Common Waxing Myths and Facts

March 29, 2018

Waxing can be intimidating, especially for first-timers. Most likely, your clients —even regulars— have doubts about the most appropriate hair removal products, and they hear rumors or imagine how things can go before, during, and after the waxing procedure, and anxiety builds up out of lack of knowledge. If you are an esthetician, take a look at these myths and facts about waxing and educate your clients. They will surely thank you for relieving their fears!

MYTH:You shouldn't wax the top of your brows
Truth: You can wax or pluck the stray hairs from the top of your brows as long as this doesn't mess with the main shape. The hair at the top of the brow grows downwards, so removing top hairs will definitely make the shape thinner. Bottom line is, if your client has very bushy brows and some stray hairs stick out of the desired shape, wax or pluck them very carefully. However, if the client is going for a natural look, you might want to keep it.

MYTH:You don't have to exfoliate after waxing
Truth: even though waxing does remove some dead skin cells, it does not count for a full exfoliation. You can instruct your clients to use a mild exfoliating scrub before the waxing appointment and repeating the procedure somewhere after waxing.

MYTH:You should grow out your hair very long before your waxing appointment
Truth: While it is true that freshly shaven hair won't allow waxing, it is not necessary to wait until hair is too long for a waxing procedure. The main reason to let hair grow out is helping the wax adhere to the hair to pull it out properly from the root, so the length of a grain of rice or ¼ inch for body hair - 1/8 inch for eyebrows is enough to guarantee effective shaving. Advise your clients to stop all hair removal for a couple weeks before their waxing appointment.

MYTH:You cannot get ingrown hairs if you wax
Truth: compared to shaving, waxing poses less risk for ingrown hairs. However, many people are just prone to developing ingrown hairs. If this is your client's case, stress the importance of exfoliating before and after waxing. You can also recommend them to use an ingrown hair treatment cream and tell them that razors are forbidden!

MYTH:You shouldn't wax if you're pregnant
Truth: being pregnant does not pose any risk for waxing. You should only keep in mind that the skin might be a little more sensitive than usual, so it might be better not to do a first-time wax on a pregnant client. If she doesn't have any other contraindication and her doctor approves of it, you can advise her to take a painkiller before the waxing session to prevent pain.

FACT:Hair grows sparser and finer after a waxing
Waxing progressively debilitates the follicle. This means that the more waxing appointments, the finer and sparser hair will grow. Help your clients dispel the myth that they will end up with coarser, darker hair when they wax. The hair does not grow darker or coarser even with shaving, this is just a visual and tactile effect due to the angle and the length at which hair is shaven off. Learn more in our blog post Waxing Myths: Will Hair Grow Back Thicker and Darker?.



FACT:Waxing does not cause wrinkles or sagging skin
Your clients might be concerned about skin pulling and tugging while waxing, and the possible consequences this might bring. You can tell them to be unconcerned since the skin is held taut while waxing, and the pulling will not cause any deep change in the collagen that is found in deeper layers of skin, which would be the real cause of sagging. We give you even more information on our post Debunking the Wrinkle Myth: Why Waxing Does Not Cause the Wrinkles on Your Face.

FACT:You can diminish pain while waxing
Apart from the fact that each person's pain threshold is different, there are ways to make waxing less painful. For example, advising extra sensitive clients to take painkillers before the appointment, applying a numbing cream or even generating a relaxing atmosphere in your salon. Soothing scents, music, and lighting will help clients remain calm and have a more pleasant experience despite the normal discomfort that comes with waxing.

FACT:You shouldn't wax or shave in between waxing appointments
Tell your clients to keep away from the razor between waxing appointments —unless they want to delay them. Explain to your clients that shaving will make them lose their schedule, cause fast regrowth, and change the texture of the hair. Waxing between waxes is not advised at all. If the client must tidy the area before the next appointment, advise them to grow the hair out for a couple weeks longer than they would have if they hadn't shaved; this is to make the next appointment more effective.

FACT:You should avoid tanning after a waxing appointment
Don't forget to tell your clients that spray tanning or natural tanning are both discouraged immediately after waxing. Since the pores are still open and the skin is recovering, there is increased risk of skin infection or irritation. Another reason not to spray-tan right after waxing is that the result will come out uneven and patchy. The average waiting period is 48 hours in order to let the skin rest and get tanning to be perfect.

Discussing these waxing myths and facts with your clients will add value to your work and guide them to perfect waxing every time. Clients will appreciate how knowledgeable you are and how much you care about their well-being.

Of course, your service is not complete without high-quality waxes and waxing accessories, so choose Beauty Image for the best products. Call us at TOLL FREE 888-513-8815 or fill out the contact form on our website. If you wish to receive our latest news on your email, subscribe to our subscribe to our newsletter. newsletter. Also, don't forget to find us on Facebook as Beauty Image USA, and follow us on Twitter @BeautyImageUSA, and Instagram @beautyimageusa.