Summer waxing tips for the bikini area
Unwanted hair is a fact of life which can become especially annoying during the summer. Can you imagine lying on your sun lounger wearing your new designer bikini and hair coming out the sides in all directions … No, not the look you were after I’d imagine!!!
If you are thinking of skipping the salon in favour of at home waxing, tread carefully. Ingrown hairs, burns and bruising can occur if you don’t know what you are doing. Certain skin conditions such as excema or psoriasis are contraindicated to waxing or if you are diabetic, the risk of infection is higher so probably best to avoid. A reputable salon should ask you to complete a consultation form prior to your treatment, they will be able to assess if there are any contraindications and if so your treatment should not be carried out. It is important to let your therapist know if you are using any anti ageing or acne creams that may contain a retinoid (vitamin A derivatives retinol, retinyl palmitate, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene),as your skin will be extra susceptible to getting burned and peeled off by waxing since those creams loosen the attachment of skin cells and cause increased exfoliation. Make sure never to have a wax just after using a sunbed or sunbathing.
It should really go without saying but for a successful wax, your pubic hair should be about one -fourth of an inch. It is surprising sometimes when a client books in for a wax treatment only to discover, she shaved two days ago. The length of the hair is important, the procedure is less painful if the hair is thee right length, the therapist will not have to go over the area more than once, if the hair is too short, the wax strip will have a hard time trying to grab it. Waxing can be painful enough !!
It can be a minefield when you are deciding on which type of bikini wax you require. Quite often, woman are too embarrassed to ask ‘which is which’ so to clear this up for you ( in most cases) here are the most common types of waxing:
A standard bikini wax is simply a little hair removed from the side of the pant line.
A Californian bikini is slightly extended, the hair at the sides of pant line and a small amount from the below the abdomen (top of pant line) is removed.
A Brazilian bikini wax is considered advanced waxing and leaves a thin strip of hair at the front with all the hair removed from sides and back.
A Hollywood bikini wax is also considered as advanced waxing and all the hair is removed.
Post wax, aloe vera can be used if the area feels a little tender. We would recommend wearing loose clothing and avoid having a hot bath or shower for 24 hours. If you are jetting off to the sun, try to plan your wax appointment for a couple of days before you leave. In between waxing treatments, and at least 48 hours post waxing, we would advise you to regularly exfoliate the area. This prevents ingrown hairs which can be unsightly, not to mention painful. Should an ingrown hair become infected, seek advice from a GP.
Waxing Regularity
The hair is normally pulled from their follicles by the esthetician every time you go for waxing and this determines how long the waxing lasts. Follicles take a longer time to give the replacements when you wax regularly. It takes up to eight weeks for some people to grow hair after several waxing treatments. The age of a person can be a factor when it comes to hair growth. Due to hormonal activity, younger people have a higher rate of hair growth and will need to get waxed more regularly. Its definitely worth the regular visits when you find yourself able to go weeks between wax appointments. Seek advice from a professional if unsure which hair removal method is right for you and hopefully their advice will enable you to have a beautiful, hair free summer!
