When you begin laser hair removal treatments, consistency is vital to success. At SEV Laser, we strategically plan each session to ensure all active hair follicles are targeted during the initial phase of treatment. To ensure your best and fastest hair reduction results, we recommend coming in exactly every 4 weeks for your first 4 treatments — also known as the 4×4 standard.

This early commitment lays the foundation for your treatment success! Timing your sessions correctly allows our nurses and laser technicians to treat as many actively growing follicles at the time when they are most susceptible to lasting damage, allowing you to see better results sooner.

So what is the 4×4 standard, when does it vary, and how does it improve your laser hair removal results? Let’s dig in.

How Often Do I Need to Get Laser Hair Removal?

Scheduling your laser sessions so they’re frequent enough is incredibly important, especially at the start. As your treatment progresses and we continue to track and understand your hair growth cycle, you’ll be able to space out your sessions and eventually only need annual touch-ups.

However, you have to get off on the right foot to enjoy the fullest results of laser hair removal. 

Commitment is important during the early stages, which is why our medical team at SEV typically recommends starting with the 4×4 standard. 

Start With The 4×4 Standard 

The 4×4 standard is simple: For your first four appointments, schedule your treatments for no more and no less than four weeks apart. Staying within this window allows your nurse to treat all active hair follicles within the first four sessions, significantly improving and speeding up your results.

This medically-backed recommendation is based on the hair growth cycle. Every hair goes through four phases: growth, transition, resting, and shedding. Laser hair removal targets follicles in the growth phase, also known as the anagen phase.

By damaging the root of the hair during this stage, the laser causes the hair to shed prematurely and deactivates the follicle, preventing regrowth. However, not all hairs are in the growth stage at once, which is why the 4×4 standard is ideal. Undergoing treatments every four weeks allows nurses to treat every follicle effectively during the most critical period.

If your nurse or technician believes that you may benefit from a variation on the 4×4 standard, like 4 sessions every 5 weeks (4×5), they will discuss a more appropriate schedule for you.

Slowing Down, If Recommended

Throughout the process, you and your nurse can reassess and decide how to best space out your treatments. Your schedule after the 4×4 standard depends on various factors, including how you responded to the first few sessions.

If there’s minimal regrowth after your 4th session, your nurse might recommend waiting up to 6 weeks between treatments. You can expect continuous hair reduction as you continue your treatments, although it might not seem as extreme as your initial results since you’ll have less and less hair to treat with each session.

Even so, staying consistent with treatments is a must to ensure significant and lasting results!

Final Clean Up + Touch-Ups

Eventually, you’ll reach a point when you’re satisfied with your level of hair reduction! We’ll perform a final clean-up to address any remaining stragglers and go over your options for future maintenance.

Long-term maintenance typically requires touch-ups, but the frequency of these can vary. At SEV, we generally recommend at least one touch-up per year for smooth sailing. Most clients will experience minor regrowth in the years after finishing laser hair removal treatment, but big hormonal changes may trigger greater regrowth.

Why We Recommend 4×4 Scheduling

Your hair follicles enter the anagen phase at different times, which is why you need multiple laser sessions to target them all. The average growth phase of your body hair lasts four weeks depending on the treatment area, hence the 4×4 schedule.

Many of the follicles that were in the transition or resting phase during your first treatment will move into the growth phase at some point in that 4-week period. By scheduling your first four appointments closer together, you ensure these hairs are treated when they’re newly active.

If you wait too long between sessions, we might miss follicles that have already gone through a full life cycle. You’ll still see hair reduction with longer periods between appointments, but the 4×4 standard allows you to treat as many follicles as possible when it matters most. 

Commit to consistency, and you’ll see success.

Ready to begin laser hair removal? Has it been more than three weeks since your last session? Book your next visit at SEV to start and stay on schedule!

More Ways to Win at Laser Hair Removal

The results of your laser treatment depend largely on these factors: the skill of your provider, the laser platform used, and your adherence to the treatment instructions. Take your time researching and choosing a local provider whose laser treatments are truly effective.

At SEV, we use the industry’s finest laser technology — dual-wavelength platforms like the Candela GentleMax Pro and Cynosure Elite iQ. With both Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers, these powerful lasers are proven to deliver better results across the skin tone spectrum.

We combine these machines with the Zimmer Cryo 6 air-cooling attachment, which soothes the skin throughout the treatment, allowing us to use more powerful treatment settings without discomfort.

Our registered nurses and laser technicians are specialized in working with these machines. Through their deep understanding of laser technology and hair follicle function, they can deliver transformative treatments and faster results.

Once you’re ready to commit to treatments, make sure to avoid sun exposure between appointments. Maintaining your base skin tone will allow for stronger treatment settings, improving your results. Don’t forget to shave 24-48 hours before each session, shortening the distance between the hair shaft and skin.

Finally, avoid irritants before and after treatment, and be sure to inform your nurse if you experience pain or persistent inflammation.

Stay On Track to Smoothness at SEV 

The SEV standard for treatment follows all best practices, guaranteeing our clients the highest level of hair reduction. We encourage you to follow our guidelines, likely the 4×4 standard to ensure the efficacy of your treatment.

We’re committed to transparent and flexible laser hair removal prices, with multiple package or pay-as-you-go options. If you’re ready to commit to long-lasting smooth skin, we suggest you consider our Unlimited Plan.

This plan sets you on the path to effortless confidence, with all of the treatments needed to clear away your unwanted hair, and a lifetime of annual touch-ups to maintain your results. This one-time investment is designed to take away the hassle and frustration of hair removal for the rest of your life.

Whether you’re ready to start or you’d like a consultation to discuss your options, an appointment at SEV can give you clarity and confidence in your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read our FAQ

What happens if I do laser hair removal too frequently?

Getting laser hair removal more frequently than every 4 weeks doesn’t provide any additional benefits. All of the hairs in the growth stage will have already been lasered; you just need to wait for them to shed before treating a new round of active follicles. If you receive laser hair removal too frequently, you risk side effects like inflammation, itching, hyperpigmentation, and even burns. For your skin’s safety, the nurses at SEV will turn you away if it’s been less than 4 weeks since your last visit.

What happens if I don’t get laser treatments often enough?

Inconsistent treatment is one of the most common causes of ineffective laser hair removal. You won’t experience adverse side effects if you’re late for a laser session, but it can reduce the efficacy of your overall treatment. If you adhere to the 4x4 schedule, you’ll see faster and more impressive results.

How many laser sessions will I need?

Every person responds to laser hair removal differently, which is why an experienced provider will never make lofty promises or guarantees. Most of our clients at SEV see significant results within 8 sessions, and often need more treatments for complete clearance. We offer options like the 8-Session Package and Unlimited Plan to account for the different needs and growth patterns of our clients.