The things you NEED to know before your next appointment…

Don’t book your wax appointment right before your period. Your skin is at its most sensitive during this time of your cycle, so try to get the wax done at least three of four days before you’re supposed to start menstruating. And don’t even think about making an appointment during your period—not only is that icky for the technician; a lot of salons have a “no period policy.” The best time to get waxed is immediately after you finish your period according to beauticians.

Schedule your appointment between 3 and 5 p.m if you can go later in the day because pain threshold is the highest at this point in the day. The stuff that would make you yelp at 10 a.m. will only make you wince a little now.

Exfoliate the bikini area the night before your wax, this will remove any dead skin cells and allow the wax to stick (for best wax possible and not leave any pesky strays)

Make sure your hair is at least a quarter of an inch long (like a grain of rice) to ensure a smooth, long lasting result.  The longer the better!

Don’t shower immediately before you go for your wax- if you’re even slightly damp, the wax won’t be as effective

Avoid caffeine and alcohol before your wax if you can because these act as a stimulant which can increase pain during your wax

If you are on antibiotics, you should wait until you have finished your course of antibiotics before getting waxed

Before you take ‘the plunge’ make sure you and your beautician are on the same page so you don’t land up with a bare va-jay-jay when you asked for a Brazilian. Remember, the ‘styles’ don’t always go by the same name! FYI

These are the most common waxes:

 Regular Bikini Wax:
This is the removal of the hair outside the panty line.

French Bikini Wax:
The removal of  all hair off the front, (leaving a small strip) and right before the back. It doesn’t take hair off from the back like a Brazilian.

Brazilian Bikini Wax:
The removal of all hair from the bikini line, the front and all the way to the back (yes by your bum). Sometimes a small  strip or triangle is left in the front.

Hollywood:
The Hollywoodis the removal of all hair. The bottom line, you won’t have any genital hair left.

Pop a couple of Panado’s 45 minutes before your ‘date’ with pain. This is a fabulous ouch!-reducing strategy because not only do over-the-counter painkillers like Panado,Disprin or Grampa help reduce the feeling of pain when you having your lady garden ‘manicured’, but they have anti-inflammatory components too and reduces redness.

Hard wax is said to be slightly less painful than soft wax so ask your beautician about using it

Try Relax! Breathe in when the wax is being applied and then breathe out when strip being pulled-this tactic does help.

Avoid working out or wearing tight clothing right away. Nothing kills the buzz of a newly waxed va-jay like a bunch of pimples on your privates. That’s what can happen if you workout at the gym within 48 hours after a waxing session because your “born again” (ie, hairless) skin is extra sensitive to sweat, bacteria, and chafing from your shorts or pants. Plus: Wearing tight clothing like leggings , jeans  or even tight panties can increase the chances of ingrown hairs because they can reroute hair back down and under the skin instead of growing out.

If you planning a night of hot loving, best to have your wax at least 48 hours before as vigorous action ‘down there’  won’t help with your sensitive lady bits.

Your “aim” might be off afterward, so hover carefully. We’re not suggesting you actually sit on a mysterious toilet seat…but to avoid wet thighs or pants, be extra low and careful while squatting. Because your hair down there used to help control things, it’s common for your stream to be a little wacky after your wax.

If your skin is super-sensitive after the wax, try tea-tree oil or fino soothe.

Article by: Jenna Shevel