The 10 Commandments of Waxing

In the summer, waxing is part of life. That’s why we love these waxing commandments, courtesy of Allure.

1. Pick Your Process

First things first: Choose your hair-removal method and stick to it. If you’re treating an area with lasers, don’t wax there between appointments—you don’t want to disturb the roots. “The root of the hair is the target, so it must be present during treatment,” explains Paul Jarrod Frank, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. “If you remove the follicle by waxing or tweezing, the laser will not work.”

2. Schedule Strategically

Go a week or two after your period, and it’ll hurt less. “Prostaglandin levels are highest right before your period, so you’ll be more sensitive and more likely to swell,” says Jessica Wu, a dermatologist in Los Angeles.

Also, if you are planning multiple treatments, get them in this order: massage, wax, facial, pedicure, and manicure. If you get waxed before a massage, the wax may clog pores and cause ingrown hairs (hairs that aren’t removed at the root and then curl under the skin).

3. Know Your Retinoids

Retinoids and waxing are both forms of exfoliation. For regular retinol users—who generally have fewer dead skin cells on their skin—lip, eyebrow, or any facial waxing can strip away part of the epidermis, resulting in abrasion. Hold off on waxing in your first few weeks of using retinols. Retinoids “can contribute to increased skin fragility,” says dermatologist Craig Kraffert, who stresses that if you do expose skin to both retinoids and waxing, use caution—though he advises patients to stop prescription retinoid treatments for one week before waxing. Wu also asks her patients to avoid retinoids until redness has subsided.

4. Exfoliate Gently the Night Before

Scrubbing will do away with those dead skin cells that can clog hair follicles and result in ingrowns. Try a body wash with salicylic acid, which will clear pores and follicles. If you have a salicylic-acid facial scrub, it’s fine to use around your bikini area.

5. Know Before You Go

Don’t make the waxer guess or go into default mode: Know what shape you want and how much hair you want removed. “For 90 percent of women, the triangle is the most flattering shape,” says Jodi Shays, the owner of Queen Bee Salon and Spa in Brentwood, California. Know your body’s proportions: “In general, the wider your hips are, the wider the top line of the triangle should be,” says Shays. And last, steer clear of landing strips. It’s not the best look for most women.

6. Skip the Prewax Cocktail

Indulging in a preparatory margarita may take the edge off, but it could actually make pain worse. “Research shows that acetaldehyde, a breakdown product of alcohol, stimulates a specific type of pain receptor,” says Wu. “So if you drink before a treatment, you may be more sensitive to anything that causes pain.”

7. Get Milk

Combat waxing-induced redness by holding a paper towel soaked in a mixture of half skim milk and half cold water on skin for ten minutes and repeating every few hours. The milk’s lactic acid helps calm skin. You can also treat the area with a moisturizing salve.

8. Fend Off Ingrowns

To prevent bumps and ingrowns, try applying a cold pack to the waxed area immediately following your service, which will close the pores and block bacteria from entering. Gently wash the area with a 2 percent salicylic acid cleanser.

9. Ban Rays

Up your SPF levels immediately after waxing, since recently stripped skin is especially vulnerable to sunburn. Slather on at least SPF 50 before hitting the beach.

10. Repeat

“If you want to decrease the level of discomfort over time, become a frequent waxer,” says Noemi Grupenmager, the CEO and founder of Uni K Wax Centers. “The more you wax, the less you will need to wax, as waxing reduces the strength of the hair follicle.” Over time, hair regrowth will become sparser.

We think Guinot Epil Confort Corps – After Hair Removal Body Gel is a post-waxing, post-shaving, post-threading must have.

A soothing gel which helps to soften your skin and slow hair regrowth. Re-grown hair is thinner and lighter- coloured. Contains Bulbaine® A complex with a plant and marine origin, which prolongs the beneficial effects of hair removal, making it more effective and comfortable.