Updated date:

Aug 27, 2020

Tips on How to Prepare for Professional Body Waxing

Author:

Susan believes there is nothing more irritating than "interruptions" in sweet life. Using fact and humor, she loves sharing advice.

Prepare yourself for a professional body waxing appointment by reviewing these tips, and know what to ask and tell your esthetician.
Image by flaviasaad0 from Pixabay

For some of us, waxing is necessary; for others, waxing is for cosmetic purposes. In either case, when you make an appointment for waxing, here are some tips you might consider before going to your appointment. (Though this is geared toward women, many men have waxing done, too.)

Eyebrow Waxing

Explain the Shape You Want

Before going to have your eyebrows waxed, you need to consider the shape of the eyebrow. I have a difficult time explaining what I want. I like the natural shape of my eyebrow and usually only want the edges cleaned up. To the esthetician who is waxing, though, the instructions may not fit what they are used to doing or what they envision. Their technique may not match your description—or your description may not be clear enough for them to follow, which is usually my case.

Find a picture of eyebrows showing the shape you want to attain. You might have a picture of yourself that shows what you want, or you may need to hit the internet or magazines to find what you want to show your esthetician.
Try to find a shape that looks natural for the contour of your eyes and face. You don’t want people to know you are waxing.

Bikini or Brazilian Waxing

Pick the Right Type

Be sure you understand the difference between bikini waxing and Brazilian waxing before going to your appointment:

A bikini wax basically cleans up the sides, and you can decide how much you want taken off the sides.
A Brazilian wax takes all the hair off from the top to the bottom.

Think about your own personal hygiene before deciding which you prefer. Many people feel cleaner with the Brazilian wax, but there are many who feel they sweat more without the protection of hair in certain areas and experience a struggle with body odor. For those of you who fear sweating and body odor, the bikini wax may be the one you want.

Consider the Cost

The bikini wax is less expensive, saving you some money. It may take more maintenance on your part, but it is minimal.
The Brazilian wax is going to be more expensive, but for many, it's well worth the money, and it's going to take little if any maintenance.

Time Your Waxing Correctly

With both types, be sure you time your waxings. The hair must grow out approximately a quarter inch or more before you can be waxed again. You must consider the rate of hair growth for any part of the body you are waxing, but you don’t want to plan a beach vacation and have your waxing done a month or so ahead of time just for the hair to grow out but not be long enough for another waxing.

On the other hand, if you have sensitive skin, you want to be sure you plan your waxing appointment a few days before you plan on slipping into your bikini so the redness will go away (this is rarely the case, and the redness usually disappears the same day).

Take Precautions to Prevent Ingrown Hairs

You will want to use a good cream recommended by your esthetician to help avoid ingrown hairs.
Another tip to prevent those ingrown hairs is to exfoliate 3–4 days after you have been waxed. Let your skin calm down first, and gently exfoliate using an exfoliating glove or cloth.

Nose Waxing and Lip Waxing

As I have grown older, I have noticed I have more nose hair. When I found out nose waxing was a procedure, I was thrilled. Clipping or pulling the nose hair was fine, but it does not last long and must be done more often.

Give Clear Instructions About What You Do and Do Not Want Done

What I did not realize about a professional nose waxing was that the esthetician usually does the upper lip, too. I nearly jumped off the table because I did not want my upper lip waxed. I have been fortunate, so far, to not have to wax my upper lip. The esthetician was just doing her job. I had one nostril filled with wax and half my lip covered. I was in tears, and she felt terrible.

It was my first time to have my nose waxed, and I did not know the upper lip was included. My fear was that I would have to continue to have my lip waxed and that I would have to wait for whiskers to grow out long enough to have it done. Fortunately, no visible hair grew back. My esthetician told me it would only be fine hair since my lip hair was already fine and had never been waxed. Still, I waited for my first whisker, which thankfully never came.

Be sure you give clear instructions on what you want. If you want your nostrils only waxed, be sure you tell your esthetician before the appointment.
If you do want your lip waxed, you might want to mention it just in case it is not part of the procedure.

Armpit Waxing

The armpit seems to be the easiest body part to wax.

You do have to let the hair grow out, and you must keep this in mind for timing your waxing appointment.
Other than thinking about the hair growth, you do not have much else to consider unless it causes ingrown hairs. If that is the case, you may want to shave rather than wax.
If your skin is sensitive, use the appropriate deodorant.

Leg Waxing and Arm Waxing

Legs and arms are big areas to wax. I have had my legs waxed a couple of times, but I have opted for shaving. This is a purely personal decision.

Remember . . .

Each person is different. Some of us have coarse hair in certain areas, and some of us have fine hair. Some of us have sensitive skin and some of us don’t. Some of us are prone to ingrown hairs, and some of us aren’t. You will want to discuss these issues with your esthetician so you will know what to expect after a waxing, and you will want to monitor your hair growth for timing your appointment.

My esthetician told me the more I wax, the less hair will grow back. So far, I have not noticed much of a difference, but I try to be consistent with my appointments to maintain the best results.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 28, 2012:

Thanks, Julia! :-)

Julia on March 28, 2012:

Threading is the best way for the face but wax is best for the rest of the body

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 08, 2012:

Hmmm...Audra, I am curious. I will do my research on threading. :-)

Thanks for dropping by and voting!

iamaudraleigh on February 08, 2012:

Love the hub!!! But, hate waxing!!! Got it done a zillion times until I found the art of "Threading"! Try it, write a hub, then let me know if you liked it! Voting up!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on January 13, 2012:

Wow, Tammy! You could write a hub on your story! That sounds terrible!! Don't be afraid to have a professional wax. Just be sure your esthetician knows exactly what you want.

So glad you dropped by and read then shared your story!! Thank You!!

Tammy from North Carolina on January 13, 2012:

This is a helpful resource. Many years ago I attempted to wax my legs with a sugar wax kit. I prepared it according to the instructions on the box and applied it. It was so sticky and would not peel off. I soaked in a hot tub for over an hour and the wax would not budge. I had to work the next day with sticky legs. That evening I went home and tried to change into my comfy pants and my work pants were stuck to the left over wax on my legs. One good pull and I lost about 6 very much missed patches of skin. Thank you for this information!