Is it better to wait longer between laser hair removal sessions?

For most people, it's best to wait between four and eight weeks between each treatment , and we generally recommend six treatments for optimal results. We'll help you decide your personal treatment schedule when you come in for a consultation.

How long should you leave between laser hair removal sessions?

What is the ideal gap between treatments? Typically, treatments are spaced 4-5 weeks apart for the face, and 5-6 weeks apart for areas on the body . This timing aligns with the natural hair growth cycle, making the treatments more effective.

Is 4 weeks too soon for laser hair removal?

What is optimal timing for laser hair removal? For the face and neck, most patients see significant hair reduction after just 2-4 treatments, with 4-6 weeks in between sessions . This is because the hair on the face and neck is typically in the Anagen phase more frequently than other areas of the body.

How spaced out should my laser appointments be?

For the body, we recommend a session every 4 weeks to start with. As the hair growth diminishes, we stretch your visits out and eventually, you will only need to come in for maintenance sessions every few months depending on your skin and hair type.

What happens if I wait too long between laser hair removal?

However, if you wait too long between treatments, hair follicles can be too long and won't sustain enough damage with light energy to stop growing hair . You may still experience an initial thinning, but those results will fade, and it won't be long before your normal hair growth is back.

Can I shave in between laser sessions?

In fact, shaving is often recommended between sessions , as it allows the laser to target the hair follicle more precisely. When you shave, you remove the visible hair from the surface of the skin, but it does not affect the hair follicle or the root, which is the target of laser treatment.

How Long Between Laser Hair Removal Sessions Do You Wait? (2024)

If you want a permanent solution to removing unwanted hairs on the face and body, laser hair removal is one of the best treatments you can use to get smooth, hairless skin. This procedure which involves the removal of hair directly from the follicles with the help of light waves is fast becoming a go-to choice for many people. Now although the treatment promises reduction of unwanted hair, it is important to know that the process does not happen at once.

To get optimal results, multiple sessions are often required. But how long do you have to wait between each laser hair removal session and what happens if you miss a session? These are all burning questions, you must have on your mind. In this article, we'll be discussing all there is to know about laser hair removal and the expected timeline between treatment sessions.

Table of Contents:

Part 1: Hair Growth Cycles And Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal works by sending beams of light to target the pigment melanin within the hair follicle, causing the hairs to weaken and disrupting their growth process. However, to get a better understanding of how the treatment produces results, we have to take a look at the hair growth cycle.

The life cycle of every strand of hair consists of three phases namely: anagen, catagen, and telogen. The anagen phase or growth phase is when the follicle is actively producing hair. Next is the catagen phase where growth begins to slow down and the hair follicle starts to shrink. Finally, the hair transitions into the telogen phase where old hair follicles are shed and the hair falls off, allowing the follicles to re-enter the growth phase and start the cycle again. However, not all hair strands are in the same phase of the hair growth cycle at the same time. Some hairs may be in the growth phase while others may be in the catagen or telogen phase which is why you may notice different lengths and volumes of hair across several parts of the body.

Now, because laser hair removal targets the follicles directly, it is most effective when the hair is in the anagen or growth phase while the follicles are actively producing hair. But, since not all hairs will be in this phase at the same time, multiple sessions are required. You also have to wait between sessions to give any hairs that may not be in the growth phase, enough time to transition.

Part 2: How Many Sessions Of Laser Hair Removal?

While we may all wish that all our body hairs would disappear with laser hair removal after 1 session, in reality, the treatment requires several sessions to get optimal results. However, figuring out how many sessions of laser hair removal you need will vary based on a few factors like your skin tone, hair colour, genetics, hormonal changes, and body area being treated. For example, someone with light hair may require more sessions than someone with dark hair wince dark hair responds best to the treatment. However, most people will generally need 6-8 treatment sessions to get the best results. If you require more laser hair removal sessions, your aesthetician or laser practitioner will analyse your specific needs and help you determine how many sessions are best suited to you.

Part 3: How Long Between Laser Hair Removal Sessions?

The timeline between your laser hair removal sessions generally ranges from 4-6 weeks. By spacing out your sessions between this time interval, your treatment sessions will be perfectly aligned with your natural hair growth cycle, allowing the laser to target hairs in their active growth phase. Keep in mind that, the timing between laser hair removal sessions may also vary based on your skin type and the treatment area being targeted. Some people may have to wait a longer or shorter time between sessions.

Part 4: What Happens If You Miss The Laser Hair Removal?

When you miss a laser hair removal session, it can disrupt the treatment schedule you are already on and potentially affect the efficacy of the treatment. As we mentioned earlier, laser hair removal is designed to target your hair when they are in the active growth phase. However, when you miss or delay a session, this gives some hair follicles enough time to transition out of the growth phase, rendering the treatment ineffective in certain areas of the skin. This means you may not get the proper amount of hair reduction by the time you go for your treatment and to achieve your desired results, you will most likely require additional treatment sessions.

It may be tempting to want to get consecutive sessions without waiting, but it is very important to avoid doing so as that can increase your risk of irritation. Wait as long as your treatment provider recommends to give your skin enough time to recover and help you achieve the best hair removal outcome.

Part 5: Have No Time For Laser Hair Removal?

When you opt for laser hair removal, you must be ready for the time commitment of multiple spaced-out sessions. However, if you do not have time to keep going back to your treatment clinic every few weeks and want a more convenient hair removal alternative, IPL hair removal devices can be a major game changer for you. These at-home devices work in a very similar manner to lasers by using light energy to target the hair follicles and prevent future hair regrowth. However, IPl hair removal is more accessible as it does not require an in-clinic treatment session, unlike laser hair removal. Additionally, IPL hair removal is cheaper than laser hair removal as IPL hair removal devices tend to be way less expensive than the total cost of getting multiple laser hair removal sessions.

With IPl hair removal, you also do not have to wait between treatment sessions, you can do consecutive treatments and the best part is you can do it yourself in the comfort of your home. Instead of taking time out of your schedule to go for laser hair removal sessions every few weeks, with IPL devices, you can get the smooth skin of your dreams while you catch up on your favourite movie or television series.

The Ulike Air 3 is a popular hair removal device that has gained notoriety among fans of at-home treatments and when you look at all this sleek device has to offer, it's not hard to see why. It allows up to 3 treatment sessions each week and leaves a visible reduction in hair in as little as 4 weeks. To keep your skin safe from irritation while pulses of light are sent directly into your hair follicles, the Ulike Air 3 also features a sapphire ice cooling technology that keeps the device from overheating as glides across your skin. Want to get rid of hair on several parts of your body? With the Ulike hair, you can target different areas including the face, legs, back, stomach, bikini area, and even those pesky neck hairs. Designed with comfort accessibility in mind, the Ulike Air 3 can also be used by both men and women and since every treatment session is nearly painless, you can enjoy seamless hair removal even if you have sensitive skin.

Conclusion

Laser hair removal is a great way to eliminate unwanted hairs on the skin but the treatment requires multiple sessions and you generally have to wait around 4-6 weeks between laser each session to achieve good results. This is why making the switch to IPL hair removal devices like the Ulike Air 3 is a great idea for anyone looking to save time while getting an optimal hair removal experience.