Before You Wax: Helpful Tips!
What is the most important thing to remember during a waxing? Breathe!
Yes, I know, beauty is pain, and I wish I could take it all away, but at the least, there are some things you can do and keep in mind to help make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible…
Waxing Tips…
Take a pain reliever (Ibuprofen, Advil, e.g.) 30 minutes before your appointment – this may also help with inflammation.
Keep caffeine out of your system about two hours prior to waxing. Caffeine is a stimulant thus making you more sensitive.
Avoid waxing the week before and of your menstrual cycle. You are LEAST sensitive the first two weeks AFTER.
If you use a numbing cream, like Lidocain, make sure you apply it one hour before you wax for it to be effective at taking a slight edge off.
For easier hair removal and prevention of ingrown hairs, black and whiteheads, exfoliate the area to be waxed with 2% Salicylic Acid 48 hours BEFORE you wax (except the labia for a Brazilian wax), AFTER you wax, and for twice a week in the interim. It is best to use a well-cleaned loofah or a washcloth in gentle circular movements going against the direction of hair growth.
Hair should be at least 1⁄4 of an inch long (2-3 weeks of hair growth) before waxing. Do NOT trim before you come in – it may be too short. If needed, I will do it for you.
For facial waxing, if you are using any topical medications or products that contain Vitamin A (Retin-A), AHAs or BHA, please avoid using the product for seven days prior to waxing or the wax will remove the uppermost layer of skin causing a ‘brush burn’ effect. And there is NO waxing for those on Accutane.
Avoid exercising and sun exposure for 24 hours after waxing.
For facial waxing, avoid cosmetics application for several hours or until the redness has subsided.
It is best not to schedule a waxing the day before or the day of a big event. It is best to give your hair follicles time to adjust. I suggest waxing two times (two cycles) to let your skin get accustomed…
How long before your hair grows back? It depends on you! Regrowth can be from 10 days to 3 weeks. Once you start waxing, we can establish a pattern for your own individual needs.
For any bikini waxing, no heavy petting 24 hours after! Friction causes irritation and inflammation – and that isn’t sexy.
For first timers:
It’s never as horrible as you think it’s going to be! The mind has a way of exaggerating fear…
Your first waxing is not always the perfect waxing. There are three stages of hair growth, and it will take that many waxing visits to get all the hair on the same cycle, thus coming out all together. Exfoliation helps this, too, for a much smoother wax.
Also, it’s most painful the first time, because that hair has never been pulled from the root before. It has had years and years to build up proteins and thickness. So subsequent waxings are MUCH easier. Breathe!
