts with a consultation and a patch test so the settings suit your skin and hair. See laser hair removal for areas and prices, or laser hair removal for men for back, chest and beard-line work. The clinic is on Charterhouse Buildings, off Goswell Road, a short walk from Barbican and Farringdon stations, with appointments until 8pm on Thursdays.
Start this month and most of your course is done before summer.
