All Your Crazy Q's About Waxing, Answered

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These days there are about as many ways to remove unwanted hair as there are places you might not want hair in the first place. And while it’s cool to have a ton of options, good ol’ waxing remains the go-to for many gals because it checks so many boxes: quick and simple, long-lasting, great results, affordable, safe, etc.

What’s that, you say? You’re worried about the pain? Concerned about stubble? Your skin? The wax? We hear ya! Unknowns and questions abound, even for those who have tried it. So we worked with the experts at European Wax Center to put together this comprehensive guide to help you decide if waxing is right for you — and to make that first appointment a cinch.

Skin is extra sensitive in the few days before and during your period, so schedule your appointment around your cycle if you’re pain-phobic. Also hold off on booze and that second (or third) latte beforehand; alcohol and excess caffeine can constrict pores, upping the ouch factor.

As far as meds go, waxing is a no-go if you’re on oral tretinoin (formerly known as Accutane). Topical Rx retinoids and over-the-counter retinol creams are okay, but stop using them seven days prior to waxing facial hair.

A day or two before your wax, gently exfoliate the area to clear away dead skin cells around hair follicles. Try a mild product like EWC Reveal Me Body Exfoliating Gel, $39.50, which uses fruit acids instead of harsh abrasives. Then, an hour before your appointment, pop an ibuprofen or aspirin, both of which dull the pain and are anti-inflammatory to help calm skin.

BTW, there are a few other essentials you'll want to pick up before (or during!) your first appointment. These products will ensure a ~smooth~ experience all around (see what I did there!). Keep reading for tips on how to use them!

European Wax Center Reveal Me Body Exfoliating Gel

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Your ultimate appointment prep.

European Wax Center Slow It Lotion

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Keeps your skin ~crazy~ smooth between waxes.

European Wax Center Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes

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TTYL, ingrowns!

European Wax Center Browfection Brow Powder Duo

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Credit: European Wax Center

For softer and ~fuller~ brows.

To avoid an, um, not-so-happy surprise on the table, be *super* clear about the hair you want removed (or not) both when booking your session and with your waxer directly.

It helps to know the lingo:

A “bikini line” wax removes only hair not covered by standard-cut undies or swimsuits — what’s on the upper thighs and the area where legs meet groin. You can also opt to lower the hairline below your belly button (prepping you for low-rise bikini bottoms, say). Another option, a “bikini full,” is most open to interpretation; you can opt for the infamous “landing strip” (or triangle or square) in any size or none at all, and pretty much everything else goes. And a Brazilian is, as you might know, the full Monty: Same as a bikini full, landing strip optional, except it involves waxing all the way back to your butt.

And then, of course, there are the waxes you get on all the other parts of your body (basically anywhere with hair can be waxed). Same guidelines apply here: Be sure that you're on the same page with your waxer before they touch your face, legs, or armpits. For example, pre-brow wax, let them know if you want to change the shape of your arches or if this is just a quick clean-up.

If it’s not ¼ inch or longer, wax can’t properly grip the hair. Yes, sitting by as your fuzz grows will test your willpower — especially if you’re prepping for your first wax. Yes, your razor is right there, and yes, it provides a quick fix. But you’re way better off waiting. Here’s why:

• Shaving may be quick, but not when you add up all the time you spend doing it over the long haul. With waxing, hair is MIA for weeks.

• Waxing removes hair at the root, and when it grows back, the tip of the hair is naturally tapered so regrowth is softer and looks less noticeable than after shaving, which creates a blunt end (hey, stubble).

• Shaving is more likely to cause ingrown hairs because you’re lopping off hair at the surface. As it grows, the blunt end more easily gets caught under skin cells and starts growing inward.

• Because follicles are often on different growth cycles, the hairs don’t all start growing back at once or at the same rate post-wax. After three or four weeks, only the hair that was in the resting phase initially begins growing, and it’s not that noticeable.

Strips with pre-applied soft wax can grab skin as well as hair, making the treatment potentially more painful. Hard wax, especially the stripless kind, adheres only to hair, so it may hurt less and give better results. The wax is kept in a warming pot, which allows it to go on easily and evenly.

European Wax Center uses hard wax, following a four-step process: Cleanse, Protect, Wax, and Rejuvenate. The pre-wax cleanser removes makeup, oil, or lotion from your skin. Then, your pro will apply pre-wax oil to make sure the wax sticks to those pesky hairs and not your skin.

Next, EWC uses its Comfort Wax™ to gently remove the hair in a way that's as painless as possible. The wax cools and hardens quickly, and then your pro pulls the wax and hair off as fast as possible. It's fairly uncomfortable, but exhaling and mentally going to your happy place at the moment she rips can take the worst of the sting away. And the sensation fades by the time you finish thinking ye-ow!

She’ll repeat on other areas, use tweezers to remove stubborn hairs or to more precisely shape brows, then smooth on a serum to soothe skin (if you're at EWC, that is) and keep follicles clear. The whole shebang takes about 15 to 30 minutes, sometimes less, depending on your service. Bonus: The more you wax, the less it hurts and the finer and thinner hair becomes.

When you go for a bikini wax, your pro will ask you to get undressed, and then she’ll allow you your privacy while she's prepping for the wax. It’s your cue to get naked from the waist down. Might you feel awkward when she turns around? When she asks you spread ’em? Maybe. But consider this: She works on a half-dozen vaginas before lunch — and probably thousands over her career.

So while yours is a precious flower to you, it’s truly NBD to her. What she cares about: wax, hair, and getting you the smoothest skin possible. So take a deep breath and remember, eye on the prize (aka: clean lines and smooth skin).

Redness can linger anywhere from a few minutes to a day or two. Regardless, avoid tanning, pool swimming, sweaty workouts, and harsh skincare for at least 24 to 48 hours afterward — enough time for follicles to close and skin to chill out. Post-bikini wax, also take a one or two-day sex hiatus.

The best way to keep skin ultra-smooth, especially your bikini area, is to keep follicles and pores clear. Wipes with alpha and beta hydroxy acids can be used daily and make the job quick and easy.

Try EWC Smooth Me Wipes, $28.50, which also help soothe skin. For brows, while waxing will shape them, you may want to fill them in with brow powder for a denser look. Use a smudge-proof product with two shades, like EWC Brow Powder Duo, $22, to get the color just right. Start in the middle of brows and use a light, feathering motion to lightly fill, then run a spoolie brush through to blend.

And, when hairs do start popping up, because they’re on different phases of growth, you'll only see a fraction of what was initially removed. And growth-minimizing lotions like EWC Slow It Lotion, $20, help visibly reduce the appearance and thickness of hair regrowth while keeping skin soft and smooth. Get on a consistent waxing schedule and hair also naturally becomes thinner and finer, so you can go even longer between waxes.

Beth Janes

Janes is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in health, beauty and fitness.

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