Most people think about laser hair removal in May, when shorts and swimsuits come back out. By then, it's late to start if you want a real difference by the Fourth of July. The better time to begin is in the fall, when the weather in Birmingham turns and nobody's thinking about the beach. Here's why.
Laser hair removal takes a series, and a series takes time
One visit won't do it. Hair grows in cycles, and at any moment only some of your hairs are in their active growth phase. Only those respond. To catch the rest as they cycle through, sessions are spaced several weeks apart.
So the calendar matters. A series spaced several weeks apart stretches across months. Starting in October or November gives that series room to run through the winter and spring. Starting in May usually means you're partway through when summer arrives.
How many sessions you'll need depends on your hair, your skin and the area, and we set out the expected number at your consultation. Results vary from person to person. The goal of a full series is a lasting reduction in how much hair grows back and how coarse it is.
Less sun makes treatment easier
The laser works by targeting pigment in the hair. A tan adds pigment to the skin, which makes it harder for the laser to tell skin and hair apart. That's why we ask clients to keep the treatment area out of the sun and away from self-tanner for around two weeks before each session, and to use sunscreen on it between sessions.
In a Michigan summer, that's hard. Weekends at the lake and long evenings on a patio make it tough to keep legs, arms or a back untanned. From fall through early spring, most of us are covered up anyway. Easy.
Fewer tanning interruptions also means fewer sessions pushed back. If you come in tanned, we may need to wait before treating, and that delay adds up over a series. Cooler months, fewer delays.
Aftercare fits winter better too
After a session, mild redness usually settles within a day. We ask clients to keep the area out of the sun and to skip hot showers and heavy workouts for a day or two. In winter, nobody minds wearing long sleeves or pants over a treated area. Our guide on how to prepare for laser hair removal covers the full before and after list.
The areas people plan for summer
We treat legs, underarms, bikini and Brazilian, arms, back, chest and face, for women and men. Legs, underarms and bikini are the ones people tend to think about once swimsuit season is close enough to feel real. For men, the back and chest often come up before vacation or pool season, and our post on laser hair removal for men goes into those areas.
What starting in the fall looks like
Your first visit at our Birmingham studio is a consultation and a patch test. We look at your skin and hair, talk through the areas you want treated and explain what's realistic. Before you leave, you'll have a plan, the spacing between sessions and the cost. We use transparent per-session and package pricing, so you'll know what the series looks like before you commit. If you'd like to know more about how that appointment runs, read what a first visit at Summer Skin looks like.
From there, sessions are booked through the winter and into spring, spaced to follow your hair's growth cycle. By the time it's warm enough for shorts, you'll be further along. Not just starting.
Every visit also earns points in our Smooth Club, our loyalty program. Points come from visits, from referring friends and from joining, and they turn into rewards.
Questions about timing
Is it too late to start laser hair removal in spring?
No. Start whenever you like. We'll plan around the sun with you, which mostly means you'll be earlier in your series when summer comes and you'll need to be more careful about sun exposure on treated areas between sessions than someone who started in October.
Can I get laser hair removal in the summer?
Yes. The area just can't be tanned. You'll need to keep it out of the sun for around two weeks before each session and use sunscreen between sessions. Doable. Just more work in July.
What if I travel somewhere sunny over the winter?
Tell us your dates. We can schedule sessions around a trip so you aren't coming in on freshly tanned skin. If you do come back with a tan, call us at (248) 302-3206 before your appointment and we'll adjust.
Start this fall
Summer Skin is at 255 S. Old Woodward Ave, Suite 8, in downtown Birmingham, a short drive from Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Franklin and Royal Oak. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 to 6 and Saturday from 10 to 4.
If you've said "next year" a few summers running, October is a good month to stop saying it. Call (248) 302-3206 or request an appointment to set up your consultation. Our treatment page lists every area we treat.