Leg and Bikini Waxing FAQ

Waxing leaves your legs smooth and beautiful. I have many clients who wax their legs, bikini areas and underarms consistently. 

They see a significant reduction in the amount of hair they have. The skin feels silky smooth with no stubble, showers are quicker since no shaving is needed, there are no stinging legs when you go into the salty sea water like you can get on freshly shaved legs plus, there is no shadow of dark hairs showing through the skin because the hair is removed by the root. 

People who have never waxed before have many questions about waxing. 

Here are some questions people frequently ask me:

Do I have to grow the hair?
Yes. Hairs that are too short cannot become embedded in the wax so the can't be pulled out.

How long does the hair have to be?
The hardest part of waxing is when you first start. The hair must be 1/8"-1/4" long so the wax can adhere to it and pull it out. 

That's about 10-14 days of growth. Make your waxing appointment early (while the hair is growing) to get a convenient appointment time. 

My clients plan their waxings around their vacation schedules and their special events so their skin is hair free for important occasions.

For a hair free vacation, wax a day or two before you leave. 

If you don't know how your skin reacts or you get very sensitive after waxing, wax 3-4 days before you leave to give your skin a chance for calm before you go on vacation. 

Is there anything special I have to do to prepare?
Besides letting the hair grow, avoid sun exposure, including tanning beds, 2 days before waxing.Sunburned skin cannot be waxed. Stop using any glycolic or alpha hydroxy skin care products on your legs or other areas that will be waxed 3 days before waxing. 

Do a light exfoliation using a dry body brush or a body scrub the day before your waxing to remove dead cell build up. This will free up hairs trapped under the dead skin layer so that they can be removed with the wax. 

Can you wax over a spray tan? 

You can be waxed when you have a spray tan but the waxing will lift off a lot of the spray tan.  It's better to wax first then have a spray tan. Wait a day or two after waxing to get your spray tan. The skin may feel a little stingy when the tanner product is applied on just waxed skin. Waxing will lighten a natural tan as well, just not as dramatically as with a spray tan. 

Will it Hurt? 
Waxing feels like pulling a Bandaid off. It's a quick sting. But it hurts less over time because the hairs become weaker, finer and more sparse with continuous waxing making them easier to pull out. 

The more you wax, the less it hurts. Your wax technician will do a patch test to
check for sensitivity if you have never been waxed before. I actually have regular waxing clients doze off during their leg waxings. Really. I'm not kidding!

Does the skin get red?
Most people get some degree redness with the exception of my veteran waxers who see very little or no redness from a leg wax or bikini wax. The redness typically fades within 24 hours. Some sensitive skin people may have red dots where the hair were for a day or so.

How is the waxing done? 
There are different types of wax. Hard wax and soft wax. The waxing process is a little different according to what kind of wax is used. Some waxes are formulated for sensitive skin. We achieve excellent results with soft wax at the salon. We have regular and sensitive skin wax.

Here is the process for a leg wax using soft wax: 
Powder may or may not be applied to the area to be waxed depending on the moisture level of the skin, warm wax is applied to the skin in approximately 2"x 5" sections. A cloth strip is placed over the wax and is pressed on to the wax. Then, the strip is pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Your technician may then press on the skin to take away the sting. The process continues on the front and back of the legs taking about 45-60 minutes for a full leg wax and 20-30 minutes for a 1/2 leg wax. A 1/2 leg would be from the knee down or from the knee up. A soothing lotion is massaged onto your skin after the waxing is completed.

Here is the process for a leg wax using hard wax:
Hard was doesn't require a cloth strip. The wax is melted and applied to the skin in a thick layer approximately 2"x 5" sections in the direction of the hair growth. It is allowed to harden slightly and is pulled off. Your technician may then press on the skin to take away the sting. Hard wax sticks less to the skin than soft wax. People with very sensitive skin will have less irritation when hard wax is used for their leg waxing. The process takes the same amount of time as with soft wax, about 45-60 minutes for a full leg wax and 20-30 minutes for a 1/2 leg wax.  A 1/2 leg would be from the knee down or from the knee up. A soothing lotion is massaged onto your skin after the waxing is completed. 

Is a bikini wax included with a full leg wax?
I include a bikini line wax when I do a full leg wax. A Brazilian wax or full bikini wax is an additional cost. I also include the feet and toes in a full leg wax.

Read about the different styles of bikini waxings

What do I need to do after my waxing?
Avoid sun exposure, including tanning beds, for 24 hours after waxing. Wear comfortable clothes, not tight jeans, right after waxing. Avoid hot water after waxing, warm water is fine. Don't use body scrub for at least 2 days. If the skin feels irritated or sensitive, apply a soothing cream. Aloe creams are very soothing for just waxed skin.

How long will my leg wax last?
You can expect your legs to stay really smooth for about 2 weeks. Then, you may have a few soft strays growing in. By 4-6 weeks, the hair is ready to be waxed again. The hair has to grow to the right length in order to wax it again. Waxed hair growing back in is softer and finer feeling than shaved hair. 

Most of my leg waxing clients come in an average of every 5 weeks for waxing. Bikini waxers come in every 3-5 weeks. Bikini hair can be more affected by hormones and grows faster than leg hair. 

Will the hair grow in darker and thicker?
No. After your first leg or bikini wax, the hair will grow back basically the same, but it will feel much softer growing in. There is no course stubble. Continuous waxing helps to weaken the hair. The hair eventually gets finer and more sparse.

Can I shave between waxings?
You can but to achieve maximum hair reduction benefits from waxing, you need to stick to a continuous waxing schedule. If you decide to go back to shaving for awhile and then wax again, the hair will not respond in the same way as it does with constant waxing. It will take much longer to become softer, finer and more sparse. 

Can I come and talk to you in person about waxing? 
Sure you can! Schedule an appointment for a consultation with me at the salon, Styling Point, Media, Pa. 610 566-1070. You can also stop in for me to have a look if you are not sure if the hair is long enough.

Read more about waxing and other types of hair removal

Stick to waxing. You will love the results!

     
Have a Beautiful Day! 

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

 Wedding, special occasion or everyday makeup and skin care services available in the Philadelphia, Pa. area. Visit my makeup page for more information!

Thanks for using my amazon links💋

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