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Waxing: What You Need to Know
Unwanted hair is considered a no-no for women, so most will do whatever it takes to make sure that their bodies are totally smooth and hair-free. One can remove excess hair through several methods: shaving, applying hair-removal creams, and waxing.
While a lot of women do not have trouble shaving their unwanted hairs or removing it with creams, only a small portion of them have the courage to go through waxing. It’s not surprising since waxing is generally a painful process; hair is stripped off from skin using resin-based wax, which can be hot or cold. Waxing is considered the most effective way to get smooth skin devoid of unwanted hairs, and because of this, some women are willing to go through it despite the discomfort.
If you’re still undecided whether to get waxed or not, here are some of the things to consider.
Advantages
• Complete hair removal compared to shaving and hair-removal creams. Each strand is completely pulled out from the follicles, which means that hair won’t grow back immediately after removal. If you make waxing a regular thing, the hairs will become less thick when they grow back.
• It can be done on almost any part of the body - the armpits, arms, legs, face, and bikini line area
• You can do it yourself or get a professional waxer to do it for you
Disadvantages
• It can be very painful for some, depending on one’s threshold of pain
• You have to let the hair grow to at least one quarter of an inch before you can have the hairs removed
• The hairs usually don’t grow back immediately, but it depends on the individual’s hair growth. Some remain hair-free for as long as six weeks while some will have their hairs grow back after only two weeks.
• It can be uncomfortable for some women to have their intimate areas waxed by a stranger
Pain is the major factor while a lot of women are still afraid of getting waxed. While it is impossible to get a totally pain-free wax job, there are a lot of things you can do to lessen the pain dramatically and make the waxing experience less traumatic for you.
• Dull the nerves before waxing. This will be very helpful especially if you plan to get waxed in the bikini and genital areas. You can take ibuprofen or an aspirin thirty minutes before waxing, or you can apply a numbing spray or cream fifteen minutes before your appointment.
• Avoid taking alcohol or caffeine before getting waxed. Some people think that drinking alcohol can make the skin go numb and will lessen the pain of hair removal, but this is not advisable.
• Relax. Take deep breaths while getting waxed. This will help you deal with the pain better. Don’t tense your body or hold your breath, these will only make you more sensitive to the pain.
Possible Side Effects of Waxing
Aside from the pain, there are other side effects that you may have to deal when you get waxed. Your skin can turn red and you may experience inflammation. You can also get pimples and small red bumps on the waxed area. Another side effect is getting ingrown hairs, which happens when the entire hair follicle is not removed completely from the root.
These side effects are normal and a lot of women (and men) experience them after getting waxed. However, there are some side effects that you should watch out for. Some people get bruised after having hair removed, and the skin turns black and blue. Your skin can also get scraped or burned, depending on the type of waxing method used. You may also find your skin getting darker a few days after waxing. If any of these side effects happen to you, inform your technician so she can advice you on the necessary treatment.
There are several types of waxing, but the most popular one is Brazilian waxing. Hair will be removed from your entire or most parts of your bikini area, making the skin soft and smooth. Due to the amount of hair to be removed, Brazilian waxing can be more painful compared to other types of waxing. Here are some of tips to consider to make the Brazilian waxing experience more comfortable for you:
Before Waxing
• As much as possible, don’t get a Brazilian wax when you’re about to get your period. Your skin is more sensitive when your monthly period is just around the corner, which makes waxing more painful than it originally is. Do not set an appointment three days before and after your period. There are lots of waxing salons that will not allow you to get a Brazilian wax while you’re near the time of the month.
• Clean bikini area before you get waxed. Do this right before your appointment. Use warm water for washing. Do not apply lotion in the bikini area after washing.
• Ask the waxing technician to trim your pubic hair if necessary. You only need a specific length of minimum hair length to be able to get waxed. The longer the hair, the more painful it will be to remove it.
• Take painkillers. Those who have low tolerance for pain can drink Tylenol or aspirin 30 minutes before their waxing appointment. This will help ease some of the pain.
After Waxing
• Avoid wearing tight underwear for the next few days after waxing. Your skin needs to breathe for it to recover quickly. Wear clean cotton panties so moisture won’t get trapped in your bikini area.
• Avoid sexual activity for a day or two after getting waxed. This is necessary to avoid genital fluids from infecting the open pores.
• Avoid steam rooms, saunas, and tanning beds for the next couple of days
Other bikini waxing styles are:
• Regular bikini wax - hair outside the panty line is removed
• Full bikini wax - is more cleaner than the regular bikini wax
• French bikini wax - Hair at the front is removed almost entirely, leaving just a small strip. It doesn’t remove hair from your behind.