Beauty update

If you’ve never tried it, laser hair removal can sound daunting, but it’s a relatively painless, simple and long-lasting treatment.

“I felt like the last woman with any body hair left.” – Brooke

It’snot really my fault. I arrived home in 2019 after 13 years in London. So, I’d spent a decade in tights and coats for 10 months of the year. The climate suited me … as did the little-to-no maintenance required below the neck. Upon returning home, I was caught out. With so much skin on show, I wasn’t in the habit of caring enough. Vigorous waving and hailing taxis became fraught, and

I was constantly apologising to whoever was flashed with my pits. Not that there’s anything wrong with body hair … except that beauty directors are supposed to be soft, smooth creatures with the utmost respect for their beauty regimens and grooming. I was failing, dismally.

I became obsessed. I found myself admiring women’s perfectly hairless bodies. “How do you keep up with it all?” I probed a good friend. She looked at me, bemused: “I haven’t had body hair for years. Go and get some laser already!” Hmmm, laser. So I booked a session.

Here’s what happens: you shave 24 hours before the appointment. On the day, a technician uses a hand-held device to stamp your skin. The laser seeks out the pigment in the hair below the surface, which then converts to heat and damages the follicle. There is a cooling tip, so each click feels like a quick, sharp flick. It takes mere minutes for my armpits and slightly longer for legs and bikini line. I’ve had three sessions now, one month apart, and have barely had any hair grow back. I’m the candidate (fair skin, dark hair) statistically shown to get the best results, but it’s possible for all skin types to get laser hair removal. Autumn and winter are the ideal time to de-fuzz. So, like me, you can wave with abandon at a friend across the street come December.