Waxing.
The very thought sends many running for the hills. Or rocking back and forth in the corner in the fetal position.
But it really doesn’t have to be that way. Waxing is a cumulative effort. The comfort level of your wax, while yes, it does depend on your technicians skill level, also depends on your pre care and prep. Here are my recommendations (and yes, I am a licensed Esthetician, and a Wax Specialist…I wouldn’t tell you these things if I didn’t stand by them for each and every client)
PRE wax
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate. A combination of both chemical and manual exfoliants will yield the best results, but I’ll take whatever you’re working with. At the VERY minimum, exfoliate roughly 24 hours before your appointment. Preferably, you’d be exfoliating every day to every other day.
Take an ibuprofen about an hour before your appointment, this will cut down on the sting factor a bit.
Ladies, if you’re on your period, it’s most likely going to be more painful if you’re having a bikini/brazillian done. Just know that.
EVERYONE: your hair should be the length of a grain of white rice. If its longer than that, the wax could get stuck. That WILL hurt more to remove, and take a lot longer. Don’t you want to be in and out as fast as possible? Get one of those beard trimmers and use it. You will be very glad you did. Repeat after me: the length of a grain of rice.
If you are on a treatment such as Accutane or a Retinol, your skin is more sensitive to “lifting” or tearing. Proceed with caution. Some waxers will not work on skin if you’re using those products
DURING your wax:
Breathe.
Ask questions if you have them.
Don’t be embarrassed. Waxers are generally very comfortable with the human body in all forms. We usually want to help you experience as little pain as possible, but getting you in and out quickly, so we’re looking at your hair, which direction it grows, and working fast.
Special note for brazillian/bikini: Hold still in whatever position we ask. There’s a reason for it. We don’t make you frog your legs for nothing. It’s quicker, easier, and holds most skin taught. Do not, I repeat, do not, close your knees until we say its okay. You don’t want to be stuck together. Just breathe and hold still.
POST wax:
wait 24 hours before exfoliating, but then continue to exfoliate every 24-48 hours Using a product like TendSkin or the Ingrown Hair Serum from European Wax Center really does work. Don’t underestimate the power of an antibacterial agent and exfoliant working together inside your pores.