How to Have a Less Painful Wax
Does waxing hurt? Yes, it does. Waxing is an excellent method of hair removal, but it often turns out to be painful, and many women avoid it for that reason. Many women prefer to shave the hair rather than waxing it off, but they need to understand that this is harmful to the skin as well as hair. You can still wax your hair and cause less pain to yourself – as this guide shows you how.
Following are some tips to have a less painful wax.
1. Time it Right
You need to consider two important factors before you proceed to wax your hair.
- If the hair is long enough for removal
- The date of your monthly cycle.
If the hair is too short, the wax cannot grip it properly, and it pulls the skin more than the hair, which hurts quite a lot. Besides, your threshold for pain is higher or lower depending on which side of your menstrual period you are. Your limit is highest just after your period ends and lowest just before the period. You can time your waxing session accordingly.
2. Prepare Yourself
Wax pulls both the hair and any residual dead skin in the area. Always lightly exfoliate the skin before waxing it. Exfoliation removes dead skin and helps open the skin's pores. Thus, the wax grips the skin better, and you get a better waxing experience. You can take a warm bath before waxing and dry your skin thoroughly before applying wax. Damp skin repels wax, and you will not be able to remove the hair properly.
3. Perfect the Technique at home
It is natural to tense up just before the wax is pulled off – it is the body's natural response to the expectation of pain. But this can make the wax hurt more than it should. Just breathe in slowly as you apply the wax, and pull your skin tight so that the wax gets maximum coverage.
Veet enables you to ditch the salon and have effortless hair removal in the comfort of your home. If you're using Veet’s Ready-to-Use Wax Strips, just grip the Easy Grip tab and pull in one smooth motion against the direction of hair growth.
4. Exfoliate Before Waxing
Though the goal of waxing is to get rid of hairs, the procedure also exfoliates your skin. Use a body scrub about two days before so that there isn't any extra dry, dead skin that can make it harder for the wax to grab hairs.
5. Soak in a Warm Bath First
If you have time, soak in a warm bath for about 20-30 minutes before waxing to open up your pores and soften the hair follicles, which will make the waxing effortless.
6. Breathe
This is quite possibly the most challenging thing to do because your natural reaction will be to hold your breath and tense up when your body knows there's going to be waxing pain. Instead, make an effort to breathe deeply and exhale deeply when the wax strip is being pulled.
7. Ensure the Hair is of the Right Length
Before you wax, make sure the hair is about 1/4 inch long. If the hairs are too short, the wax won't be able to pull the hair, but also too long means it will need to be trimmed first.
8. Wear Loose Clothes Afterwards
For about 24-48 hours after the wax, wear cotton underwear and loose pants or skirts. This will allow the waxed area to breathe and not be irritated by tight fabrics.
9. Stop Shaving
Don't shave in-between your wax sessions. Shaving can make the hair more resistant to wax. At least three weeks before waxing, stop shaving.
10. Don’t Wax If You Have a Sunburn
Sunburn is enough of an irritation to the skin, to begin with, so avoid getting a wax if your skin feels at all burned.
11. Look after Yourself
Your skin will be sensitive or even a little sore after waxing, so it is best not to irritate it further. Don’t exfoliate, keep away from soap and don’t use deodorants. Avoid exposing the skin to direct sunlight.
We hope now you have learnt how to do waxing at home without pain. If you are still not in favour of waxing, you can try a painless hair removal process such as applying Veet's Depilatory Creams. The creams dissolve the hair at the roots, and both the cream and hair are simply washed or wiped off. Though the hair grows back faster than it does with waxing, the method does not cause any discomfort.