Your No-Stress Holiday Beauty Booking Guide
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How to time your color, facials, and treatments before the season gets busy.
It might feel early to be talking about holiday parties when you’re still sipping pumpkin cold brew, but ask any Long Island stylist, injector, or aesthetician, and they’ll tell you the same thing: their books are already filling up. By the time the turkey hits the oven, finding a prime appointment slot—especially on a weekend—can feel impossible.
The key to a calm, polished season isn’t just booking early; it’s booking smart. Different services have different “peak” windows, and timing them right means you’ll look your best when the calendar (and the camera roll) gets busy. Here’s your cheat sheet for when to schedule what, and why.
Six Weeks Out (Late October – Early November)
This is the prime time to start anything that needs time to settle or heal. Think long-game treatments that will deliver their best results right in time for the holidays.
• Injectables: Schedule neuromodulators such as Botox or Dysport in late October or early November. Results start to show in about a week and look their best around the three- to four-week mark—perfect for Thanksgiving through the holidays. Booking now also leaves room for a touch-up if needed. For dermal fillers, allow two to four weeks before your first event to give bruising and swelling time to subside and results to settle naturally. Booking early also gives you wiggle room for a touch-up if needed.
• Lasers or Peels: If you’re doing any resurfacing treatments like Moxi, BBL, or chemical peels, this is the time to start. You’ll have a few days of flaking or redness after the treatment, and for the best results, you’ll want a series of treatments leading up to the holidays. Deeper resurfacing lasers (like Fraxel or CO2) are one-and-done but require more downtime. Either way, scheduling now ensures you’re glowing, not recovering, by the time your December event rolls around.
• Consultations: Thinking about trying something new— filler, nanoblading, or hair-color change? Meet with your pro now so you can plan your ideal appointment date.
Four Weeks Out (Early to Mid-November)
This is the perfect time to get those beauty staples you stay on top of year-round—the appointments that keep your look fresh and put-together as the season gets busier.
• Facials: Go for hydrating, no-downtime facials that enhance your laser results and boost moisture before winter dryness hits.
• Brows + Lashes: Ideal timing for brow shapings, lamination, tinting, or a lash lift—they’ll still look fresh for Thanksgiving and those early December gatherings.
• Haircuts: Book your trim or shaping now, while your stylist’s schedule still has space. It’s close enough to feel fresh for party season but early enough to avoid the mid-December rush.
Two Weeks Out (Late November)
This is your polish phase—the final round of prep before the holiday rush.
• Hair Color or Gloss: Two weeks before your first event is the sweet spot—roots are covered, shine is high, and tone still feels “just done” through December.
• Nails: Schedule your first round of holiday manicures and pedicures, structured gels, and nail extensions before every slot is gone, and book your fill or refresh for mid-December, so your nails still look perfect for peak holiday season.
The Final Stretch (Early to Mid-December)
By now, the holiday calendar is in full swing—office parties, photos, and family gatherings all seem to land at once. This is your finishing-touch window.
• Blowouts or Styling: Lock in your slots early. By the second week of December, most Long Island salons are packed. If you’ll need more than one, ask about a recurring appointment or package.
• Mini Skin Boosts: Quick glow facials, LED treatments, or gua sha are perfect now—no downtime, just radiance.
• Manicures + Pedicures: Book your standing appointments to stay polished straight through the New Year.
The best holiday look isn’t about last-minute glam—it’s about pacing. When you plan your appointments like a pro, your color, skin, and schedule all peak at the right time. So yes, it feels early to be thinking about the holidays—but the best beauty prep always starts before everyone else remembers to panic.
Need more help finding a pro for your beauty treatments? Try the Pretty Local Beauty Matchmaker service.
