It’s holiday season and women across the UK are making preparations for their summer excursions – including that all important bikini wax.
Waxing etiquette is a topic frequently discussed among friends but, without experts on hand, it’s hard to sort the fact from the fiction.
Enter beauty therapist Chiara Ballisai.
Chiara previously worked at a Notting Hill salon and is now employed at LeSalon, an on-demand beauty service. We put a number of nitty-gritty questions to Chiara, to set the record straight.
So whether you prefer a Brazilian or a Hollywood, here’s everything to know about getting a wax down there.
Should you wash before your wax?
‘You can shower – actually it’s good having your skin clean because the wax goes on much nicer and it’s easier to remove the hair’ says Chiara.
‘But it’s important not to use really hot water as it won’t be comfortable for your skin [during the wax]. So shower but at a normal temperature.
‘It will irritate your skin if you use hot water and then have hot wax.’
Chiara also recommends exfoliating 48 hours before your appointment.
Exfoliating helps the wax stick to the hairs rather than the skin, but a gentle exfoliation will do, as scrubbing too hard can make the area more sensitive to pain. It’s also the golden rule for preventing ingrown hairs.
She adds, ‘I, and most beauty therapists, give clients baby wipes to clean the area before. It will be more comfortable for you and the therapist.’
Can you get a wax when you’re on your period?
‘You can, but it’s going to be more painful.
‘In my opinion, it’s not so comfortable for you,’ Chiara says.
During your period, hormonal changes make your vagina more sensitive to pain. It’s also worth noting that skin tends to be extra tender on the three days leading up to your period – so this is potentially the most painful time to get a treatment.
‘It’s a sensitive area of course, so it’s even more painful than other areas of the body,’ she adds.
Chiara says that policy on period waxing varies from salon to salon as some therapists are happy to do it if the client is wearing a tampon, but others prefer not to.
So, if you’re on your period, it’s probably worth phoning in advance to check if your chosen therapist is happy to carry out the appointment.
What do you do if the wax feels too hot?
‘You can say to your therapist and they will adjust it for you but you can’t really have the temperature turned down completely,’ Chiara explains.
With bikini waxing, it’s important to make sure the therapist or the salon use a hot wax, which clings onto hair and pulls it out, leaving your skin intact. Opting for hot wax is paramount if you have sensitive skin, which can become irritated through waxing.
How long should you leave the hair to grow before the appointment?
Chiara says:‘It’s always better to let the hair grow a bit longer and then check with your therapist. You can always trim it down a bit. But if the hairs are too short, then they don’t come off.’
As for the optimum length? It’s around ¼ of an inch.
Do you have to remove your underwear?
Chiara says: ‘It’s up to the therapist and up to you. I always give my clients paper knickers and I ask whether they would like to use those or no knickers at all.
‘In my opinion it’s easier without any knickers, but if the client isn’t comfortable that’s fine’
Is there anything to avoid after a wax?
‘After a wax, you shouldn’t go in the sun straight away and you shouldn’t use hot water or go in a steam room as they can create a rash on your skin because your pores are open,’ Chiara says.
‘If you go in a public pool or anything like that, it’ll be easy for you to get infections.
‘Also really tight trousers will rub and can cause a rash.’
Is there a way to make it hurt less?
‘The more you have waxes the thinner your hair gets, so it will be less painful.’ says Chiara.
The first time is usually the most painful, so get that one out the way and the worst is over.
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