Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Planning well in advance
• Part 2 of 3: Preparing days before epilation
• Part 3 of 3: Preparation just before the procedure
• Tips

Getting started with waxing is pretty scary, especially if you don't know how to prepare for it. Before starting waxing, you need to prepare the skin so that the epilation is effective and as less traumatic as possible. Some preparation steps should be started a few days or even weeks before the procedure. Schedule your epilation at least a month in advance to keep your skin healthy and smooth.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Planning well in advance

1. 1 Grow your hair. You shouldn't schedule your hair removal procedure until at least a week or two have passed after you shave off your hair. Ideally, the hair should be about 6mm long so that it can be easily grabbed and pulled out by the wax. In addition, hair removal is less painful and much more effective if you grow your hair to the optimal length.
   • The exception to this rule is fine hairs (for example, hairs on a woman's face). Fine hair may be a little shorter, but it's still best to grow it out for a week or so.
2. 2 Do not wax if you have sensitive skin. Waxing is unlikely to work well for sensitive skin. The best time to wax is the week after your period ends, when you have your highest pain threshold. Do not schedule your hair removal on the days when you have your period. In addition, you should not plan your procedure before the day you plan to spend in the sun, as well as immediately after it. If you get a sunburn, your skin will be irritated, so it will be painful to epilate.
3. 3 Do not plan your first waxing session right before any special occasion. For example, don't epilate the day before an important event, vacation, or photo shoot. Everyone's skin reacts differently to waxing and may cause redness, bruising and irritation.If this is your first time waxing, it is best to do it a few weeks before the important event so you know what to expect.
   • If your skin becomes severely irritated after epilation, you can prevent future irritation by applying a little coconut oil, baby powder, or a soothing lotion right after epilation.
4. 4 Talk to your beautician before signing up for an epilation session. When you find a professional beautician, tell them about any allergies and sensitivities in your skin. The beautician will select the wax that works best for you to avoid irritation on your skin.
   • If this is your first time epilation, tell your beautician about it. A specialist will tell you how to prepare based on your skin condition.
   • Tell your beautician about the creams you use because they can affect the sensitivity of your skin.
5. 5 Before signing up for waxing, it is worth conducting an allergy test. Since wax contains certain chemicals that can irritate the skin, it is worth contacting a general practitioner or dermatologist for allergy testing. Know how your skin might react to wax, especially if this is your first time waxing. Tell your beautician about your allergy test results so they know if your skin is reacting to a certain chemical or scent.
   • Allergy testing can take several days (this is how long it takes for the skin to become irritated). Therefore, consult your doctor about these tests beforehand.

Part 2 of 3: Preparing days before epilation

1. 1 Check for skin irritation, burns or scratches. Burns, breakouts, and cuts should be treated before waxing is scheduled to avoid further injury to the skin from the wax. Examine the skin for bruises and cuts. Even small razor cuts can cause severe irritation after waxing.
   • If you find any cuts, wax should not get onto the area during epilation. In addition, wax is not effective in areas with hormonal imbalance.
   • If the burn or rash has not cleared up by the scheduled time, reschedule until the skin heals.
2. 2 Refrain from tanning for a week before epilation. Spending time in the sun makes the skin more sensitive. Even if you don't have sunburn, your skin will become more prone to irritation, especially immediately after sunburn. Try not to spend a lot of time in the sun for several days before your procedure.
   • If you need to spend a lot of time outdoors on sunny days, apply sunscreen (SPF 50+) to your skin, then apply another layer after a few hours.
3. 3 Exfoliate your skin. Before epilation, you need to shower and exfoliate your skin to get rid of dead skin cells and lift hairs. The exfoliation procedure will reduce the risk of ingrown hairs after epilation. Take a loofah or a clean dishwashing sponge / washcloth, apply the scrub and rub it into the skin in a circular motion (over the area you plan to epilate).
   • This should be done very gently and carefully. If you apply too much pressure, irritation may remain on the skin.
   • Do not use the scrub on the same day that you are scheduled to epilate. Exfoliate your skin for a few days to prevent itching and redness.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Melissa jannes

   
   
   Licensed cosmetologist and Brazilian waxing instructor Melissa Jennis is a licensed cosmetologist and owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia. It works alone and by appointment only, offers quality services and an individual approach. Also provides training for Universal Companies, a leading support and supply company for more than 30,000 spa professionals in 47 countries.She received her cosmetology degree from Middletown Beauty School in 2008 and is licensed in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. In 2012, her bikini waxing procedure won the Best of Beauty award from Allure magazine.

   Melissa jannes
   Licensed cosmetologist and Brazilian waxing teacher

   Did you know? It is better to exfoliate a few days before waxing than a day. With regular waxing, it is a good idea to exfoliate your skin 1-2 times a week.

   
   
4. 4 Moisturize your skin. After exfoliating, apply a moisturizer or lotion to your skin. This will keep your skin soft and hydrated until the day you epilate. The exfoliation procedure can make your skin too dry, so be sure to moisturize it.

Part 3 of 3: Preparation just before the procedure

1. 1 Take a warm bath to moisturize your skin. On the day of epilation, take a warm shower or bath to moisturize your skin. Waxing dry skin can be very painful because it is more difficult to remove hair from it. If you don't have time to take a bath, simply wet the area you plan to epilate with warm water (for 5-10 minutes).
   • To reduce the rash after epilation, drink plenty of water before the procedure.
2. 2 Apply moisturizer. Use a water-based moisturizer (no oil) after you shower. A moisturizer will keep your skin from overheating while epilating. Be sure to start using a moisturizer a few days before epilating for best results.
   • Do not use oil (such as coconut oil) or oil-based lotions before waxing, otherwise the wax will not be able to grab even long hairs. Oil-based moisturizers should only be used after epilation to prevent infection, because they usually have a disinfecting effect.
3. 3 Cover any moles and cuts with tape. In the process of epilation, you can accidentally touch moles, burns and cuts, which injure the skin (and this will increase the risk of developing cancer). Therefore, you need to glue them with a plaster, so that later you do not forget to tell the beautician about it.
4. 4 Pain relievers can be taken to relieve pain. If you are very sensitive to pain, take an ibuprofen tablet before epilating to reduce pain and irritation. An anesthetic tablet should be taken one hour before epilation so that it works on time and works throughout the entire procedure.
5. 5 When going to epilate, wear loose, comfortable clothing. Avoid wearing jeans that are too tight or thick fabrics. After waxing, you will need loose, soft clothing that will not irritate your skin.
   • Do not wear new clothes while epilating. You need clothes that you wear often enough and that you like.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   "After waxing, keep the treated area clean, do not shave off remaining hairs, and exfoliate regularly."

   
   

   

   Melissa jannes

   Licensed cosmetologist and Brazilian waxing instructor Melissa Jennis is a licensed cosmetologist and owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia. It works alone and by appointment only, offers quality services and an individual approach. Also provides training for Universal Companies, a leading support and supply company for more than 30,000 spa professionals in 47 countries. She received her cosmetology degree from Middletown Beauty School in 2008 and is licensed in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. In 2012, her bikini waxing procedure won the Best of Beauty award from Allure magazine.

   Melissa jannes
   Licensed cosmetologist and Brazilian waxing teacher

Tips

• After epilation, moisturize your skin again and avoid spending a lot of time in the sun for several days.After epilation, the skin is very sensitive and can burn easily.
• If you prefer, you can wax at home by following these same tips.
• There are different types of wax that are suitable for different types of skin and hair. Talk to a beautician or beauty consultant about the best wax for you.
• On the eve of epilation, do not drink coffee, because coffee lowers the pain threshold.