Waxing questions answered!

For those of you who are pretty skeptical about it, here are some FAQs answered just for you! Thanks to Spa Diva for the answers!

Will it make my hair grow back thicker? Absolutely not. Waxing does not cause you to grow more hair follicles. In fact, if you become a regular waxer, you will notice that your hair will become quite sparse and not as course.

Will waxing change the pigmentation of my skin? No, it will not cause hyperpigmentation (dark spots) on your skin, however, if you spend time in the sun after waxing, you can burn, which can result in sun damage and dark spots later on. If your skin is tan or you've applied sunless tanner, it will strip your tan. Remember, waxing will exfoliate your skin. The wax sticks to your skin and removes the topmost layer so you may experience some lightening if you have a dark tan from sun or sunless tanning products.

Will I get ingrown hairs? It's possible. Waxing removes the entire hair, root and all, from the follicle. Your skin naturally hardens and thickens over the area it was waxed so it is important to keep that area gently exfoliated. Use a gentle scrub in that area about 3 days after waxing and continue to exfoliate 1 to 2 times a week thereafter. Remember, I said gentle! Also, use a mixture of tea tree and lavender oil. Both are antimicrobial and antibacterial and will prevent irritation. Try to wear loose fitting clothes for a few days after to give your skin a chance to breathe and reduce moisture. The bikini, lip and underarms are where we tend to perspire. Perspiration and moisture cause bacteria to grow. Once that area has been waxed, the follicle is wide open to this bacteria creeping in.

So how do you prevent this? Again, a combination of tea tree oil and lavender oil blend will help to prevent breakouts as well as keeping the area exfoliated.


Is it painful? Depending on your level of sensitivity and how course your hair is. If your hair is course then the root of the hair will be thick. Pulling a thick hair out from it's cozy follicle isn't going to be comfortable. For most, it's not as bad as they imagined.

Will my skin become red and irritated? Some people show no signs of irritation, others look as if they have contracted a horrible skin disease. Again, it depends on your sensitivity and if the root of your hair is particularly large. It is normal to turn red and for the skin to develop small, red bumps everywhere. This is only temporary and usually only lasts for 24 hours.

How long does my hair have to be? Many places say 1/8th of an inch but I prefer 1/4 of an inch for better, longer lasting results.

Can I wax myself? Of course! But I don't recommend it for the first time. My advice is to see an esthetician a few times and watch her. Take notes and ask questions. I don't recommend attempting your own bikini wax or underarm wax. Why? Because you will need to pull the skin taut to avoid bruising or removing skin and it is much easier with 2 people. Lip, chin, toes and legs are much easier to wax. I've had many people come to me with waxing *incidents* such as too much wax applied or attempting their own bikini and unable to follow through. So read and follow the directions carefully!

A few suggestions:
Take an advil about 30 minutes prior to waxing to help reduce swelling and pain.
Take a small bottle of grapeseed oil to remove excess wax. Most spas have an after wax lotion that they apply but I've worked in many spas that have a mineral oil base in their wax removal oils. Mineral oil will clog pores which will cause breakouts.

Try to relax! Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Because when you tense up, believe it or not, your follicles constrict as well, causing some resistance.
Remember that just prior to menstruation or during menstruation, you are the most sensitive so you may want to avoid waxing then.

If you are pregnant this can also cause sensitivity so do take precaution.
It is normal for those who have course hair to bleed, so don't worry if it happens. It's quite normal.

I hope this helps alleviate your fears!(if you had any).
I've been doing it a while now and I can't go back, its definitely worth it in the long run :)


If you live or work in the West/POS area and need a great waxing place(or spa place in general), try L'Image Parfaite Day Spa on Mucurapo road, right above KleenRite(Sp?) Dry Cleaners. That's next to the gas station. That's where I go and they are fantastic! The ambiance is so soothing and the staff is extremely friendly. Shout out to my girl Glenda! (ask for Glenda she's the best ). The prices are extremely reasonable as well!