When’s the perfect time to start waxing?

The million-dollar question, when it comes to hair removal, when should I start waxing?

Many people think of waxing in the summer months for that beach holiday is the way to go, one wax they’ll be hair free for weeks!

WRONG…

Coming for a one off wax will not give you the results you desire unfortunately and you’ll be wasting your time and money.

The thing is it takes around 3 months of regular waxing to get all the hair into the growing phase, so that when we remove the hair at the same time you get a longer hair free period.

We recommend you start waxing in the colder months as, we tend to cover up more body parts allowing us to grow out the hair long enough to have effective results from waxing!

You want to be smooth and sun ready and waxing will definitely do that for you.

During this time, you may notice that the waxed area actually starts to look even hairier than it did before; which is another reason why winter really is the best time to get into this cycle! This is good because it means that all of your hair is coming through at once (in anagen phase), instead of at different stages. Once you get to that stage and if you keep the routine up (by coming every 4 – 6 weeks for a wax), only then will you start to notice longer-lasting and better results from every treatment.

So what do I need to do to be hair free for longer?

I’m going to tell you how right now.

Now for the fun bit, the science…

All our hair has a growth cycle; this is as follows:

1st stage – Anagen phase

This is the active growing phase of hair and the best time to get waxed. During this phase the cells divide rapidly, resulting in lengthening of the hair shaft. Waxing during the anagen stage pulls out the hair from the root leading to slower finer regrowth, waxing during this stage is crucial and can lead to sparse regrowth, as we repeatedly remove hair from the full depth of the follicle it will eventually weaken it.

2nd stage – Catagen phase

The catagen phase signals the end of the active growth of a hair. This phase lasts for about 2–3 weeks. During this short transitional phase, the lower part of the hair is cut off from its blood supply and the hair follicle starts to shrink. This process signals the end of the active growth and prepares to enter the resting phase Telogen. When waxing not all hair can be fully removed during this phase as they are not actively growing.

3rd stage – Telogen phase

The telogen phase is the final stage of the hair growth cycle, lasting 3 to 4 months. During the resting phase, hair growth come to a halt and the hair follicle remains inactive. This is the worst time to get waxed, because during this stage brand new anagen hair may already be developing below the skin and existing hair surface, which won’t be picked up by the wax. You may feel the wax didn’t last as long because even though all the old hair was removed. That’s because the new hair is starting to form.

It’s important to understand the different stages of regrowth which will help you manage the timing of your hair removal sessions for best results.

To achieve this, it is vital you establish a regular routine for your waxing to ensure that we try and catch the hair in the anagen growth phase every time you come for waxing.

· Establish a regular schedule: Maintain a consistent waxing schedule, typically for new client every 3-4 weeks, and regular clients every 4-6 weeks to align with your hair growth cycles. This helps ensure you catch hairs in the anagen phase

· Track hair growth: keep a record of your hair growth patterns and adjust your appointments accordingly, hair patterns vary individually so personal observation really helps

· Monitor hair length: ensure your hair is long enough to get waxed usually ¼ of an inch the size of a grain of rice, when it’s too short its actually more uncomfortable and your results will be poor

· Speak to your waxing specialist: if you’re unsure about when to schedule your appointment your therapists can help you manage your appointments.

· Avoid shaving: most importantly do not shave in between, this can disrupt the natural growing cycle.