Kiss Painful Waxing Goodbye: Secrets to Smooth, Ouch-Free Hair Removal

Have you ever flinched at the thought of waxing? Discover the secret tricks and products to get silky smooth skin without the “ouch” of hair removal. Say goodbye to the pain of waxing with our simple, soothing solutions!

Painless Waxing: How to Ditch the Discomfort and Get Smooth

There are many ways to remove unwanted body hair, including tweezing, shaving, threading, sugaring, waxing, laser treatment, and IPL treatment.

Waxing is very popular and works well to remove hair, but it does hurt to pull hair out from the roots. The first time you get waxed in an area hurts the most. It gets less painful each time after that, even though it’s hard to believe when your hair was just ripped out for the first time.

Save Your Skin From the Stress of Waxing: Our Pain-Prevention Guide

If you are looking for a painless waxing method, let’s look at some tips to help make waxing less painful, whether it’s your first time or not:

1. Find an experienced waxing pro. Don’t just go to any licensed esthetician or cosmetologist. Seek out someone who specializes in waxing. They’ll use the best techniques and products to make it fast and as comfortable as possible. Get referrals from friends or check online reviews.
2. Avoid waxing for 3 days before or after your period. Your skin tends to be extra sensitive then.
3. Do schedule your appointment for first thing in the morning.   This is the best time to have a wax because you are still relaxed.  When you’ve had a hard day, your nervous system starts getting stimulated or irritated, this stress will cause you to feel more pain.
4. The day before your body waxing use a body scrub while the skin on the face is generally exfoliated enough in terms of waxing, the body needs a little extra help. A somewhat gritty body scrub will help rid dead cells around skin pores and hair follicles, providing an easier exit.
5. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and sugar for at least two hours before treatment as these will increase your sensitivity.
6. While having a couple of glasses of wine or beer before getting waxed sounds like a great idea, stimulants in the system can cause the skin to be extra sensitive to waxing.
7. Don’t apply astringent or toner.  These tighten the pores and can make a firmer hold on the hair follicle. So hold off right before waxing.
8. Consider taking aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, or some other over-the-counter analgesic before being waxed.
9. Dull the nerves in the area by applying a numbing spray or cream about 30 – 45 minutes before your wax. Pick from one of these three and see which anesthetic hair removal numbing product is right for you.  This is especially helpful when getting waxed above the lip, chest (men), and bikini areas- which top the list as the most pain-provoking areas.  I recommend that you purchase it and apply it before you leave the house and reapply before the treatment.
10. The following steps are things your aesthetician should be doing so look for them.  These are signs of a good waxer.  It starts with them asking questions to ensure that you are not using products that are contraindications to waxing.  These include microdermabrasion, chemical peels, sunburn, Retin A, Accutane, and other vitamin A skincare products.  These products can cause your skin to tear and will result in hyperpigmentation or scarring.
11. Your hair should be trimmed to 1/4 inch length before waxing.
12. Your aesthetician should clean the area to remove any dirt and oils.  She will make sure the area is nonoily and dry before application.
13. Do apply some heat  Take a steam or use a warm compress just before waxing, it will open up the skin pores and allow the hair follicles to come out easier.
14. Your aesthetician should use a small amount of powder (baby or talcum) on the area to be waxed to absorb moisture or oil. Having slick or oily skin can prevent the wax from adhering. This will also make a more comfortable waxing as the powder will protect the skin.
15. The aesthetician will test the wax for temperature to make sure it is not too hot.  As this can burn and blister the skin.  Next, the aesthetician will apply the wax in the direction of hair growth.  While removing the wax strip make sure to pull it against the direction parallel and not straight up to the body.  This should be done quickly.
16. Don’t tense up.  Some people hold their breath or tense their whole body while getting waxed. While it might be easier said than done, breathe deeply, a relaxed person will cope much better with the pain.
17. After waxing, the aesthetician will apply hand pressure on the waxed area.  This helps in soothing the skin.  A lotion or the application of oil (mine uses lavender oil) on the skin also does well. A lot of people tend to suffer from redness or itchiness just after a wax. Applying an ice pack or cold stone can be the solution to this problem.
18. At least for 24 hours after waxing protect your skin from direct sunlight exposure.  Wear a high SPF or sun blocker on the area waxed.

Remember safe waxing begins with finding the right spa and a person who loves to wax and follows all of the proper safety procedures listed above as well as a person who does not double dip in the wax and uses disposable sticks.

The Ugly Truth: How Waxing Can Go Awry

If you fail to heed these precautions, the following are some of the adverse effects you may experience with waxing:

• Loss of Skin Suppleness and Elasticity: This is one of the long-term waxing side effects. It is observed that skin loses its elasticity and suppleness due to regular and prolonged use of waxing. This generally occurs because of the ripping off of the applied wax used during waxing.
• Wrinkle Formation: The second commonly observed long-term waxing side effect. Regular waxing increases the risk of wrinkle formation. As the skin tends to lose its elasticity and suppleness gradually it develops wrinkles.
• Irritation and Redness: This is one of the most commonly seen side effects associated with waxing. It is observed that many people develop irritation and redness of skin soon after waxing. Skin irritation and redness could be subsided with the application of ice on the affected area.
• Skin Rashes, Reddish Bumps, and Slight Subcutaneous Bleeding: These waxing side effects are generally observed in people with highly sensitive skin. Even the sensitive body parts like the bikini area also show such waxing side effects.
• Skin Darkening and Burns: When waxing is done with overheated wax it may result in skin darkening and burns. Application of overheated wax may result in reddish-brown spots. These spots appear as a result of post-inflammatory pigmentation. Mainly depending on the type of skin it might take a week to 1 year for pigmentation to fade out.
• Skin Infection: This waxing side effect mainly appears due to the application of infected or unclean waxing products for the procedure. Remember that diabetic people should avoid waxing because their skin is more susceptible to skin infection, especially to deadlier and resistant bacteria.
• Allergic Reactions: This side effect of waxing is generally observed in people with wax and its product allergy. Allergic reactions may include severe skin rash to folliculitis. It is also seen that people with sensitive skin also develop pustules in the waxed area. You should visit your dermatologist immediately on the development of an allergic reaction. In case your skin is sensitive and you are trying waxing for the first time then it is better to go for a patch test of wax.
• Ingrown Hairs: The problem of ingrown hairs is also referred to as Pseudofolliculitis. The major reason for the development of this waxing side effect is that waxing is done in the opposite direction of the follicle.

Conclusion

Waxing can be a great way to remove unwanted hair and achieve smooth, beautiful skin. But as we’ve discussed, it does come with the risk of pain, irritation, and damage if not done with care and caution.

While waxing incorrectly may seem harmless on the surface, the consequences can be more severe than you might expect. From raw, red skin to scars and breakouts, improperly performed waxing can wreak havoc on your skin, especially sensitive areas. Not adhering to proper protocols and aftercare can even lead to infections in rare cases.

That’s why it’s so important to take waxing seriously, do your research, and seek out trained aestheticians to have the process done safely. There are also at-home best practices you can follow for less risky DIY waxing, like testing skin sensitivity first. While waxing requires some fortitude, the rewards of silky smooth skin are well worth learning to wax properly with common sense precautions.

Investing just a bit more effort into gentle, thoughtful waxing is the wisest way forward for your skin’s health and appearance. So be sure to equip yourself with the know-how to avoid safety pitfalls, and you can reveal gorgeous, glistening skin that feels as good as it looks!