Waxing needn’t be taxing: All you need to know about hair removal

Most women can relate to the French phrase, “il faut souffrir pour être belle” – or, as it translates, “one must suffer to be beautiful” – and the phrase most often springs to mind during waxing.

Whether shaping eyebrows, taming leg hair or getting bikini ready, hot wax, in all its varieties, is a quick and easy way to remove unwanted hair. But if you haven’t gone under the beautician’s spatula before, the process can seem quite intimidating.

Here, to answer all your burning questions, waxing expert and entrepreneur Rosie Khandwala shares everything you need to know.

First-time fears

Not sure what to expect? Rosie says to start with a little research.

“Find out more about the salon you are going to visit, including which products they use, and who will be carrying out the treatment,” she explained.

“For example, a young, inexperienced trainee may not be suitable if it’s your first time. It also pays to request a patch test to assess the suitability of their products – natural products tend to be much gentler, while some waxes have chemicals which can react with the skin.”

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Painful or painless?

Rosie continued: “It’s always the first experience that determines the level of pain, and it varies with each individual. Although subsequent treatments can still cause slight discomfort, as anxiety and nerves play a part.

“A relaxed environment and a skilled therapist can usually make the treatment less painful. If absolutely necessary, there are various numbing creams available to apply, pre-treatment.”

Time will tell

It’s advised to leave four weeks between waxing appointments, and Rosie says having treatments done any earlier can result in patchy re-growth. However, regular waxing will reveal more desirable results.

“Without doubt, keeping up with regular treatments will make the hair grow back finer and sparser,” explained Rosie, who created Sugar Coated, a vegan sugar wax you can use at home.

“My advice would be to start at an early age – the benefits outweigh the sacrifice!”

After care

Rosie explained: “Removing hair from the roots will cause redness, but your therapist will apply a soothing gel. To avoid any inflammation, don’t expose the skin to any hot conditions for 24 hours.

“In between waxes, keep up an exfoliation routine to eliminate in-grown hair and maintain even hair growth.”

Visit sugarcoatedhairremoval.com