Prepping your skin for waxing

We all love how our skin feels post hair removal. The soft, smooth and silky skin feels delightful at touch, and we’d give anything for it to stay like that. No wonder so many people opt for permanent hair removal methods such as laser treatment. However, such treatments can cost one an arm and a leg, and to be fair, the less expensive methods such as shaving and waxing do the job just as well. The only con would be that they need to be done much more frequently. 

So if you’re someone who likes to wax their hair off or are planning to do so for the first time, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be discussing everything you need to know about it, from its benefits and skin prepping to post care. So let's jump right in. 

What is waxing? 

Waxing is the process of removing unwanted hair using a sticky substance, which removes the hair by pulling it from the hair follicles. In ancient times, the removal of hair was mainly done for cleanliness and fashion purposes. It is said that waxing was practised in Egypt and dates as early as 3000 BC. 

But is waxing good for your skin?

The answer to this is yes! Waxing not only removes the unwanted hair from your body, it also removes any dry and dead skin cells in the process. Waxing is a much safer option compared to shaving because it does not leave any cuts and marks during the process. But the process of waxing is a little painful in comparison, but nothing one can't bear! When comparing waxing and shaving together, hair from the waxed area will not grow back for two to eight weeks whereas the hair starts to grow back after three to five days after shaving. 

What are the benefits of waxing?

Less regrowth before your next appointment

With waxing, the hair is pulled out from its roots which makes the process of regrowth slow, leaving your skin to feel smooth and soft for a longer period of time. If you wax consistently, you will definitely see less regrowth of the hair which is one of the major advantages of waxing as compared to shaving.

Waxing acts as a gentle exfoliation 

Waxing removes the outermost layer of your skin which leaves your skin feeling clean, smoother and radiant. Waxing also removes any dry and dead skin cells during the process which gives a softer feel of the skin. However, it must be kept in mind that waxing alone will not work as exfoliation.

Less prone to inflammation

When you shave instead of wax, the friction from the razor leads to inflammation and discoloration which is one of the common disadvantages of shaving. However, with waxing the inflammation and discoloration can be reduced because the skin is less exposed to repeated friction.

Regrowth is finer and sparser

With waxing, the hair is pulled out from the roots which causes the hair follicles to weaken over time. As the hair follicles get weak, they produce sparser and finer hair. However, this takes time! Do not expect your hair to regrow fine just after a few times of waxing. Here, consistency is the key! 

How to prep your skin before waxing?

Let it grow

It is very important for the hair to be a good length for it to be waxed properly. Wax is meant to grip the hair so that it can be released from the skin. When the hair is too short, waxing won't give the desired results. If it's too long, waxing will be painful. So try to get it done every three to four weeks. 

Exfoliation before waxing

Exfoliation is best at keeping the dead skin cells away and preventing ingrown hairs. For a smooth waxing session, gently exfoliate your skin a day or two before your appointment, keeping in mind to skip the day of your session. Exfoliation helps in grabbing the hair and not the skin. 

Moisturise until the day of your appointment

We can not emphasise enough on the fact that moisturising is a must in any skin care routine. Do not forget to moisturise your skin before your waxing appointments because a healthy, well moisturised skin allows the wax to grip the hair more easily. But make sure not to lather too much of it on the day of your appointment because too much moisturiser can coat the hair which interferes with wax grip. A small amount of Leovard’s non greasy Multicream should do just right.  

How to care for your skin post-waxing?

Very little aftercare is required post-waxing. However, if your skin is sensitive, you might feel a little irritation and redness. Using a soothing toner, like the Leovard Tonic can help reduce any inflammation, giving your skin a soothing and calming effect. It contains several healing and nourishing ingredients such as organic aloe vera, green tea, witch hazel and turmeric, all of which help the skin recuperate. 

Takeaway

Waxing is one of the easier and less costly ways of hair removal, and learning about skin prep and post care can help you enjoy beautifully soft and smooth skin