WAXING

A basic bikini wax removes the hairs on the sides of the thighs up to the so-called ‘panty line’, and at the top where the hair creeps up towards the lower stomach. It’s a great one if you’re looking to keep your natural growth, but still want to maintain a tidy appearance.

An extended bikini wax removes a little more hair from the sides within the panty line and across the top, leaving a smaller triangle of hair than a basic bikini wax.

A Brazilian wax removes all hair from the lower bikini area but a “landing strip”- usually a triangle, rectangle, or thin line of hair (it’s up to you!) – is left on top of the bikini area, usually for aesthetic reasons.

A Hollywood wax is the most thorough waxing service, where all hair is removed from the bikini area. It’ll leave you 100% smooth down there!

A Hollywood or Brazilian wax normally takes no more than 30 minutes. Over time, if you wax regularly your appointment time may be reduced due to minimised hair growth.

An intimate wax lasts around 4 weeks. This is because your hairs grow back in 3 different cycles:

•            1st growth after 4 weeks
•            2nd growth after 8 weeks
•            3rd and final growth after 12 weeks

If you’re not used to waxing, it will take a few sessions before you really experience all of the benefits of synchronising your hair growth. This is because on the day of your first appointment, the hairs you are removing will likely be at different stages of growth, with some still under the skin ready to poke out just a few days after your wax. After a few regular waxing sessions, you’ll be able to enjoy being hair-free for much longer periods of time, as your hair growth will have synchronised – with all hairs now growing at the same time and at the same rate.

The hair should be around 6mm in length (1/4 inch) this helps ensure the hair is removed completely from the root. We always suggest waiting a least 2 weeks since you last waxed, just to be on the safe side.

When waxing any sensitive area – such as the bikini, underarm, or face – it is important to use hot wax. Lycon is generally regarded as the best in the business, offering a low-temperature, gentle removal, and is super conditioning for the skin. Hot wax is applied against the hair growth and has a “shrink wrap” drying method. As the wax hardens it wraps around the hair encasing it perfectly for the most thorough and painless removal.

If it’s your first time getting waxed, tell your beauty therapist so they can make sure you’re as comfortable as possible and explain the process as you go.

After you’ve undressed in the treatment room, the beauty therapist will tell you how to position yourself on the treatment bed according to the type of wax you have opted for. You may be asked to shift around occasionally so that the beautician can wax all areas!

They will then apply a gentle solution to cleanse the area of any sweat, natural oils, or moisturisers, followed by a waxing oil that will form a protective barrier between the skin and the wax so there’s no irritation or pulling of the skin.

When you’re all settled, your beautician will test the heat of the wax (heated to 55-65C) on your body – usually on your arm and then on your lower stomach – before she begins the treatment.

If you’re comfortable with the temperature she will then begin applying the hot wax in sections using a wooden spatula, waiting a few seconds for the wax to harden and tighten, before removing it with a swift gesture while stretching the skin. It’s a sensitive area, but you should only feel pain for a second while she removes the wax, and you’ll quickly get used to the process after a few applications. Sometimes, right after waxing a section, pressure is applied to the area by hand to relieve any momentary discomfort. This is called the Gate Control Theory – it refers to nerve ‘gates’ that affect the way we perceive pain.

It’ll be over before you know it! An oil is applied to remove any wax residue and calm the skin, and you’ll be left to get dressed again.

For the larger and less sensitive parts of the body – such as the legs, arms, and back – it is common to use strip wax. This is a faster and less intricate technique that gets its name from the strips that are applied on top of the wax and used to remove hair from the skin in one quick pull.

As with hot wax, after you’ve removed the necessary items of clothing the beauty therapist will tell you how to best position yourself on the treatment bed. She will cleanse the area with and may apply a little talcum powder so the area is dry enough for the hairs to stick to the wax strip.

They will then test the wax, which is usually heated to a slightly lower temperature than hot wax (40-45C), on the area to make sure it is the right consistency. If you are comfortable with the temperature of the wax she will begin applying it in long sections using a wooden spatula, placing a strip on top of the wax while it is still soft. Pressure is applied on the strip to make sure the hairs stick well, and it is removed in one swift motion in the opposite direction to the hair growth, taking the wax and hairs with it.

As these areas of the body aren’t particularly sensitive, you’ll probably only feel a bit of pain on the first few strips before you become accustomed to the sensation. When the whole area has been waxed, the therapist will apply an oil to remove any wax residue and soothe the skin. If done properly it doesn’t need to be a painful process!  

The best way to prepare for any kind of waxing is let the hairs grow as much as possible and exfoliate in the days leading up to your appointment. You can opt for a physical exfoliant – such as a microbead scrub, an exfoliating glove or natural loofah sponge – or you could use a chemical exfoliant in the form of a body wash containing substances like AHA, BHA, or glycolic acid. Chemical exfoliants tend to be gentler on the skin as they require less scrubbing, but make sure to ease into it using them to avoid any irritation.

Exfoliating beforehand will help get rid of any dead skin – which can sometimes get in the way of the wax – and leave you with a much cleaner finish. If you have sensitive skin, exfoliating will also decrease the chance of any breakouts, ingrown-hairs, or irritation post-wax by removing impurities that might have become stuck in the hair follicle.

Of course, this advice doesn’t apply if you’re coming in for a bikini, brazilian or hollywood wax  – you shouldn’t exfoliate down there! In this case, a simple shower beforehand is all you need to prepare, and we’d advise against using any douches or artificial scented products as these can cause irritation and do more harm than good. While not out of the question, we wouldn’t advise having an intimate area wax while on your period, as your skin is more sensitive.