5 Treatments to Do Now That Summer Is Over

No need to wait a minute longer.

By NewBeauty Editors · Oct 4, 2016

Now that summer is officially over and we are settling into cooler weather, it’s the perfect time to do a handful of beauty treatments that most experts say to put off until this time of year. “There are several reasons for doing these treatments during the fall months versus summer months, like more flexibility in terms of scheduling for recovery,” says Las Vegas plastic surgeon Terry Higgins, MD.

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Lasers

Laser procedures like Fraxel should almost always be performed when you know you’re not going to be in the sun. “Most patients don’t realize just how important it is to avoid direct and indirect sun exposure for at least three months after your treatment,” says Omaha, NE, dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. “Sun exposure post laser can make or break your results. Sun exposure can undo all the benefits garnered from a laser. For that reason, it’s best to schedule laser treatments during the fall and winter months when you’re less likely to be outside.”

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Hair Gloss

As Abby Haliti, color direction and balayage expert at the Julien Farel Salon, explains, during the summer hair gets damaged because of the heat and sun. Add chlorine and summer highlights to the mix and the combination can wreck havoc on your strands, making them dull, dry, damaged and brittle. “After the summer, I recommend clients use a gloss every four to six weeks for shine and to seal the cuticle. Glosses are gentle on the hair (there’s no ammonia) and also have the benefit of adjusting tones in the hair, too,” she says. “You can still use color safely, but just know that your hair is more sensitive so your colorist needs to be careful when applying the color because hair is more likely to absorb the color quickly, especially in the midshaft and ends.”

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Chemical Peels

One reason to forgo peels in the dead of summer is that because these treatments exfoliate skin, so any sun exposure makes skin more vulnerable to sun damage. “Chemical peels can really help undo some of the damage your skin incurs during the summer months,” says Dr. Schlessinger. “You want to stay our of direct sunlight after a peel and use sunscreen (every day). With a minor peel, you need to avoid the sun for a few days; deeper peels require up to three months of being sun-free.”

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Laser Hair Removal

Just because you’re not flaunting a bikini, doesn’t mean you need to wait ’til next season to start getting rid of any unwanted hair with a laser. Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments over a period of several weeks. “It’s better to schedule this procedure in the fall, winter or even early spring, rather than summer. You want to do this treatment in the fall or winter because laser hair removal cannot be done when skin is tan. The laser targets and destroys the dark hair follicle, which is easier to pinpoint when skin is lighter. So if your skin is tan, the procedure cannot be performed,” says Dr. Schlessinger.

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Liposuction

Besides the fact that you’ll want to be ready for bathing suit season before it comes, one of the main reasons to have liposuction done during the fall months is because it can often take months for the swelling to fully subside and for the final result to be seen. Part of the recovery process of liposuction typically involves wearing a compression garment for an extended period of time after surgery, like one to three months. “Summer is a time where most wear less, not more, clothing,” says Dr. Higgins. And you’ll want to cover up those compression garments as much as possible.