How Long Does Waxing Actually Last?

Waxing, the process of unwanted hair removal, is a part of the aesthetic procedure that gives soft and smooth skin. It involves the use of wax that strips off undesired hair. 

Out of multiple hair removal techniques, waxing is considered safe and effective due to various reasons. If you wonder how long does waxing lasts, keep reading to find out!

Duration Of The Effects Of Waxing

Usually, how long the waxing lasts depends upon different factors; however, commonly, the results are expected to last for around six weeks. The growth of new hair starts getting noticeable around 3 to 4 weeks. 

Some factors that determine the effects of waxing include the following-

1. Waxing Technique 

Two types of waxes, hard and soft wax, are used to get rid of unwanted body hair. If the body has smaller hair, hard wax is used by the wax technician. It is applied directly to the skin and stripped off without using waxing strips.

Hair as small as 1/6 of an inch is removed accurately with hard wax.

On the contrary, soft wax requires waxing strips or cloth strips to remove the adhered wax. The benefit of using soft wax is it exfoliates the skin in addition to removing the hair. However, the drawback is that the smallest hair is not removed in the process. 

Irrespective of which wax you use for removing hair, what matters more is the skill and expertise of the wax technician. Taking service from a professional ensures that you get smooth and long-lasting effects. 

At the same time, a skilled person will strip off hair perfectly, leaving no chances of breakage. Breakage results when wax doesn’t pull out the entire hair at the root but breaks it off at the surface level. It results in hair growing faster. 

2. Body Area

The growth of hair is different at different body parts. At the same time, they grow with different textures. So, where you are getting waxed determines how long the waxing lasts. 

For instance, hair in the legs and pubic area is thicker and coarse than hair in the hands and eyebrows. As a result, you may notice that the rate at which they are growing is different, too. 

3. Skin Type

Different skin types perceive the results and effects of waxing differently. For instance, people with sensitive skin are prone to getting red and inflamed skin after a waxing session. In such people, an effective pre-waxing prep and post-waxing aftercare is essential to maintain the results for longer. 

4. Post-waxing aftercare 

Taking certain aftercare measures becomes essential to allow waxing to last longer. Some of these are:

• Avoiding sun exposure
• Exfoliating 
• Moisturizing 

It ensures that skin will stay smooth and experience less irritation after waxing. Neglecting post-waxing care may shorten the duration of the waxing effects.

Waxing Vs Other Forms Of Hair Removal Techniques

Different methods of hair removal are popular, and each comes with its own pros and cons, giving short-term and long-term results. These are-

• Shaving: Shaving cuts the hair from the surface level of the skin. Depending upon how fast your hair grows determines how long the result will last. However, since shaving is the easy, affordable, and painless process of unwanted hair removal, many people swear by it. 
• Sugaring: Sugaring is like waxing; however, it uses a paste of sugar, lemon, and water instead of wax to remove the unwanted hair. The rest of the process of using a cloth to strip off hair in one swift motion is the same as done in waxing. The results of both processes are the same: soft and smooth skin and results lasting for up to 6 weeks, with new hair growth around 3 to 4 weeks.
• Threading: It is done with the help of a threading tool that pulls the hair at the root. Usually, threading is used to remove hair from eyebrows and face. Hair starts erupting from the follicle after a week and attains full growth from anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks. It depends on where you thread and how thick your hair is
• Epilating: It is done using a device called an epilator that removes hair from the root. As the device glides over the skin, it plucks the hair coming across the way. The result lasts for 3 to 4 weeks before regrowth occurs. The benefit is that the epilator picks up even the shortest of hair that waxing may miss. 

What Affects Hair Regrowth?

Hair regrowth varies from person to person. Your genetics also play a role in determining how fast or slow the hair regrowth will occur. However, the following factors can determine the hair growth cycle-

1. Hormones: When the body has well-balanced hormones, hair tends to get healthier and stronger. On the contrary, an imbalance of hormones can negatively affect hair growth and texture. 
2. Diet: Having a rich diet is key to healthy hair. Besides, including a diet rich in vitamin C, zinc, biotin, niacin, and iron to help nourish hair growth.
3. Genetic makeup: If you are visiting a salon every month for hair removal and your friend visits once every two months, blame it on your genetics.  

Besides all these factors, how often you wax also determines how long waxing lasts. A person with a consistent waxing routine tends to have thinner and slower hair growth, thus less frequent salon visits. Also, it makes the process less painful. 

How To Prolong The Result Of Waxing?

Often, people question if there are ways that can help the results of waxing last longer. There certainly is. Here are a few ways-

• Exfoliating and moisturizing skin: Dry skin makes hair prone to breakage. So, keep the areas well moisturized so that results pull out effectively from the roots, ensuring long-lasting results.  
• Preventing ingrown hair: Ingrown hair is another reason why the results of waxing don’t look satisfying. It can again be avoided by keeping the skin well-hydrated and moisturized. 

What Is The Time To Get Another Waxing Session?

Usually, skilled waxing technicians advise you to wait for at least six weeks to get another wax. It ensures that, in the meantime, the hair will grow at least 1/4 inch long (the size of rice grain). 

If the hairs have gone longer (1/2 inches), trimming them before getting wax is essential to get the best results. 

Conclusion 

Now that we know how long the waxing lasts and what factors determine hair growth, measures can be taken to get soft and hair-free smooth skin longer. Ensure taking help from a skilled person to get fruitful results. 

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