Waxing Tips For The Faint Of Heart.

Hello Lovelies,

I recently visited a nail and mini-spa to make an appointment for waxing.  I have been to this particular salon a few times and I like going there because all the women who work there are really nice and always do a great job with my nails (And no, I’m not going to tell you the name of it or where it is).   When I went in to make a waxing appointment the girl at the counter looked at me oddly and said “I can’t believe you want a waxing service, black women don’t get waxed.”   This was my reaction:

Photo Credit: giphy.com

I wasn’t quite sure what to do or what to say after that statement.  I wasn’t angry or offended, but I was very surprised to hear that because in my experience women of all ethnicities are concerned with face and body hair removal.  Every girl’s beauty budget has a column for waxing, shaving products, razors, or even professional laser hair removal.  The blogger in me immediately went into investigation mode and asked why she thought that.  She told me that because “our” skin is so sensitive and because of “our” hair type. Hmmmm….intriguing.   I decided to share some of my experiences with waxing with her, explain that many people have sensitive skin regardless of ethnicity,  and we chatted about different products.   What started as a totally unexpected awkward statement turned into a very positive, fun, and educating conversation about beauty and body care,  and it inspired me to share some tips on waxing with my lovelies.  

Question 1: How often should I wax?

I make sure to wax as soon as the hair is at least 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch long. Anything longer than this can be painful to remove.  This amount of growth usually translates to being waxed every six to eight weeks.  My hair has the pesky tendency to be coarse so I wax as soon as it is about 1/4 inch long.  If your hair is too long then it will be harder and more painful to remove.   I have heard that some people worry that waxing will make the hair grow back thicker if they don’t wax consistently. This is a huge misconception.   Waxing does not cause you to grow more hair follicles.  When hair is shaved, it is cut off at the tip, which is why you can feel stubble a day or two later.  When your hair is waxed the hair is happily removed from the root so no stubble struggle.

Question 2: How do I prep for my waxing appointment?

Before getting any waxing service please make sure the area is clean and moisturized.  If you are on certain medications, such as Retin-A, Renova, Hydroquinone, or oral acne medications make sure you check with your doctor first before getting waxed because there are certain prescription medications that can increase sensitivity and the chance of irritation. Do not get waxed right after spray tanning because the wax will take the color off.  Not a good look.

Question 3: How do I prevent ingrown hairs?

This is the 50,000 dollar questions when it comes to waxing.  In order to keep ingrown hairs at bay  I suggest waiting twenty-four hours,  gently exfoliating in the shower, and follow up with my favorite product for ingrown hairs. The Ingrown Hair Eliminating pads by Bliss contain a blend of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy with Witch Hazel and Lavender Oil.  They are soothing and can also be used after shaving as well. You can still exfoliate normally with your regular body scrub then use the pads as your treatment step. I like to wait a few minutes then apply my body lotion.  Waxing exfoliates skin in addition to removing hair so be sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin completely.

Question 4: How do I take off excess wax if any?

This question is from one of my very lovely readers.  My favorite trick to get excess wax off is simple: Coconut Oil. It smells awesome, it hydrates the skin, and helps remove any excess bits of wax.

Question 5: What if I want to wax at home?

My number one tip for waxing at home is, DON’T.  I truly believe that certain beauty treatments should be left in the hands of professionals.

If you have any other questions about waxing or hair removal please leave them below and we can keep the conversation going, or you can find me on Instagram (@sagebeautyblog).

XOXOXO

Lily