BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Beauty Basics Waxing, anyone?

Has anyone had their legs waxed? I was thinking of doing it, but I don't know anyone personally who has (besides my hair dresser). I'm wondering about the pain factor, of course, but also how frequently it's done, any prep or "aftermath," etc. We're taking a little tropical trip in June and I thought it'd be nice not to have to worry about the whole shaving thing! Thanks for any feedback you might have!

I've never done it. I've only known one person that had it done a few years ago and she VOWED never to get it done again...It was the "ouch" factor. Good luck!

it really depends on the esthitician, the wax, and technique used. It also depends on your skins condition, hair type, length, and texture.

I have clients get it done all the time. The only time they complain is on the back of the knee, ankle, and calf.

When you first start you may have to go every 2-3 weeks because waxing can stimulate dormant hair growth. However, once all cycles are active at the same time, you will be able to go in less frequently.

when I saw how my friend 'ached" during her waxing session, I told myself no no no

I've never had my legs done. But, I get my eyebrows..and upper lip done regularly. Just had waxing on Sunday.
It is worth the auch factor. My daughter does it for me..she waxed for years in a beauty salon.
Sundncer

www.msgembroidery.com

Thanks for the responses! I've heard that the ouch-factor is worst the first time you do it. That might be because you just don't know what to expect, I guess! I wonder if there's anything you could use to prep the skin so that it'd be less irritating? Thanks, Jase, as well, for your professional input. I still haven't decided yet . . . but the idea of being able to have it done less and less appeals to me!

Not sure about getting my legs done, but I do get my upper lip & eyebrows done monthly. Legs seem too painful.

You can get a lidocane spray for the skin and use it before your wax. Another thing I do is tell newbies to take a couple aspirins 30 minutes before their appointment.

I have had my body waxed before. My eyebrows, upper lip, arms, underarms and legs.

The only areas of my body that were painful were my legs. In fact, it was excruciating. I had a hard time finishing the session and everyone in the salon was frightened by my screams. My daughter was with me at the time and didn't know what to do because I yelped with every rip! I bit onto a towel. I prayed. I clenched my entire body, but every strip felt like my upper layers of skin were being shredded.

It may not be that way for everyone else. My leg hairs are coarse and thick and deeply imbedded. I vowed never to wax my legs again.

My eyebrows, lip, arms, etc...no problem. It feels like a little sting from having an adhesive bandage torn from your skin.

But the legs...oh, nooooooooo...never again...

I can't imagine the bikini line! BTW, depending on the thickness of your hair and the depth of the follicle, the yanking can make you bleed. I bled under my arms.

But vanity beckons and so I endure! (But I don't think it's vanity to not want to look like the Yeti.)

I've never had my legs done (I have very fine and sparse hair there, so never saw the need) but I have my entire bikini area done every month or so. (once you've been totally bare there, you'll never go back - it feels so clean and wonderful, especially during your period.)

It really, really REALLY depends on the skill of the person doing it. I was lucky because the very first time I had it done, the person who did it was wonderful - it was painful, but not unbearable. But the next time I went (same salon) I had a different person, and it was very painful *and* wasn't a very good job - lots of broken-off hairs and there was lots of irritation afterwards.

You can also start - at least at my salon - with just one area and see how it goes. They offer a 'front of leg' option that a lot of first-timers use, because it's less painful than the back and of course the session is much shorter, so if you're really in agony you're not stuck there for very long.

I'm thinking of getting my underarms done, because the hair there is dark and fast-growing, but I'm scared. It just seems like that would really hurt. In summertime I may convince myself to give it a try!