How to prepare for your first wax

Hair length
Your hair should be at least a ¼ inch long which is about the length of a grain of rice. The reason for this is so that the wax is able to fully coat the hair. To get the desired length, stop shaving 1-2 weeks before your appointment, and feel free to trim down to this length - the shorter the hair, the less the pain. 

24-48 hours before your appointment

• Avoid the tanning beds (and sun on the area being waxed) for 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. 
• Avoid consuming alcohol or significant amounts of caffeine. These can cause your pores to tighten, resulting in a more uncomfortable experience.
• Gently exfoliate the area the night before as this helps loosen hairs, and prep the skin.

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On your appointment day

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing, especially if you're getting a Brazilian wax!
• Inform your esthetician if you are taking any of these medications prior to your appointment. 
• If desired, take an anti-inflammatory at least 1 hour before your appointment. DO NOT take aspirin - it can thin blood and increase risk of bruising. 
• Relax! Anxiety and tension can result in more pain. The more relaxed you are, the less painful the experience will be. 

After your appointment
Book another one for 3-4 weeks time! Once your first wax is out of the way, each time gets easier and easier as long as you don’t shave. If you shave, the next wax will likely feel just like the first. 

Post-wax hair growth
After your first wax, hair might grow through quicker that you'd think. This is because hair has 3 stages of growth, spread over a 12-14 week span. If you want to know the technical names, the stages are Anagen (hair actively growing from the bulb, rooted deep in the follicle - this is what we are try to get out when waxing for the smoothest finish), Catagen (intermediate stage - the hair has detached from the bulb, and starts shedding), and Telogen (resting/shedding stage - the hair is shedding, and usually comes out painlessly). After one wax, hair that is in the growth stage will be waiting to pop through the skin - new growth in the Anagen phase. After a couple of waxes, hair will end up on the same growth cycle, resulting it completely smooth skin for a few weeks :-)