Hard Wax vs. Soft Wax

"How long does your hair have to be to be waxed the first time? What length does it have to grow before you can get waxed again? About how often do women come in to be waxed? What is the difference between hard and soft wax? Which do you use?"

Hi Mandy-

Thanks for the question.  Hair growth needs to be 1/4" or about 10 days, 7 days if your hair grows quickly.  If eyebrows are getting waxed I recommend 2-3 weeks in between appts. Brazilian time is about 4-5 weeks before you return.  

Hard Wax:  In theory, the purpose of hard wax is adhere to the course hair in the bikini area, not the skin and the hair as soft wax does.  The result leaves your skin less irritated and a more thorough waxing. 

Soft Wax: Serves for finer hair, facial hair and can also serve for coarse hair, but primarily used for eyebrows, upper lip and face.  

My preference is Soft Wax.  But if you just read the differences is seems like Hard Wax is the way to go.  In theory yes, but in actuality no.

Soft wax is much faster to use if you know what you're doing, which I do.  Skin gets irritated regardless since it's getting ripped out at the root.  Hard wax has to harden once it's applied to the skin, it takes longer to do a brazilian.

Years of experience tells me that clients want this service done AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!!!  So, that's exactly what I do. All of this is my opinion though.  Both waxes serve their purpose; remove hair.

The Wax Doll

Sensitive Skin and Waxing

A question was left for me the other day so here's the question and my answer.

Question: "What do you do for women with super sensitive skin? I have tried all different kinds of waxing options and they all leave me with what look like burns on my eyelids. Yeah, it's a pretty good look for a few days. Generally it looks like my skin gets pulled off/burned/something terrible, where the wax is applied. Any tips?Thank you!"

What I like to ask my clients before waxing is "what kind of skin care products are you using?" I ask because depending on what my client uses could give her a result similar to yours where your skin is taken off. It's known as "lifted" skin, but the result is red skin for days, scabs over at times, burns after waxing. It can be caused if wax is too hot and you're burned. Also it can occur if you're using skin care products that are thinning your skin like a retinol, alpha hydroxy, acne treatments, recently sun-burned skin, taking acne medication. I can usually tell if a client is using any of these products but not always, so when in doubt I ask what they use on their face. If you do use any of the above mentioned products, avoid applying the products near the eye area and above the brows for a week. (Or any other area of your face that you get waxed.) That'll prevent any skin problems from waxing.

Maybe you don't use anything on your face at all and you truly have sensitive skin. Don't get waxed, bottom line. Have your specialist tweeze you very thoroughly. I offer that with the clients of mine whose skin cannot be waxed.

If this does happen to you, use neosporin to treat it, it's just like any other skin abrasion. It'll take a few days to heal up, maybe a week if it's really bad.

I advise you to disclose any information to whomever is waxing you before hand. Your aesthetician will always perform better when she has all information pertinent to your service.

Thanks Hillary for the great question! If I haven't answered your question fully, let me know.

The Wax Doll

Lindsay Rector

Ingrown Issues?

 An ingrown hair is caused by too many skin cells building up on the surface of our skin not allowing the hair underneath to grow through it.  The hair then curls back down into the skin causing an inflammed, red bump known as an ingrown hair.

My clients have found great success by using St. Ive's Apricot Scrub in the shower. Scrub area vigorously.  Then apply Oxy 10 zit cream on it once out of the shower.  Within a couple of days your ingrowns should be significantly reduced.  You can use the generics of both products, I do.  

Ask any questions for more tips and tricks

The Wax Doll