Frequently Asked Questions About Body Waxing

Body waxing has, with good reason, been steadily gaining popularity as a safe and affordable form of hair removal. Even though it\'s relatively simple, if you\'ve never tried it before it can be a little scary for a first-timer. The worst part is always the unknown. What should you expect?

Here are some of the most common questions that I\'ve been asked about what to expect from a personal waxing service -- and the answers apply, whether you\'re considering waxing your legs, your eyebrows, or your bikini area. nn

Q. How long do I have to let my hair get so the body wax works well?nnIf you want good results, you\'ll want to stop shaving for about 2 or 3 weeks, or until your hair grows to about 1/4\". This may be a bit irritating, just ignoring your hair growth, but the process works a lot better if the wax has something to hold on to. A little bit of discomfort while letting your hair grow will pay off with better results.nn

Q. Do I need to do anything in order to get ready for my first body waxing?nnYou must have no sun exposure for the 48 hours prior to waxing. About 2 or 3 days before you come in for the waxing, lightly exfoliate the area to be waxed, using any exfoliator that you would typically use on your body.

Don\'t over-scrub, just as you would gently exfoliate your face. On the day of your waxing, be sure you thoroughly cleanse the area being waxed, but do not exfoliate, and do not apply any oils, lotions, powders, perfumes, etc.nn

Q. How much discomfort or pain will the actual waxing procedure cause me?nnHonestly, the actual waxing process may cause a bit of discomfort or may sting a bit. People all have levels of pain that they can handle. Keep in mind that the first waxing will be the most uncomfortable as there is more hair to remove.

Each time you visit your esthetician for the next waxing in your schedule, you will experience less discomfort. It\'s hard to judge how much pain or discomfort is involved, but there wouldn\'t be so many women choosing this method of hair removal if it was unbearable. One thing to know is that your skin is most sensitive during your period, so avoid scheduling a waxing during your period, or, for that matter, any time your skin is under any stress.nn

Q. Will I have to take my panties off when I get a bikini wax?nnYour panties can remain on, if you choose. However, your esthetician will provide you with disposable underwear if you would like to be covered, but don\'t want your own panties to accidentally come in contact with any wax.

Ask your esthetician before you begin what you need to know about a bikini wax and what to expect during the waxing procedure. Before you begin is the time to discuss the actual bikini line you want the waxing to follow on your body.

Keep in mind that any time you feel uncomfortable during a bikini wax procedure, you should let your esthetician know that you\'ll need to stop for a moment. If you feel uncomfortable with the procedure or your esthetician isn\'t willing to listen to you, you\'ll want to stop the waxing service and find another, more professional, esthetician.nn

Q. What about post-waxing skin care?nnAvoid exposure to the sun or suntanning for at least 24 hours and do not use a tanning booth for at least 48 hours. You\'ll want to avoid any scented lotions, perfumes, powders, or basically any skin product that is alcohol based. The reason will become evident if you don\'t avoid these skin products; it will sting.nn

Q. How long will I be able to go between waxings before I see hair growing in again?nnIt all depends on how fast your hair grows and if you are just starting your waxing routine. Some people may not be able to go longer than 2 weeks, while others can go as long as 6 weeks. However, the longer you have been on a regular waxing schedule, the longer each waxing will last.

Hair grows in cycles which means it\'s appearing at different intervals. Each time you wax, you are only removing the hair that\'s made an appearance thus far; there are more hairs waiting underneath that will show up in the next few days. Because of that, it may take up to 3 waxing sessions to have all your hair growing in different intervals finally removed. So, your legs will probably not be smooth for about 3 waxing appointments.

After that, you\'ll notice that you will be able to go longer between waxings without seeing hair.nnSo, is waxing the answer for you? You may not be sold yet, but ask yourself the next time you have to wear jeans instead of shorts or a skirt if you wouldn\'t be a little more relaxed knowing that you don\'t have to regret not shaving your legs... again.

See if, when you\'re at the beach or pool, it wouldn\'t be a whole lot nicer to concentrate on the sun and fun without tucking the stray hairs back into your swimsuit bottom, hoping no one sees you. If you can rid yourself of your razor, and all the problems they cause, would you consider waxing? I think it\'s time to give your esthetician a call and make an appointment to chat a bit about the benefits of waxing.