Waxing FAQ
Sanitization
The sanitization standards are high at Waxologie; along with the quality of the products and service. There will be NO double dipping, NO recycling of wax and NO cross contamination. Gloves are always used, surfaces are always being cleaned and instruments are always disinfected. Plus, we have a way more calming and private environment than the franchise wax centers!
The wax we use
The wax is from Italy and it's an amazing cream style hard wax. It only adheres to your hair (like shrink wrap) and not to your skin... unlike the hard wax at European Wax Center, Lunchbox Wax and Waxing The City uses that still sticks to the skin some and has been known to break hairs more than pull them out. Oh, and lets not forget about the extra sticky strip wax like everyone has seen in the movie 40 Year Old Virgin...that stuff is awful and is widely used because it's cheap. The new type of hair removal to the Raleigh area is Sugaring. This type is VERY sticky and can bruise you quite easily. Read the Hair Removal Methods: Explained on this website for more details.
Waxing benefits
- Smooth, silky skin that lasts... Waxing removes hair from the root, so it takes a longer time for hair to grow again- anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on the individual speed of your hair growth cycles. This means your hair free, smooth skin lasts much longer and you can go for that holiday on the beach and bask in the glory of your enviably smooth and glowing skin without having to worry about body hair showing up in the meantime.
- Finer and softer body hair... The hair that grows after waxing is of a finer and softer variety, not rough and prickly like after shaving. And the really good thing is - waxing does not cause an ugly stubble as seen in just a day after shaving.
- Diminishes hair growth... After repeated sessions of waxing, you will notice a much sparser hair growth. This makes waxing much easier because there's much less hair than you have the first time.
- No skin damage... In contrast to other methods of hair removal like depilatory creams, shaving or lasering, waxing does not cause cuts, pigmentation, scarring or badly smelling skin. No harsh chemicals are present in wax, so the skin is saved from their damaging effects. Plus with the hard wax I use and my experience, your skin will not come off and you won't be left super sticky!
- After your first waxing, you should have waxing done on a regular schedule, or 3-4 weeks for most people. The timing is based on how long it takes for hair to reach the best length for waxing (¼ - ½ inch). When hair is longer, it’s easier to remove from the roots and will take longer to grow back in. When hair is too short, it’s more likely to break during waxing, resulting in faster regrowth.
- Factors that affect hair growth include age, hormones, weather, and skin care routines. Regular waxing also affects hair growth, leading to slower and less dense hair growth over time.
- Waxing is a skin care routine that has more benefits the longer it’s done. One major difference between shaving and waxing is that waxing pulls out hair from the follicles and shaving cuts off hairs in mid-growth, when they’re thickest. Over time, waxing helps hair grow in a steady cycle, while weakening the hair because of the impact on the follicles. This causes hair to grow in more slowly and sparsely.
- Waxing is often associated with warm weather or tropical vacations, but waxing needs to be done year-round for the greatest impact when it is most wanted. If you wax regularly throughout the year, by the time bikini season rolls around, hair will be growing in more slowly and less noticeably.
Pre-wax tips
- Do not shave the area being waxed for 5-14 days. It should be about ¼ inch long (or the length of a long grain of rice), but preferably ½ inch long for your first waxing especially if it's your brazilian area. If your hair is over 1 inch long, trimming your hair before you come in is fine, but if you are going to trim your hair, please don’t trim it too short. If the hair is shorter, the waxing will hurt more and not be as effective as when the hair is longer. Underarm hair only needs to be about ¼ inch long to wax. Exfoliating the area to be waxed on the day of your appointment will help too.
- Do not tan the area to be waxed right before the waxing! If it is sun burned, you cannot get waxed. If you have just tanned, you run the risk of the wax causing an abrasion on that area and it will be painful post waxing. Spray tans will be removed by the wax, so wait until after your wax.
- Do not engage in heavy exercise or tanning at least 4 hours before or after your wax. Hard wax is used, which means when it is put on your skin, it needs to harden. If your body temperature is too hot and/or you are sweaty, the wax won't harden and grip your hair. If you tan, your skin will be sensitive and may burn.
- Do not put any numbing creams or gels on the area to be waxed. Unfortunately, it will usually break the hairs rather than pull them out.
- It is recommended that you exfoliate your skin a day or two before a waxing appointment. You should use a gentle method that will slough off dead skin and clear hair follicles, but not irritate the skin.
- It is highly recommended that you do not consume caffeine or nicotine 24 hours before your wax as it causes a stinging sensation when being waxed because they are stimulants. Also take note that alcohol consumption can cause excess bleeding because it thins the blood.
- If you are on Accutane for your skin, waxing on any part of your body is not for you. If you have had a glycolic (an alpha hydroxy acid) or a salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid) peel or are using Retin-A, Renova or Differin, on the area to be waxed, you will have to wait at least 1-2 weeks before the area can be waxed.
- If you have sensitivity or a low pain tolerance, you can pre-medicate with a pain reliever such as Tylenol 30 minutes before the waxing procedure. Other medications like Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS can cause minor bleeding or minor bruising, so stay away from those.
- It's completely okay to get waxed during your menstrual cycle; just wear a tampon or a menstrual cup and tell your Esthetician at your appointment. We always have extra tampons in the bathroom!
- If you can, take a luke-warm shower and clean your entire body thoroughly before the appointment. There is a certain amount of nudity involved and you will have to move into a couple of different positions. There are always wet wipes at the office for those last minute clean-ups too.
Post-wax tips
- For the first 24 hours - make sure to not sun tan, exfoliate, heavily exercise or take a hot shower because you will only inflame the area. If you do get inflamed, then take a cool shower or put a cool washcloth on the waxed area.
- You shouldn’t pick, scratch, or tweeze ingrown hairs because that can lead to further irritation and possibly infection. Leave them for your Esthetician to look at an possibly remove for you.
- You should avoid the sun or use a lot of sunscreen for a few days after a first time wax. However, sunscreen can irritate sensitive skin and contribute to clogged pores, so avoiding the sun altogether is best. Clients should also avoid saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, oceans, and other bodies of water for the first few days after a wax.
- Occasionally tweezing a few hairs is fine, but no shaving. Waxing trains your hair to become finer and grow slower. Shaving makes hair grow fast and keeps it thick. It also changes the pattern of hair growth and hair texture, which can make waxing harder or less effective, while also causing irritation and itchy stubble.
- After 24-48 hours, exfoliate every day with a real loofah. We recommend real loofah's because the bath poofs are synthetic and only lather well, they don't exfoliate enough. As you wax, your individual hairs grow in thinner and poofs don't take enough of the dead skin cells off to let the hairs come through. That results in ingrown hairs and possibly infected hairs - not good! Waxing is an investment, so protect it.
- Waxing works best on healthy skin. Dry, flaky skin can interfere with the benefits of waxing, so clients should keep skin healthy with regular cleaning, exfoliation, and moisturizing. You shouldn’t overlook the benefits of regular hydration, good nutrition, and activities that increase circulation, like aerobic exercise.