Facts about waxing
Follow these tips for easier waxing
•Hair needs to be at least half an inch, or half the length of your thumbnail to be long enough for waxing.
•You may take a pain reliever before your appointment, not to be alarming – truth is it really doesn’t hurt that much, but keep a few things in mind; Aspirin and Ibuprofen work by thinning the blood, which can result in increased chance of bleeding your first time, and increased redness every time. However, most waxing clients who have taken pain reliever before waxing swear by Ibuprofen. It’s up to you. If you’re more comfortable taking Tylenol, you’ll be fine either way. Take your pain reliever one half hour before your appointment.
•Exfoliating every time you shower with exfoliating gloves will allow the hair to slide more easily out of the follicle, getting a better result.
•Moisturizer is not necessary before waxing on most body parts, especially the bikini line. Your perspiration provides enough moisture. However, it’s not a bad idea for legs and forearms. Sometimes your skin there can be so dry, the wax sticks more to that skin and it won’t come off so easily. Using moisturizer before your leg waxing appointment actually makes things easier.
•Your skin can be more sensitive from 5 days before to 5 days after your period. However, there is absolutely NO reason to cancel your appointment if you’ve gotten your period ! The pain of waiting a week or more and therefore having more hair at the time to wax can be more than the slight increase in sensitivity during menstruation. Let’s put it this way – if you’ve been to people who’ve told you not to come when you’re getting or have your period, it’s either because they’re making more of the pain than is necessary, or they’re grossed out. If they’re grossed out by it, sorry, they’re in the wroooong business ! Having said that, if you are especially sensitive, like such bad PMS you’re in bed, try to schedule your appointments around ovulation and come every 4 weeks instead of what I recommend, which is every 3.
•Now, why 3 weeks ? Hair grows in different stages. What has just been waxed is not the first hair that grows in – that’s the hair that was in the dormant stage before. When waxing is done every 3 weeks, the hairs are not allowed to finish their growth cycles and they start to catch up with each other in growth, making the length of time it takes for hair to start showing increase. Isn’t that why you’re waxing in the first place ?
•If hair is the proper length BUT you’ve been shaving, it might hurt a bit more as all the hairs are blunt. Stop shaving at least 2 to 2-1/2 weeks before getting waxed. After 1 or 2 more times, the hairs will all be tapered, so it won’t hurt as much.
•Because of differing stages of growth, waxing hurts less on a regular schedule since there isn’t as much hair to take. This is why it seems like waxing causes hair to get thinner. It doesn’t actually, there’s just less hair growing at a time. Plus it’s tapered, not blunt, so it looks thinner. Still, myths aside, it’s a very worthwhile process.
