Prepare Your Skin for Waxing

Waxing is an effective way to remove unwanted hair. Waxing treatments vary from full body wax, to arm, leg or bikini wax, to facial waxing or other small areas. Regardless of the area, preparing your skin for waxing is an important first step in the epilation process.

Steps

Examine your skin.

  1. Check for irritation, sunburn or breakouts. If you find areas that are distressed, treat them and wait until they are healed before waxing.
  2. Take note of moles and lesions. Do not wax over moles, skin tags, or lesions as they could rip off during the waxing procedure. Put a small band-aid over them as a reminder, and be sure to point them out to your aesthetician before waxing begins.
  3. Check the length of your hair. The best length for waxing is generally 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch (13 to 19 mm). For very fine hair, like women's facial hair, it can be a little shorter.

Prepare your skin.

  1. Cleanse. Use a gentle soap to clean the area you want to wax. Avoid using very hot water as this may irritate your skin.
  2. Exfoliate. Use a loofah, exfoliating cream or washcloth and rub in circular motions. You want to remove any dead skin cells that may clog the hair follicle and cause ingrown hairs. Avoid irritating your skin by rubbing too hard.
  3. Hydrate. Soak the area to be waxed with a warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. This hydrates the skin and the hair making removal easier.
  4. Moisturize. Use a water-based, or oil free moisturizer after you hydrate. Oil free moisturizer helps prevent your skin from burning or abrading during waxing. Some companies that make waxing products, sell a pre-wax moisturizer made to prepare the skin for waxing. Just be sure the moisturizer you use absorbs into the skin and does not leave a residue. Oil or lubricant on the skin will prevent the wax from grabbing the hairs.

Plan ahead.

  1. Avoid waxing when skin is more sensitive. It's best not to wax when your skin has had a lot of sun exposure, when you are menstruating, or when you have used aggressive skin care products (such as AHA or retinoid treatments). Give your skin about a week after any of these before you wax.
  2. Consider a pain reliever. Taking an oral anti-inflammatory about an hour before waxing will not only keep the skin from swelling, but it will also alleviate some of the pain associated with waxing. This is optional and at your discretion. Some salons also sell topical pain relievers that you can spray or rub onto the skin. These take a minimum of 15 minutes to start working. If they are oily at all, you will need to cleanse your skin again before waxing.



Tips

  • Don't exfoliate your legs the day you waxed them. It will only cause bleeding and more sensitivity and redness.
  • Moisturize your skin again after waxing and avoid sun. Freshly waxed skin burns more easily.
  • To remove excess wax after you are finished, use a mineral oil and soft cloth or tissue. Wipe with mineral oil until wax dissolves.
  • There are different types of wax made for different hair and skin types, consult your esthetician or sales clerk on what type of wax will work best for you.

Warnings

  • Do not wax for the first time just prior to a special occasion, vacation, or photos. Skin reacts differently to waxing, and some people experience redness or bruising. It is best to do a few test runs well in advance of a big event.

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Sources and Citations

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