WAXING FAQ's
Why wax?
Waxing pulls out the hair at the root, rather than shaving,
clippering, and depilatory creams, which instead cut the hair at the skin. A
common analogy is pulling grass out at its roots, rather than mowing it.
That means
your smooth skin will last much longer - usually for a week or 2 on the first wax,
rather than a day or so with shaving. Waxing also offers less or no itchiness
and no hard rough stubble -
hair re-growth is much softer and finer, sparser and weaker. This is because the
hair follicle becomes distorted by waxing, which can reduce hair growth such
that after regular waxing for a long
period of time, some hairs may not grow back at all.
With repeated waxing, smoothness can last for up to 2-3
weeks. It is common for athletes, cyclists and swimmers to wax for performance
reasons, and for non athletes to wax for aesthetics, cleanliness, social or
religious reasons. Ideal before beach holidays – but come at least 2 days before
you fly so the skin can recover before exposure to sun!
Does it hurt being waxed?
There's no denying it, yes! Because hair is thicker at its root, waxing is like
pulling an arrowhead the wrong way out of the skin. But the more often you get a
wax treatment, the more accustomed you'll grow to the experience and the less
it'll hurt. Some people take a paracetamol before being waxed. There are ways I
reduce your pain – using best next generation waxes in the right areas, the
right techniques, and a friendly manner to help you relax. I use two of the
latest non-strip waxes invented by Perron Rigot, which provide the perfect
removal of all hair types, even on sensitive areas. They share the unique
‘shrink wrapping’ abilities of older hot waxes but are lower in temperature,
easier to apply and stay flexible as they cool. This makes them much more
comfortable and an ideal choice for removing short, coarse and stubborn hairs
anywhere on your body. Immediately after waxing, I will apply gentle
pressure to the area with my hands; this confuses the nerve endings and stops
the pain. I use a skin soother and tonic after treatment to cool the skin and
any burning sensation.
How important is hygiene?
Very important – to me and to you. Pulling hair out of your skin will leave
empty hair follicles, which can be a haven for bacteria. For each client, I wear
fresh nitrile gloves, and use skin cleansers on you before and after treatment,
and follow universal Habia rules: clean wax and wax pots, avoid double-dipping,
fresh couch roll and spatulas, correct disposal of waste, and disinfection or
sterilisation of tweezers, clippers, scissors and all waxing equipment. I
provide a free aftercare pack to help keep your skin clean, exfoliated and
moisturised for the following day. I also provide an aftercare leaflet with
advice about caring for your waxed skin.
What is warm waxing?
Warm waxing, or strip waxing, is used to remove hair from your back, chest,
shoulders, stomach, abdomen, arms, underarms, buttocks and legs. Warm waxing is
the most popular method as it removes hairs quickly and efficiently. It can be
used as a film across large areas and is suitable for most hair types. The warm
wax is applied to your body with a spatula, then a strip of cloth is smoothed
down on top of the wax, then ripped off quickly, taking the hair with it.
After the treatment a cleanser, and then soothing cooling antiseptic lotion is
applied to calm the skin and fight any infection.
And what is hot waxing?
Hot waxing is also known as hard waxing, peelable waxing, film waxing and
non-strip waxing. It is used to remove strong, coarse, and stubborn hairs, and
also used on the more sensitive areas on your body, normally found around the
underarms, back of the neck, face (ears, nostrils, eyebrows), genital area and
crack. Hot wax is applied to your body with a spatula in an ice lolly shape, it
is left to cool slightly so it contracts around the hair, then flicked and
peeled off quickly by hand rather than with a strip of cloth, taking the hairs
with it. The hot wax is ideal for sensitive areas as it doesn't stick to your
skin. It is more expensive than warm waxing, and takes longer to wax the same
size area. It is very important that the skin in the area being waxed is kept
taught to avoid any bruising. To help with this I will ask you to change
positions during the treatment or to use your hands to pull down on your skin.
After the treatment a cleanser, and then soothing cooling antiseptic lotion is
applied to calm the skin and fight any infection.
Is waxing suitable for everyone?
Waxing is a very safe treatment, however all clients must be over 18 years of
age and are required to complete a health consultation before waxing can take
place. Contagious skin conditions will prevent me from waxing the affected area
until the condition has completely cleared (for intimate waxing, this includes
STIs and urinary tract infections). Clients taking Roaccutane must wait 6 months
after finishing their medication before receiving a waxing treatment. I am
unable to remove hair from skin that is sunburnt, chafed or broken, or from skin
that has been treated with steroid creams, Retin-A, Differin or other retinoid
acne medication within the last 3 months. Waxing is not suitable for people with
lymph oedema in the treatment area, severe haemophilia, or those with diabetes
that is not managed by diet, exercise or medication.
How should I prepare for my treatment?
Do not shave, clipper or use hair removal creams (e.g. Veet) on the area for at
least 3 weeks prior to your appointment, as hair needs to be a minimum of ½ cm
long in order to wax successfully. If you are already getting waxed on a regular
basis, you will need to leave at least 4 weeks between treatments. If possible,
please shower before your appointment and gently exfoliate the areas you are
having waxed for a few days beforehand. This helps to remove excess dead skin
cells and lifts the hair for better results. You may want to bring clean,
loose cotton clothes to wear after your treatment to avoid any friction and possible bacterial infection from dirty clothes.
Will there be any side-effects?
Skin redness and irritation immediately after waxing are common. This is
resolved easily by applying a cold compress and/or tea-tree and lavender cream
to the area. Reddish bumps or subcutaneous bleeding can occur when a person is
extremely sensitive and also after Brazilian waxing.
Stretching the skin during application and removal of wax prevents excessive
blood spotting, bruising and removing the upper layers of skin, which are all
preventable side-effects. A cooling, light antiseptic, anti-bacterial
cream will be massaged into the skin immediately before and after waxing to help
prevent infection.
What about aftercare?
Certain activities can risk irritation and infection of
newly waxed skin. Please avoid the following:
o
Scratching and touching the area
o
Sunbathing or sun beds for 48 hours
o
Having a sauna, steam or any heat treatment for 24 hours
o
Taking a hot bath or shower for 24 hours
o
Doing any exercise that encourages sweating for 24 hours
o
Applying any moisturisers or body lotions, perfumes,
deodorants, shower gels etc, other than those recommended by me, for
24 hours
o
Having sex for 24 hours after a Brazilian wax
Light exfoliation twice a week after waxing greatly reduces
the occurrence of ingrown hairs. The first exfoliation should be done 2-3 days after waxing.
Keeping the skin clean with a light antiseptic will reduce
likelihood of infection.