City Chick Magazine

WAX ON, WAX OFF

With summer quickly approaching, it's best to get on a waxing schedule ASAP! This month, I would like to give you some do's and don'ts on how to achieve the best waxing results for skin as smooth as "budda." Believe it or not, you get what you pay for with many waxing salons. If you opt for the cheapest nail salon, you might get a decent wax, but more oft than not, you get hair that is not ripped out properly. This can result in ingrown hairs, quicker regrowth, ½ an eyebrow gone, damaged hair follicles, bruises, contagious diseases and of course burned skin. When a salon uses cheap honey wax, the wax only heats at a very high temperature. If a better quality wax is used, it heats at a lower temperature and insures the skin will not be burned.

Here are a few tips to get the most out of your waxing experience:

Let the hair grow as long as possible for the first time waxing that area. The idea is to get all the hair growth on the same cycle, so hairs aren't growing in-between your waxing sessions

Do not have caffeine before waxing. Caffeine swells the skin cells and makes the waxing more painful.

Do not wax on burned skin. The waxing will rip your skin off.

Do not wax if you are taking accutane, retin-a or other acid products that are exfoliating the skin. This will also rip the skin off!

Do not wax if you are injecting insulin. Your skin will easily rip off.

Do not tan the area 24 hours after waxing. Your skin will burn immediately. Apply sunblock to the area. Apply sunblock after waxing your brows and lip to protect the area from burning and hyperpigmentation all year round.

Do not wax right after running or working out. The skin cells will be swollen and the waxing will hurt more. Cool down first, then wax.

Waxing will hurt a lot more if you are pregnant.

Exfoliate the area a few times a week with a washcloth, scrub or body brush to prevent ingrown hairs.

Do not use a loofah. They harbor bacteria in all the little nooks and crannies.

Make sure your waxer is highly experienced. Get referrals from friends. Go to higher end salons, rather than cheap nail salons. It is worth the money.

Make sure the waxer does not double dip into the wax with the same stick if you are doing the upper lip or brazilian bikini. Wax can transmit bacteria and virus.

Stay on schedule so you don't have to shave in-between visits. Shaving in-between will give you an uneven waxing result

The more often you wax, the less it hurts. It never hurts as much as the first time.

Waxing makes the hair grow in less dense, less course and less frequent.

Try waxing your underarms. This is a great time saver for many women.

Remember to always protect your skin with sunblock to prevent hyperpigmentation and severe burning year round.

Lora Condon is a licensed esthetician and a former trainer for Anastasia of Beverly Hills. She is also the owner of Magic Hands Skin and Body Spa. Check out her website at www.makeupwithme.com

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