Waxing is a hair removal process that strips hair directly from the root, rather than cutting it short as with shaving. It can be done almost anywhere, from the eyebrows to the underarms and even along the bikini line. Though waxing is most often done in salons, there are home kits for waxing available at drugstores, as well. Waxing removes hair for three to six weeks at a time, according to KidsHealth.
Use a Professional
It is important to use a professional when getting a wax for the best results, rather than doing it yourself. While getting a wax from a licensed esthetician in a salon or spa is more expensive than doing it yourself with a home kit, KidsHealth states that professionals are trained and experienced and more likely to complete the treatment correctly. Sometimes, when people try waxing themselves with a home kit, they stop halfway through pulling the strip of wax because it is too painful. This leads to more pain and a mess. Professionals complete the wax quickly to minimize pain and messiness.
Stop Shaving First
Some people want to get waxed as soon as they see any visible hair growth. Yet, it's a good idea to wait until the hair grows at least a quarter of an inch long before getting a wax. If the hair is too short, the strips of wax will not be able to attach well and pull it from the root. The website KidsHealth recommends not shaving the area a few weeks before getting a wax, to ensure that the wax will be effective.
Take Medicine
It's no secret; waxing is not a pain-free beauty treatment. Pulling the hair out at the root tends to cause pain as well as some inflammation and bumps, according to KidsHealth. Women's Health magazine recommends taking an anti-inflammatory medication about 30 minutes prior to your appointment to reduce pain and swelling. You may even want to purchase a topical numbing agent at your local drugstore to apply to the area you are going to have waxed.
Ask for the Right Type of Wax
There are two different types of wax that salons and spas use. Women's Health magazine explains that soft wax involves large fabric strips that the esthetician places on your skin and then pulls off. Hard wax is different in that the wax is applied to the skin, dries and is ripped off without any fabric strips. According to Women's Health, hard wax tends to cause less pain than soft wax, so you may want to ask the esthetician specifically to use hard wax.
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