“Summer, after all, is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people. For those few months, you’re not required to be who everyone thinks you are, and that cut-grass smell in the air and the chance to dive into the deep end of a pool give you a courage you don’t have the rest of the year. You can be grateful and easy, with no eyes on you, and no past. Summer just opens the door and lets you out.” –Deb Caletti, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
While summer is in full swing, so are those gorgeously, tanned legs and cute bikinis. As we opt to combat the heat with a little less clothing, we encounter the same annoying hair that comes back day after day. Ugh. However, we have to appreciate the geniuses that created waxing! Phew, not so many razor burn bumps peaking through your bikini.
We all know the basics of waxing, but do we know the 10 Commandments?
10 Commandments of Waxing:
- Find 1 form of hair removal and stick with it. If you choose waxing, stick to it. It may seem annoying to have some hair come back, but if you do not allow it to grow some, then you cannot wax.
- Be strategic. Ladies, schedule your wax a week after your period to avoid excessive pain. Right before your period, the prostaglandin levels are at the highest, which makes your skin more sensitive and more likely to swell.
Tip: Planning on having more than waxing done? Try this order:- Massage
- Wax
- Facial
- Mani/Pedi
**If you wax before a massage, you may end up clogging your pores and causing annoying and painful ingrown hairs.
- Gently exfoliate the day/night before your wax. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that may cause ingrown hairs and clogged pores.
After exfoliation, use a body wash with salicylic acid. If you do not have a body wash, you may use a salicylic acid facial scrub around your bikini area. Please remember that all washes are for external use. - What’s your style? Decide before you get to Bellezza Spa what type of design you want if you are waxing your bikini area. Heading to Brazil—aka removing everything? Just a slight shaping? Or do you want a landing strip or triangle? Avoid the guessing game and have an idea before you arrive.
Tip: If you have wide hips, opt for a wider top-lined triangle. - Avoid alcohol. While having a pre-wax cocktail seems appealing, it will make the pain worse. Research has shown that acetaldehyde, a breakdown product of alcohol, may make people more prone to pain. Stick to a nice glass of lemon water.
- Bathe in luxury for cheap—a milk bath fit for a queen! Combat waxing-induced redness and irritation by soaking in a milk bath. Combine ½ whole milk and ½ water (or skim milk) into a bathtub. Soak for about ten minutes and repeat the next day as needed. Don’t want to bathe? Try a ½ milk and ½ water soaked washcloth instead. Lactic acid is known to help calm skin. Milk also contains fats and proteins that help to hydrate your skin.
***Do rinse with regular water after your bath. The goal is to have a soft, milky complexion not a sticky milk mess. - Close the pores. After your appointment, apply a cold pack to the waxed area immediately. Doing so will close the pores and block any bacteria from entering.
- Cleanse the area. Next, wash the area gently with a salicylic acid cleanser or use an anti-acne cleansing pad. The goal is to keep the area clean and bacteria free.
- Avoid the sun or opt for SPF. Waxing tends to leave your skin more sensitive and vulnerable to the sun’s powerful rays. Slather on SPF before hitting the beach.
- Repeat. You can lessen the pain from waxing by becoming a frequent waxer at Bellezza Spa. And fun bonus fact, the more you wax, the less you will need to wax. Waxing reduces the strength of the hair follicles and hair grows back sparser. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!
Remember that song by Brian Hyland? You know the one about a polkadot bikini? Yeah, I know you do. Now get out there and wear that “itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polkadot bikini!”
Book your appointment today at Bellezza Spa. We want you to strut around with confidence. Worry less about hair, and worry more about the cute boys playing beach volleyball!
