Waxing 101

Who Should Wax- If you have hair, you are a good candidate for waxing! LOL Waxing is recommended for both genders and of all ages. Although starting at a younger age when the follicle is more fine is recommended to help with pain and removal. Always check your state to see when the youngest age to wax and where you can wax. All states are different.

Waxing vs. Shaving – When waxing, you are removing the hair by the root which causes the hair to grow back more fine and a lot less, while also killing hair follicles, versus shaving, you are cutting the hair down to the top of the surface of the skin. Where you will see hair growth later that day or the following day. 

Preparing for a Wax – If you are worried about pain. I recommend taking Tylenol or Advil 45 minutes prior to your wax appointment, this is also good for inflammation. Exfoliating is KEY to waxing Before and After your service. A body brush is best! Something more abrasive than a luffa or a body scrub will do. Exfoliate the day before to help with the hair removal and to get rid of dead skin. Stay away from caffeine before your appointment, thats right! You do not want stimulants in your body which can counter act and make you more sensitive during your service.

How often to Wax – You typically want to stay within a three to four week cycle. Your esthetician will keep you informed on when is best for your next appointment. Every person is different and our hair seems to have a mind of its own.

What to expect – The Esthetician will prep the skin and disinfect the area. After that, the wax will be applied and removed with muslin (muslin is a soft fabric) strips. The area will be cleaned free of wax residue with oil, that is also helpful for in grown hair. This is a quick service where you will get in and get out. It's not a typical spa service, 15-25 minutes tops! 

The pain factor – Everyone always asks, "Does it hurt"? Girl! You are having hair removed by it's root, it's not going to feel good. Now, every person is different. Some have a great pain tolerance and there are many that do not. During your service the Esthetician will help guide you along with breathing and keeping you distracted to make your service fly by. You are in good hands!

Post Wax treatment – Although the pain does subside as soon as the wax is over, the area can remain sensitive, so do not use any fragranced lotions or scrubs for the next 48 hours and not to expose the area to direct sun for at least 24 hours. To treat redness or swelling, apply a small amount of cortisone cream from the drugstore.

Maintenance –  Exfoliate. Exfoliate. Exfoliate. I can not preach this enough. As I mentioned above under Preparing for a Wax, you will want to purchase a hand held body brush with bristles. This is the most affective and quickest way to remove dead skin. We are all prone too in grown hair when we have to grow our hair out. Dry brushing will help tremendously with this. You always want to wait 24 to 48 hours AFTER your wax service, when you are no longer sensitive in the are. Brush the area that has been waxed in a circular movement for 10 to 15 seconds. You do not have to do this very long as it is a tender area. A powder like form will flake off, this is normal, it is dead skin buildup. Once you are finished you can now take a warm shower and rinse everything off. DO THIS TOTALLY DRY! No Water, No Soap, No scrubs! Repeat 2-3 times a week leading up to your next appointment.