The Lowdown On Waxing On Your Period
Periods can suck. Were all for women rallying and doing it all on their periods but most women agree its definitely not their favourite time of the month. Contrary to tampon and pad commercials showing women twirling around in white skirts and sweating hard at the gym while menstruating, many experience intense cramping, headaches, nausea and a severe lack of energy. For some, its even a time of avoiding: avoiding the beach, avoiding shopping for jeans, or avoiding wearing anything but stretchy pants. One thing you shouldnt avoid is visiting your waxing salon because its definitely possible to get waxed while on your period .
Before you get waxed:
Consider your body and how its feeling. Different times of your cycle are more sensitive than others, so be mindful and think about taking a Tylenol 30 minutes before your appointment if you feel extra sensitive. Your skin is not only more sensitive to pain on your period but can be dryer as well.You may also want to consider opting for a bikini wax over a brazilian You know your body best so listen to it.
Shower–whether youre on your period or not, its a good idea to shower at some point during the day of your waxing appointment–its just proper etiquette. Also, it may go without saying, but its most comfortable for you and your Waxologist if you wear a tampon or menstrual cup.
At the Laser + Waxbar:
After you get waxed:
Get Waxed By A Licensed Esthetician
Getting waxed during your periods is easier to handle when an experienced person does it for you. Make sure you pass by a professional waxing clinic in your area and have them do the work.
It saves you the hassle of going through homemade recipes in reducing pain and irritation while making your waxing session less painful.
Is There Anyone Who Shouldnt Get A Wax
You should check in with your doctor if you have sensitive skin or take certain medications.
These include:
- oral acne medications, such as Accutane
- using topical retinoids, such as Retin-A
Some of these products and medications weaken the skin barrier through chemical exfoliation, and waxing could result in painful overexfoliation.
Radiation and chemotherapy can also lead to an uptick in skin sensitivity and dryness, so waxing may not be the most comfortable hair removal method.
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You may have heard at some point that your period can make you more sensitive to the pain of waxing and there might be some truth to that. During your period, your body is in an inflammatory state and a lot more hormones than usual are released in your body. They really do increase the sensitivity of the skin, says Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of minimally invasive gynecology at The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Waxing during that time could elicit more tenderness in that area.
What you shouldand shouldn’tbe doing to keep your lady parts in good shape:
Still, this hasnt been proven by research, says Christine Greves, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Its just what doctors have noticed over time. As for hygiene concerns, that area isnt sterile anyway and your esthetician should be wearing gloves, so it shouldnt be an issue.
If you feel okay knowing that your wax might be a little more uncomfortable than normal, then go for it. Kaiser points out that you just might want to take an ibuprofen beforehand, to help take the edge off.
What Is Brazilian Wax Etiquette
Basic Brazilian wax etiquette may seem like common sense for one person but a complete surprise to another. Things like cleaning up before the appointment, not coming in straight from the gym, not having one too many cocktails before waxing, and others are ways clients can keep the experience for themselves and their estheticians a pleasant one.
Lets break these down.
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Dont Work Out After Your Wax Either
One of the core pillars of post-wax care? Take the whole day off from the gym. The friction in tight yoga pants can cause irritation, says Marinescu. Additionally, you should avoid any physical activity 12 to 24 hours after your wax, Cordova says. The less heat you bring to the area, the better. Steering clear of anothermore privateathletic endeavor can be beneficial as well. Esthetician Elana De Damian of Elana De Damian Skin Care suggests holding off on getting busy post-wax for at least 24 hours.
Is Getting A Brazilian Wax Awkward
The estheticians who provide Brazilian waxes are professionals, which means theyve probably seen it all. They arent there to pass judgment on your genitals, so dont worry!
If youre feeling a little shy, you can let your wax technician know that its your first time. Theyll likely want to help set you at ease.
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Can You Get Waxed If Youre On Your Period
If youre on your period, you may want to consider rescheduling your appointment. When youre menstruating, the skin around your pubic bone becomes a little more sensitive and youre more prone to cramping.
If youre still down to get waxed, make sure you wear a tampon or reusable cup to your appointment. Most professionals wont wax if youre using a pad or free flowing.
How Long Will The Results Last
This depends on how fast your hair grows and how dark your hair is.
Typically, it lasts around 3 to 4 weeks. Once the hair is at least ¼-inch long, you can go in for another wax.
In the meantime, be careful to avoid shaving it can lead to more itchiness, irritation, or ingrown hairs.
If you stick to a monthly waxing schedule, youll likely find that waxing becomes easier and less painful over time.
If you dont keep up with a schedule, youll disrupt the hair growth cycle and have to start from scratch all over again. This means it may be more painful the next time you go.
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What Is A Brazilian Wax Exactly
There’s a bikini wax, where hair on the sides and top area along the bikini line are removed, and then there’s a Brazilian, which leaves your entire pubic area bare . A Brazilian wax removes all the hair from your bikini area , and those hard-to-reach areas in the back. Simply put: everything goes. You can opt to leave a “landing strip” or a triangle, choice is up to you.
