Everything you ever wanted to know about Waxing ... And more!
Bikini season is right around the corner and luckily you can strip away unwanted hair with perfection and ease. Whether you want to keep up with the bare all trends or just manage strays, waxing is a seasonal necessity and our prerogative. These tips for the days leading up to the wax, as well as the minutes before and after should help you cope with any discomfort.
First and foremost, timing is key. Never schedule your wax during the week prior to your period, or while you are on your cycle. Urban Spa Chic in Chicago, IL and Delluva Day Spa in New York, NY agree that skin is most sensitive during this time and one is more prone to experience pain, swelling and bruising. Our friends over at Euro Day Spa in Laguna Niguel, CA also recommend that you never go in for a wax when you know you will be in direct sunlight immediately afterwards. It is good to wait 3-5 days after you have waxed to hit the sun, so plan ahead if you are going on a vacation.
Having a qualified, friendly and professional therapist is also crucial. Your therapist should absolutely be someone who can make you feel comfortable during this very personal procedure, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. The experts at Health Care Partners Medical Spa in Glendale, CA emphasize the importance of communicating ALL medications you are currently using to your therapist, oral and topical. Some medications such as Retin-A or Accutane can make your skin much more sensitive to waxing.
"Timing is key ... Never schedule your wax during the week prior to/of your period, and never when you are about to be in direct sunlight."
Exfoliation for our bikini line is sometimes forgotten but is necessary to prevent those dreadful ingrown hairs. The experts at Skin Deep Spa in Huntington Beach, CA suggest you start exfoliating on a daily basis a few days leading up to your appointment. Also, plenty of fresh air post waxing will allow skin to breath and help minimize irritation, bruising and ingrown hairs. Eating a banana, taking aspirin and using numbing cream/spray 30 minutes prior to your treatment will also make a noticeable difference in your experience. Try Meridian Bikini Rescue, Relax and Wax No Scream Cream and Sweet Spot wipettes for the ultimate personal pampering.
Mind and Body Day Spa in Atlanta, GA emphasizes making sure that your hair is the proper length (1/4" to ½" in length- think a grain of rice) in order to guarantee the most brilliant results. Getting on a proper waxing regime of every 3-4 weeks will also get your growth cycle on a routine and help hair grow back thinner, finer, and make each consecutive wax less and less stressful.
What do you ask for when you are ready to bare it all? First there is the basic bikini, focusing on the 2-3 inches outside of your underwear. A simple, quick and clean treatment for those of you low maintenance girls. Then there is the Brazilian, which leaves a landing strip, triangle, heart or any other shape you could imagine. This is much deeper than the basic bikini and removes as much hair as you dare. Lastly, there is the Playboy, for those of you not shy at heart. This bikini wax will take it all off from the front to back, side to side. Even your derriere will be tended to. For a fun add-on, HB Skin Spa in Huntington Beach, CA predicts that Betty hair down there dyes will be a popular trend. Colors ranging from auburn, brown, black, and even hot pink give you the option to express yourself for that special person in your life.
"The art of waxing has been perfected for each individual
skin type, hair type and pain tolerance level."
The last thing to keep in mind is what type of wax you want to try. There are several varieties including original beeswax, honey or pine rosin. For more sensitive skin there are chamomile versions, chocolate wax (cacao beans are rich in antioxidants and great for more sensitive skin), sugar wax and even cappuccino gourmet wax. All these are applied with a spatula or roll on, and strips are used to remove hair. Brazilian hard wax, otherwise referred to as "cold wax" does not use strips and actually bonds to the hair itself, removing even the coarsest of hair. Faina Day Spa in New York, NY offers a comprehensive breakdown of various waxing options and their benefits.
With all these things to keep in mind, rest assured that the art of waxing has been perfected for each individual skin type, hair type and pain tolerance level. Don't be afraid to give it a try, as there are numerous spas and skin care professionals out there ready and willing to help you achieve the bikini line of your dreams. There are variations of wax, techniques and tips to minimize discomfort, so have no fear; there is a light at the end of the waxing tunnel for us all.
For more information on waxing and all that it entails, please visit:
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS MEDICAL SPA
