Laser · 14 July 2026
Laser hair removal: what a course actually involves
It is a course, not a session, and the gaps between sessions are set by your hair cycle rather than your diary.
Laser hair removal works on hair that is actively growing. At any moment only a portion of the hair in an area is in that phase, which is why one session cannot do the job however good the machine is.
Why the gaps are what they are
Sessions are spaced to catch hair as it enters the growth phase. That spacing depends on the area — facial hair cycles faster than legs — so a schedule that is convenient is not necessarily a schedule that works.
What affects the result
- Hair colour and thickness: dark, coarse hair responds best.
- Skin tone: settings must be matched to it, which is what a four-wavelength system allows.
- Hormonal factors: PCOS and thyroid conditions change what is realistic.
What it does not do
It is hair reduction, not removal. Expect a substantial reduction in density and thickness across a course, with occasional maintenance afterwards. Any clinic promising you will never shave again is overselling it.
Before your first session
- Shave the area — do not wax or pluck for several weeks beforehand.
- Avoid sun exposure on the area.
- Tell the clinic about any medication, particularly anything that increases light sensitivity.
