Ease the Pain of Waxing
Question: I love the fuzz-free feel of my smooth skin after waxing. However, I don’t like to get waxed. The first bikini wax of the season is painful. Do you have any advice?
Mimi: Oh yes, I agree. Waxing can be uncomfortable. The first few times that you are waxed, your skin may rebel and actually break out in tiny pimples in the waxed area. This is a histamine reaction from the skin getting mad at you. Taking an antihistamine at bedtime reduces inflammation and itching. Aloe Vera, Aloe Cort, or cortisone (available at a 99 cent store) can minimize the irritation. Ice wrapped in a washcloth and put on the area can diminish redness. After about 3 times of waxing you get used to it and the skin reaction disappears.
Waxing long hair is the most painful. If you plan to have your bikini, underarms, chest, or back waxed for the first time or for the first time after letting all the hair grow back, trim the hair to ¼ to ½ inch long. Long hair gets stuck in the wax goopy and then hurts when the wax is pulled off.
You can trim the hair at home with scissors. I like to use really sharp baby scissors with rounded ends. Tweezer Man makes the best ones of stainless steel. Or you can use other scissors. You can also use an electric shaver with a guard on it. Use the guard for a flattop or buzz. Don’t SHAVE off all your hair. Hair must be at least ¼ inch long to grab in the wax. If you don’t want to trim your hair at home, tell your esthetician when you make the appointment that you will need extra time for her to trim the hair.
Every day as you shower, scrub lightly with a loofah. Scrub in the opposite direction from how the hair naturally grows. This will help loosen ingrown hairs. It will help make the hair stand up so it waxes off better. This means on your legs, scrub up. On your bikini, swipe out from the center. Change your loofah every 3 months so it doesn’t get grungy.
If a small area like brows or upper lip are painful, wrap an ice cube in a washcloth. Hold it over the area to be waxed while you wait for your appointment. Just arrive for your appointment a little early and ask the receptionist for ice in a washcloth.
Some people feel that taking an aspirin before waxing helps with the discomfort.
There are over-the-counter products that the esthetician can use that minimize the discomfort. Some need to be applied a few minutes before the service, so ask about them to see how much time you need to arrive before your service. Sunburn cooling agents containing lidocain in Aloe Vera can help numb the area. It’s in the sunscreen section of the drug store.
Plan waxing in the middle of the month, between periods, especially for bikini or upper leg waxing. During your period the area may be engorged with blood and more sensitive. Your pain tolerance may be lower also during your period compared with in the middle of your month.
Do not use aggressive skin treatments the day before, of, or after waxing. This means to not use facial scrubs, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, or other products that can leave your skin irritated the day before, of, or after facial wax. Stop using Accutain, Retin A, or other prescription medicine for skin 3 weeks before waxing.
Chin waxing is effective for downy fine hairs. If you have “boar whisker” hairs on your chin, waxing may not be as effective as tweezing, electrolysis, or laser. If you want laser hair removal, have it before your hair turns white. I waited too long on my “old hag” chin hairs. Now they are white so the laser can’t see them (nor can I except in the car’s rear view mirror), so I have an esthetician tweeze my chin. Oh the joys of growing old—lose the hair on my head and grow hair on my chin.
Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands.
Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations. (909) 793-9080. Past columns of Ask Mimi are on the web at www.INTERNATIONALdayspa.com.
