Everything you need to know about Waxing

 What is Waxing?

Waxing is the action of applying a warmed up "hard" or "soft" wax to the skin and ripping it off when it's cooled down to remove unwanted hair on the face or body.

Hard wax VS Soft wax?

When waxing, there are two different types of wax that may be used. Hard wax refers to a type of wax that dries on its own once applied and is used on more sensitive areas like the face, underarms and bikini area. Soft wax requires a non-woven cloth strip to be applied over it for removal since it does not dry on its own. Soft wax is used for large areas like the back, chest, arms and legs. 

How did we find out about Waxing?

People have been waxing their bodies for beauty and hygiene purposes dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Cleopatra would use a simple formula of sugar, lemon and water to create a sugar wax for easy hair removal. This is known as sugaring and is where waxing derived from. Over time people experimented with ingredients that were readily available like tree sap and beeswax. Today, there are many different waxes with many different formulations available on the market for home and professional use.

How does Waxing work?

Waxing works by being extremely sticky, gripping onto the hair once applied to the skin and fully ripping out the hair follicles down to the root without harming the skin. Overtime, ripping out hair follicles from their root causes them to weaken and become thinner. You'll notice your hair will start to grow back lighter, softer and less often the more you wax. 

Is Waxing painful?

How much pain you feel during a wax depends on a few things; the area that is getting waxed, how much hair is under each strip of wax, how long the hair is, how thick the hair is and your tolerance for pain. The most painful areas to get waxed are typically the Legs, Brazilian, and Lip. However, at Suite 42 Aesthetics, specific techniques are used to help the experience be as painless as possible. 

How do you prepare for a Wax?

If you're planning on getting waxed, you should prepare at least two weeks in advance. The hardest part about waxing is avoiding shaving and letting your hair grow out to the perfect length for the best results. You want to make sure to let your hair grow out to at least the length of a grain of rice. (About 1/4 - 1/2 inch) Having your hair this length will ensure the wax can properly grip onto it and come out by the root. If the hair is any shorter before your appointment, it will not come out and you will have to wait to get waxed until it grows out more. If the hair is any longer it may be a little more painful but it will come out. You will also want to make sure your skin is exfoliated and moisturized but avoid any exfoliating products (Retinol/RentinA, AHA/BHA, physical scrubs) at least 3 days before your appointment. 

Waxing at home VS getting Waxed by a professional?

Waxing has evolved so much over the years that it is very easy to get all the materials you need to wax at home by yourself. Which can have similar results as going to a professional. However, when you wax yourself, there is always a higher risk for burning, bruising, lifting or severely irritating the skin. This can create larger issues like ingrown hairs, scarring, prolonged irritation and even infection. When you get waxed by a professional, these things have a much less likelihood of occurring. At Suite 42 Aesthetics, you can expect pain management techniques, ingrown hair prevention, and an over all better waxing experience. Schedule your next waxing appointment here!