Hot girl summer is coming. That is the line, and it is the honest one. The sun, the dresses, the arms out and the legs out all arrive in Queensland around November, and the people who look effortless in December are the ones who started in October. If you have been thinking about laser hair removal, the thinking is the thing costing you. Start now, not in three weeks.
At La Mode we run IPL and laser hair removal in the clinic at 7 Barter Street, and the message is simple. The treatment works on a schedule, and the schedule is set by your hair, not by the calendar. Book the first session, keep the follow-ups, and by the time summer settles in you are not reaching for the razor every second morning.
Laser, on a schedule
Hair grows in cycles. At any one time, only a portion of the follicles in an area are in the active growth phase, which is the phase laser and IPL can actually treat. The rest are resting, and no amount of extra energy will shift them until they wake up. That is why hair removal is never one appointment. It is a course, usually spaced four to six weeks apart, so each session lands on a fresh batch of follicles as they come through.
Treatments reduce hair growth; they do not promise permanent removal for everyone, and we will say that plainly at your consultation rather than afterwards. Most people see a real difference after two or three sessions — patches that stop growing, hair that comes back finer and slower — and the full course is what gets you to the smooth result. Dark hair on lighter skin responds best, because the laser is targeting the pigment in the hair against the contrast of the skin. Grey, white and very light blonde hair is stubborn. Hormonal conditions such as PCOS can make an area more resistant, so it is worth being honest with us about your history.
What a session looks like
Every new client starts with a consultation and a patch test. We look at the area, talk through your skin type, your medications and anything that makes you photosensitive, and we test a small spot to see how your skin responds. That is not bureaucracy. It is how we choose the settings and avoid a surprise on a larger area later.
On the day, the area is shaved and cleaned, you get protective eyewear, and the handpiece works across the skin in sections. Most people describe it as a warm snap, like an elastic band, strongest on the first pass and easier as the session goes on. Cooling is used throughout. The upper lip is a few minutes; underarms are quick; legs, bikini and backs take longer. You will leave with some redness and raised follicles, a bit like goosebumps, which usually settles within a couple of hours.
Between sessions you can shave. You cannot wax, pluck or thread the treated area, because the follicle needs to stay intact for the next session to work on it. That catches people out, so put the wax strips away for the duration.
Aftercare, and who it suits
For the first day or two, keep the area cool and out of direct sun. No hot yoga, no long hot showers straight after, no solarium at any point in the course. Sun exposure and fake tan both affect how the laser reads your skin, so cover up and use a good SPF when you are outside. Gentle, fragrance-free products on the treated area for a couple of days, and leave exfoliation alone for about a week.
Laser suits most adults who are tired of the upkeep and want to stop thinking about it before a swim or a dress. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or on medication that affects your skin’s sensitivity, talk to your GP before you book, and tell us at your consultation so we can plan around it. The clinic also covers waxing, lash lifts and brows if you want everything sorted in the one visit. Full details of the IPL and laser service are on our hair removal page, and session costs are listed under pricing.
- The treatment
- IPL and laser hair removal
- The goal
- Smooth skin, sorted before summer
- Where
- The Clinic, 7 Barter Street, Gympie
- How it runs
- A course of sessions, spaced weeks apart
- Booking
- Phone 07 5483 8555
Book this look
Call La Mode on 07 5483 8555 and we will book your consultation and patch test so your first laser session is in the diary before summer gets here. We are at 7 Barter Street, Gympie, Monday to Friday from 9:00am and Saturday from 8:00am. Find us here.