Waxscapes

Here are some answers to questions that frequently come up, especially in regards to Brazilian Bikini waxing. If you have a question that remains unanswered, feel free to contact me, and I shall do my best to answer promptly.

Waxing during pregnancy?
You may get waxed during pregnancy, although you can expect to be more sensitive during your first trimester, usually until morning sickness subsides again.
When scheduling a bikini wax for your delivery, aim for an appointment 10 days before your due date.
Sadly, you can expect more ingrown hairs and red bumps than usual during pregnancy, and you should step up exfoliation accordingly.
As for good news, hair growth tends to slow down during pregnancy, meaning you can space your appointments further apart than ususal by a few weeks.

Waxing during your period?
As far as a Brazilian bikini is concerned, it's always good to check with your service provider first. Some estheticians might be uncomfortable with the idea. Personally, I have no problem with performing this service for you during that time, but keep in mind that, especially if you are cramping and not feeling well to begin with, your pain tolerance could be lower than usual.
And no, no tampons have ever been accidentally pulled out.

What makes you more sensitive?
Stress, sunburn (tanning salons included), hangovers, sleep deprivation, recent hormone changes (early pregnancy; on/off/new birth control; some thyroid medications) and for some reason Detoxes/Cleanses can all contribute to experiencing more discomfort during waxing.
In addition, those with true red hair tend to have deeper, stronger roots and are generally likely to experience more pain.
Other than that, the more mentally and physically relaxed you are, the easier it is going to be for you.

Hives or itching after waxing?
This happens only rarely, but when it does - oh boy! Stress and cycle-related hormone swings are, as usual, the prime suspects; however, heat, sweat and friction can act as triggers as well. Watch out for combinations of the latter during beach weather especially, and make sure to wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing for those appointment. True allergic reactions to an ingredient in the wax itself are uncommon but possible as well.
Hives luckily tend to resolve fairly quickly on their own, and a little anti-histamine gel/cream or even pill can speed this along if needed. Resist the temptation to combat any itching with layers and layers of random products from your medicine cabinet and lotions&potions collection! Chances are that this will make things only worse. Cold water splashes or cooling compresses and anti-histamines are the way to go in such instances.

What about pain control?
Some clients swear by Ibuprofen.
Avoid medications with blood-thinning properties, such as Aspirin. These can inhibit coagulation and thus increase residual spotting from your hair follicles (blood dots for a few minutes after waxing). Minor dotting is normal for people with stronger roots, being caused by severing the supply capillaries at the bottom of the follicle that nourish the hair root.
As a somewhat costly but quite effective alternative, you can try EMLA numbing cream, which is available over the counter at most drug stores.

What about hair length?
Ideally, you should book a waxing appointment every 4 to 6 weeks.
If you have shaved before, book when the hair has grown out to a minimum of a 1/4 inch (think the width of your finger). Any shorter, and you will face hair breakage and subsequent punishment by tweezers!
Contrary to popular myth, longer hair is not a problem. Avoid shoddy home trimming jobs and letme take care of things in a more controlled manner instead.
However, keep in mind that longer hair is always the result of a longer waiting period between waxing sessions, and that this extended waiting time is what can cause you to experience more discomfort in turn: More time between waxings equals more hair with stronger roots, equalling more pain for you, simple as that.

When do extra charges apply?
Prices may vary slightly when the primary waxing area needs to be extended for achieving a desirable result. For example, a bikini wax could call for lower back, stomach or thigh areas to be added. Likewise, a back wax for men would need to include the shoulder and upper arm areas in some cases.
Very rarely, extra charges can apply when an excessive amount of time is required for the satisfactory completion of a service.

What about ingrown hair?
Daily exfoliation with a mitt or brush is a must and usually takes care of ingrown hairs.
If that is not enough, there are products such as TendSkin and PFB Vanish that contain salicylic and glycolic acids to kick the fight against ingrowns up another notch.
Never pick your ingrown hairs! If an ingrown feels tender and looks red and inflamed, cover it with Polysporin and a BandAid instead to help it to either surface or heal on its own.
If you have a fair number of hairs simply stuck under your skin without any associated inflammation, you could consider adding the 15 min Miscellanous service option to your waxing appointment to have at least some of those ready and willing to be removed the proper way.

Caveat!
Avoid tanning, heavy sweating (gym, and even sex for the very breakout-inclined ones out there) and heavily clorinated water (public pools and jacuzzis) for a few days following your waxing.
In other words, do not add any further mechanical or chemical irritation to your freshly waxed bikini, unless you don't mind the chance of having to deal with pesky red and white bumps for a while!
If you do get a case of the bumps, keep the area dry and clean by wiping it down with rubbing alcohol or a sanitizing astringent a few times daily, and add a little Polysporin if needed. This should help clear up things within a few days.

Still got questions?
If any of the above is not entirely clear or you have further questions or concerns, please do feel free to text or email me.