It Wont Be As Bad As Youre Expecting
If youre a newbie and anticipating pain levels that rival that of Steve Carells character in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, know that a bikini wax certainly isnt a paid vacation, but its likely going to go better than you think. For first-time waxers especially, the buildup of anticipation before you get in the room is the worst part, says Shobha Tummala, founder and CEO of East Coast hair-removal chain Shobha. If youre seeing a pro, the act itself will be much faster and less painful.
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How To Prepare For A Bikini Wax
You’re in control of your service. Double-check with your technician to ensure that you both are on the same page on how you want your bikini wax to look. Tell them your preferences of where and how much hair you want to be removed or left. This way, they can adjust the style to make it your own.
Plan on exfoliating before your wax? Petak says to make sure to use a film-free exfoliant that rinses clean off the skin rather than leaving it coated in oil 24 to 48 hours before your wax. She recommends European Wax Centers exfoliating gel its non-abrasive and contains their exclusive Comfort Blend to help calm, nourish, and restore skin.
As far as length goes, Petak recommends that your hair is at least one-quarter inch longabout the size of a sprinkle. “Its a good idea to stop shaving at least five days before your waxing reservation,” Petak says.
It’s better to arrive at your waxing appointment with hair that is too long, rather than hair that is too short. Those that are unsure about their hair length should wait a bit longer. The worst-case scenario is that your spa trims down the hair before your session.
What’s Better: Hot Wax Or Strip Wax
“Strip wax adheres to the top layer of the skin as well as the hair. When that comes off, it takes the top layer of skin as well, which is why it’s so painful,” Christie said. “That causes redness, swelling, and irritation, etc. Hard wax, which is what we use, only adheres to the hair, so it’s more gentle for sensitive skin.”
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How Do You Care For Your Freshly
“It’s important to exfoliate every other day because you need to get that dead skin off the surface or it will get trapped into the hair follicles and block the hair from growing out. This is how ingrown hairs are created,” she said as she applied an ingrown hair serum to my skin. “Avoid any sweaty activities, sun exposure, public pools, or jacuzzi, having sex, and showering with very hot water after getting a wax.”
What Is A Full Brazilian Wax
A full Brazilian wax is when all of the hair is removed, front to back, from your intimate area. While bikini waxes remove the hair around the sides and tops of where your bottom bikini would lie, a full Brazilian wax takes off all the hair from there, your labia, and your pubic bone…basically everything up, down, and around!
And yes, full Brazilian waxes also include removing the hair located inside the butt crack around the anus. While this is standard practice during a full Brazilian wax, you can always opt-out if you prefer not to wax this location.
So now that were all on the same page, when your clients come in for their appointments, what is proper Brazilian Wax Etiquette? What should they do during the appointment? What should they have done before their appointment?
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Resist The Urge To Do Recon Work After Your Wax Job
If ingrown hairs appear after your wax, dont pluck them, advises Cordova. Let us handle it. If you pick at your ingrowns with your nails, you risk scarring and infection. We have tons of bacteria underneath our nail beds, she says. If you cant make it back into your waxers, an ingrown-hair treatment can help safely address the issue, as can gentle exfoliation of the area three days after your wax.
Amber Katz is a writer and beauty expert in New York. Follow her on Instagram.
What Can You Do To Minimize Ingrown Hairs And Other Bumps
Ingrown hairs are a major pain no pun intended. To help prevent any from popping up, do a gentle exfoliation a few days before your appointment.
Steer clear from harsh physical or chemical exfoliants. All you need for a gentle exfoliation is a washcloth.
If you end up with ingrown hairs, dont pick! This will only cause further irritation and potential scarring.
Instead, apply a bikini-safe treatment like fur Ingrown Concentrate or Anthony Ingrown Hair Treatment to help heal, soothe, and repair the skin around the trapped hair.
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How Can You Prep For A Brazilian Wax
Pop an ibuprofen before your arrival, I didn’t and felt every rip! “Wear loose-fitting clothes,” Christie suggested. I didn’t. “Also, bringing a new pair of underwear is better than re-wearing the one you’ve been wearing all day.” Also, don’t shave! “When you’re shaving, the hair is cut down to different levels, which makes it harder for the wax to grip. If you shave even once after getting a wax, it’s like starting all over again,” she adds. After a wax, it takes about three to four weeks for hair to grow back.
In addition to taking ibuprofen, apply numbing cream or spray. Apply the cream about 30-40 minutes before your appointment to help dull hair removal pain.
Dont Come To Your Waxing Appointment Right After You Go To The Gym
This goes hand in hand with the etiquette tip mentioned above. Aside from thinking of cleanliness, when you have loads of sweat and excessive body oils, you create a barrier for easy wax application.
Whether its lotions, oils, or too much sweat, these all cause the wax to stick less to the hair, which creates a more challenging job for your waxing professional and possibly a more painful experience for yourself.
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How To Prepare Before Your Appointment
Check in with yourself before the appointment to make sure youre ready. You should:
- Make sure your hair is at least ¼-inch long about the size of a grain of rice. If its longer than ½ inch, you may want to trim it slightly, so the wax is able to grip better.
Your first appointment will probably take around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much hair you have and how much you want to get removed during your session.
Heres what you can expect:
When you go to pay, make sure to tip at least 20 percent. This is the standard for most salons.