Intro to Waxing 101: Bikini Season
Vacation season is upon us and I consider it my duty as an Elite Waxing Professional (EWP, if you will) to ensure you all go into this Summer fully prepared. Shaving is annoying... you know it, I know it. It's time to step your game up! I have to do it almost every other day, I'm tall so I've got a lot of leg, I've got horrible eye sight so I always miss spots... it's the worst. Have you ever cut yourself trying to get "ready" for a date? Of course you have... you're a human. What to do? How to solve? Wax... that's what you do!
Let's get your obvious arguments out of the way: waxing is painful, waxing is too expensive, it's too hard to find a place to have it done, it can be uncomfortable to have to show your goodies to a complete stranger on a regular basis. I hear you, I understand you, I get it. However, there are multiple benefits to waxing that can make your life so much easier. Just hear me out (cue Frou Frou).
Waxing Can be Pain-Less
The act of waxing is always going to be painful to a degree but should never be excruciating. Traditional wax (also known as strip wax or soft wax) removes not only the hair but also the topmost layer of skin of any area it is applied to. That is where half the pain from waxing comes from. However there is an alternative! Hard wax (or stripless wax) is designed to not require the use of a strip to remove it. As it dries it plasticizes, lifting away from the skin but still adhering to the hair. Once removed, only the hair goes with it & not a layer of your skin thereby cutting out half the pain factor. This is extremely important when waxing über-sensitive areas like the bikini, underarms, or face. The skin of those areas need to be protected and treated with care, that's why it's important to find a spa or salon that uses hard wax for these services. How do you do that? Easy...
Consult Your Girls, Girl...
If you've never waxed before and are apprehensive about the process or where to go, look no further than your girlfriends. Before there was Yelp or Four Square, we had our friends to tell us where to go, who to see, what to drink, and when to go. They are your best resource for finding a good waxer plus you can trust them to tell you the truth about what to expect. Added bonus: you're comfortable enough with your BFFs to seek advice regarding the sensitive subject of your Crown Jewels.
Waxing is an Investment
Speaking of jewels... when thinking of the cost of taking the plunge into waxing, consider this: you wouldn't send your grandmother's engagement ring to be repaired by a dude in a van down by the river for $5 and a case of Bud, so why trust a cheap spa or salon who only charges $20 with your Crown Jewels? There is a reason high end spas charge a higher dollar for their services. They use higher quality products and in the wax game quality is everything. EVERYTHING. The better the grade of product the salon or spa uses, the better the end result for you, the client. Lower quality waxes use cheap fragrances & dyes that can cause irritation and lead to allergic reactions on sensitive skin. That is the LAST thing you want when you're about to head off on the first vacation you've had in two years with your new Boo in tow. Consider the price you pay for a good wax an investment in your vacation's future. Remember: you get what you pay for!
A Good Waxer is Worth Her Weight in Gold
Another consideration when talking about the price of waxing is who is doing the waxing. Higher end spas use quality products but also invest in quality talent. Established salons & spas tend to hire very experienced and vetted estheticians so you're more likely to be booked with someone well-versed in the ways of wax. Many waxing studios also have specialized training programs for their talent so you can be assured your Jewels are in good hands. This is another area where your friends' input can be vital. If your BFF has an amazing waxer she loves to see, ask for their information. Odds are you'll love her too plus she comes with the coveted "BFF Seal of Approval". If you need an extra level of assurance, check with the spa or salon and see if you can book a consultation with an Esthetician. You can ask any questions & even have a test patch done to see how your skin reacts to the wax. It's imperative you feel as comfortable as possible when choosing a waxer because you'll be seeing this person once a month for, like, ever. It's common to be a little nervous at first but a good esthetician will put you at ease early in the treatment. Also, don't think your waxer is seeing anything new... I've seen so many body parts in my life as an esthetician that they're all just a blur. No matter what I'm waxing, it's all an elbow to me. Estheticians are not easily shocked... I am not easily shocked... call me Silk the Unshockable.
Plan & Prepare
You've decided where to go to, now what do you do? Make sure you are prepared! If you've been shaving, quit it. The optimal length for waxing is around 1/4 inch, or what you can grab with the tips of your fingers. Any shorter than that and the wax won't grab onto the hair, leaving you in pain but still stubbly. Be patient... the growing out process can be a mess but you'll be way happier with your results if you wait until the hair is good & ready. It also helps to exfoliate no less than three days before your wax service. You want to make sure the hair follicles are free and clear of dry skin so all the hair is available to be caught up by the wax. Don't forget to slather your gams in moisturizer afterward. I like to salt scrub or use exfoliating gloves in the shower then drench my body in my favorite body butter. The softer, smoother, and more nourished your skin is, the more effective the waxing process will be. Going in for a "Trip to Brazil"? Tread lightly in that area & opt to use your face scrub. Facial scrubs tend to be more gentle and will exfoliate your Polly Pocket without irritation. Don’t forget to moisturize… Polly can get parched, too.
Follicle Facts
The life of a hair follicle has three stages: growth, rest, shed. On your body right now are thousands of hair follicles that are in any one of these stages. Now we all know the myth that shaving makes hair grow back courser and darker. It ain't so, y'all. That’s not how Science works. It just seems as if our hair is courser and darker post-shave because the hair is just lopped off at skin level; it all returns at the same time regardless of it's stage. When it comes to waxing, hair is being removed at the root. Since all your hair follicles are on a different schedule, the hairs grow back at varying speeds. Some hairs can be back the next week because they were in the growth stage while some won't be back for over a month because they was already shedding at wax time. This circle of hair life plays a large role in maintenance. My number one piece of advice to newcomers in my treatment room: Once you start your waxing journey, don't stop! Be sure to have your services done every 4-6 weeks, depending on the body part. Longer periods of time in between trips to the spa mean more hair has had an opportunity to return. Keep a regular schedule & your wax trips will be sweet, swift, and painless. Wait too long and it will be like the first time, every time... certainly no one has time for that.
Waxing is an über-convenient way to get yourself Summer sexy without taking too much time away from all the Summertime fun you've got planned. If you're still a little apprehensive, feel free to direct your waxing and beauty queries to the Blush & Bourbon Facebook page or send me an email at blushnbourboncast@gmail.com. You've got places to go, cocktails to drink, and potential Boos to kick it with... BE READY, Y'ALL! Speaking of cocktails... there's a new bottle of Wild Turkey with my name on it and it won't drink itself in my backyard. It needs my help!
Until next time, Lovelies...
Stay Beautiful! 💘
