Waxing – Before & After Care
Just as important as the waxing itself is making sure you take care of your wax afterward. Please, please follow the advice of your Therapist and refer back here for a guide of what (and what not!) to do… Before your Wax….
So you’ve booked a wax. Here’s a couple of tips to lessen the pain (and increase the longevity of the hair free feeling). – If you’re really worried about the pain, and haven’t had waxing before then take 1 or 2 paracetamol about 30-40 minutes before your appointment. This can help reduce the surface discomfort. – Make sure your hair is long enough to remove completely from the roots – it should be at least 0.5 centimetres. If you’ve shaved the area within the last few weeks it might take a couple of waxes to get your hair into a cycle of growth that allows the most effective wax finish. After your Wax….
You’ve just invested time, money and a little discomfort in order to be hairfree – so it makes sense to look after it. We don’t just make this stuff up for the sake of it! So, read on… Immediately after your wax
It’s normal immediately after your wax for a little bit of redness and a prickly heat type rash to appear. This should disappear after a few hours and is normally due to a histamine reaction. Because waxing removes the hair at the root, it’s important that you keep the area clean and bacteria free. This means: – No sunbathing for at least 12 hours (have your waxing done at least the day BEFORE you go on holiday) – No swimming in a chlorinated pool for 24 hours – Same for spa baths or saunas – Avoid applying any topical lotions for at least 12 hours (fragrances and other lubricants can cause a burning sensation) – Also avoid touching the waxed area to ensure it remains bacteria free – Use a tea tree oil based product to apply to the area for it’s anti-bacterial qualities. 3-10 Days after waxing
As you skin closes over the follicles, the next consideration is to ensure you prevent ingrown hairs. This is when new, often softer hair can get trapped under the skin. A few simple measures can easily avoid this situation. Here’s where the “do’s” come in: – Use a soft brush or exfoliating glove to gently buff the area every 2-3 days – this is particularly important after about day 3 through to about the 10 day mark. It doesn’t need to be hard scrubbng, just a gentle exfoliation. – Use a product like PFB to roll over the area after showering. This product contains lactic acid which helps ensure dead skin cells are buffed away allowing your hair back through the follicle opening. The added bonus of following the after care advice (apart from your skin looking hairfree and smooth for longer), is that it really will make your next wax a whole lot quicker and less painful. How long will your wax last?
If you’re a first-time or occasional waxer you will likely notice some new hair growth within 2-3 weeks due to the naturally staggered hair growth cycle. This part of regrowth will be sparse, about one-third of the hair normally present. Soon after the remaining hair will begin growing in. Regular waxing will leave the area hair free for 3 – 6 weeks. Over time the density of hair in the waxed area may start to decrease as well. More Information
More waxing questions? Please call or email one of our salons and our professional skin therapists will be happy to assist.
What length of hair is needed for waxing treatments?
Hot wax can be used to remove hair which is only 2mm long, whilst strip wax needs a length of 4mm. Hair growth varies depending on the person but a rule of thumb is that areas which have been shaved two weeks previously can be waxed. We would, however, recommend a period of three weeks for larger body areas such as legs and arms. When waxing hair longer than 2cm discomfort and breakage are more likely so we recommend trimming those areas prior to an appointment.
Frequency of waxing
Again depending on the particular person’s hair growth rate we recommend treatments every four or six weeks. Hair will renew itself during this time and if left too long there may be both short and long hairs to be dealt with so it is important to stick to regular treatments.
Pain
Although our therapists are expertly trained to give our client’s minimum discomfort the waxing treatments are not completely pain free. Every person has different pain thresholds and discomfort during waxing will vary accordingly. Regular waxing will usually reduce any discomfort as the hairs will become sparser, thinner and lighter. Discuss this matter with your therapist but if you think the pain may be a problem take medication such as Nurofen or Panadol half an hour before your appointment. Other factors such as menstrual cycle, fatigue and some medication may also affect how much discomfort you feel.
Bikini waxes during pregnancy
Firstly we would recommend consulting with your healthcare provider about this. However, our therapists are trained to wax all areas on the body in a safe and comfortable manner and waxing whilst pregnant is popular. Extended bikini and Brazilian waxes can be carried out until a week before the baby is due.
Bikini wax etiquette
We supply disposable knickers for all treatments but you are welcome to use your own for Bikini waxes, we supply a disposable G-string for Brazilian waxes. Please note we take no responsibility for damage to your own underwear from oil or wax used in the processes.
Points to check on arrival for the appointment
Advise the therapist if you are using any medication or skin care treatments such as retinol, vitamin A, ro-accutane, acids (lactic, glycolic, salicylic) or skin lighteners.
If this appointment is your first the therapist will go through a consultation procedure to ensure you receive the best treatment, if you have experienced problems with previous waxing treatments advise the therapist.
Also advise if you have any allergies
If waxing is new to you, or you have had previous treatments, please tell the therapist if you are shy or prefer a particular position and they will adapt to your wishes using different techniques, we want to make your experience as pleasant as possible.