Why Winter is the Best Time for Laser Hair Removal

If you’re tired of worrying about unwanted hair, you may want to finally give laser hair removal some serious consideration. Chances are you’ve already thought about just how nice it would be to undergo a few quick laser treatments and never have to worry about shaving, waxing, or plucking unwanted hair again.

Here at Holladay Dermatology Clinic in Holladay, Utah, we’ve helped lots of people in the Salt Lake City area get rid of undesirable facial or body hair for good, and we can help you, too.

Although you can schedule a laser hair removal appointment any time, it’s best to go through the process sometime between October and April — otherwise known as laser hair removal season. Just as the summer months are the best time to go bare, the winter months are the best time to undergo laser hair removal.

Your sun exposure is limited in the winter

In the winter months, you’re far less likely to inadvertently spend too much time in the sun and get tan. Why does this matter? Because laser hair removal can’t be performed on sunburned or tanned skin. It isn’t even recommended for skin that’s only sun-kissed, or slightly tan.

When laser hair removal is done on skin that’s darker than its normal, natural shade, it increases the risk of inaccurate laser settings, which can wind up damaging your skin.

Likewise, prolonged sun exposure should also be avoided following laser hair removal, as the laser makes the treatment area more sensitive and susceptible to UV damage.  

For these reasons, it’s a good idea to protect your skin from sun exposure in the weeks leading up to your first treatment, and maintain consistent sun protection measures throughout your entire treatment cycle. For most people, this task is far easier to accomplish in the winter months.

Preparation for laser hair removal is easier in the winter

Laser hair removal targets active-growth hair follicles, but it can only target those follicles if there’s some amount of hair in the follicle itself. This means that the treatment doesn’t work on areas that have been waxed, plucked, or cleared with depilatory cream, as these removal methods pull hair out at the root, leaving nothing behind for the laser to focus on.

The best way to prepare for laser hair removal is by shaving the treatment area one or two days before your appointment. Your remaining growth should be close enough to the surface of your skin that virtually all of the laser’s energy is directed down the short stubble and into the follicle.  

During warm summer months when you’re used to maintaining a stricter hair removal practice, it can be more challenging to avoid waxing and other treatments that give you the smooth, hair-free skin you want. Going through the process in the winter months means you can keep those stubbly areas covered up, and you’ll be less tempted to just rip that unwanted hair out at the root.  

It can take a few months to complete laser hair removal

The late fall or early winter is an ideal time to begin the laser hair removal process, which typically takes a few months to complete. By the time you finish your last session, you’ll be hair-free and swimsuit-ready just as the warm weather rolls in.

Laser hair removal takes a few months to complete because of the fact that your hair grows in cycles. Of the three phases of growth your hair goes through — anagen, catagen, and telogen — anagen is the only active-growth phase.

Remember, the laser only targets active-growth hair follicles. So hair follicles that are in the catagen or telogen phase during your first session won’t be affected by the treatment at all.

To make sure the treatment gets rid of most of the hair in a specific area, you’ll need to have multiple laser hair removal sessions over the course of time. Most patients see complete, permanent results after a series of three to six laser hair removal treatments, with each session spaced four to six weeks apart.

If you’re ready to get started, now’s the time. Come see us at Holladay Dermatology Clinic. Call our office today, or make an appointment using our convenient online booking tool.