AIBU to think waxing is a such a palaver

[xGoGox]

First you have to find an appointment that works for you, travel there, spend on average an hour getting waxed which can be painful, pay quite a bit for the pleasure, come back home and not wash for 24 hours or wash without any soap at a push, the advice is to also wash all your bedding and towels to minimise irritation, inevitably get irritation, at the very least red pinprick rash, start having new hairs growing out within a few days so it’s no longer hair free, live with increasing amount of hair appearing day by day until there’s enough hair to need another appointment/justify the spend so you aren’t plucking out a few hairs for ££, oh and the endless scrubbing and the inevitable ingrowns despite the endless scrubbing and moisturising…

I feel exhausted having just written it down. AIBU?

I've never had it done because it sounds such a faff and I'd never be organised enough to make sure I did everything by the book.

For those that do get waxed, how long do you stay hair-free?

Err what? I just walk into town (small market town) after having a shower. Chat to the girl whilst she rips off my pubes. Get dressed and go about my life as normal.
Don’t worry about the soap or shower thing and never heard of washing bedding ( don’t you wear nightclothes anyway?).

Am I missing something?

Very few of those things are true for me. I live in a city so lots of options within 15 mins walking distance. It never takes more than 20-30 mins. It’s no problem to shower after, and I never change sheets and towels to line up with wax!

I also have no regrowth for 2-3 weeks, and then it’s light and sparse enough that I can get to 5-6 weeks between waxes without feeling too hairy. I rarely have ingrown hairs or rash and I’ve got quite sensitive skin.

In short, 1 hour every 5 or 6 weeks and zero faff in between!

I LOVE it. I’ve waxed since I was 16. I’ve never shaved in 34 years apart from my underarms as I don’t like to wait for regrowth there. I have been going to the same woman for about 10 years and have previously had regular people before that, too. I used to stay hair free for about 4/6 weeks, apart from the odd stragglers but weirdly (and I don’t know if it’s related or coincidence), since starting HRT, I have to do a quick epilate after about 2/3 weeks.

I’ve never changed my bedsheets specifically for it, though I normally go on a Saturday which is bed change day anyway. As for showering, I shower before I go and then don’t do anything until the next morning. I think because I’ve been waxing for so long I’ve dulled the nerves because I just lay down and have a relax and a chat with my therapist! I don’t get ingrown hairs either.

When you say what you did about waxing, YANBU. But to say that and continue doing it anyway might be closer to BU.

Change the bedsheets? What are you on about?

I wash as normal too. I never had any problems.

Never waxed in my life … if the bush starts to look unruly it gets a trim with a pair of scissors.

Epilate all the smoothness of waxing and you can just run it over everything in a few minutes every few days to catch the little hairs.

I don’t think you need to follow all those rules but I hate waxing. I’d much rather shave myself at home! It’s painful and expensive

Same same. No way would I rip out my pubes or deal with any of what you are describing op. Why would you?

I haven't had a professional wax in years, but half the things you mentioned- were never advised to me! Don't wash, change your bed sheets etc!

I tried multiple salons and always felt re-growth within days, so never saw the point. I had laser hair removal and any strays, I just shave now.

I’ve never waxed in my life. I just use a trimmer and whizz over whatever needs it

ive been thinking about laser hair removal because of the faff of shaving/waxing. Is it expensive/worth it?

Hello - trained beauty therapist here x
If you want the best from your wax, you’d need to let a full hair growth cycle commence and then be waxed. The hair growth cycle is approximately 30 days, so you’d need to not touch your legs/bikini etc for 30 days. Then have a wax and hopefully all the hairs will be at the final stage, meaning if pulled out with the root the hairs shouldn’t come back for about 3-4 weeks to start then it will become longer as the hairs become weaker.

It is advised that for 24 hours after to not wash in very hot water or to use perfumed shower gel/ body creams etc.
A lot of people (including myself!) will use perfumed shower gel but it depends on your skin sensitivity.

never heard anything about changing bed sheets! If your waxer is good they won’t leave any sticky residue behind x

I’ve been waxing for decades and never heard of the changing bed sheets thing. Also just shower an hour os so before you go and then again the next day. Easy peasy.
if I get a few early re growth hairs I epilate them and then I can go 5-6 weeks between waxes, longer in the winter as no one sees them.

Just the fact that it hurts like hell is enough reason for me not to bother.

Good God
Find a better salon
Been waxing years at.a salon that specialises in intimate waxing
I don't have any of that. I have a low threshold for pain and it does not hurt. The only time it hurt really was when i first started and then again after lockdown.
I usually have half leg a Brazilian and my lip done. Takes about 40 min max.

It is strange how it can sometimes hurt/be really red and look bad after, and sometimes not. Same person and same products. Maybe it's menstrual cycle related.

Sounds awful, if I were you I'd stop bothering. I know there's a lot of social pressure to overcome, but honestly all of that shit is so optional. You don't need to be hairless and honestly the only person who thinks it matters is you.

YANBU, I don’t do it. I also hate the feel of totally smooth skin so having a bit of hair is preferable for me. Opting out of ritual depilation saves me money and time too, both of which are better spent on my dog or some cake, or both.

That does sound like a palavar.

So dont do it?

So save your money, time and soreness. Let it grow as nature intended.

Yep, I don't understand why people pay good money to have a woman paw over their genitals in the process of ripping all their hair out. It sounds like some form of ritual self-punishment, and you'd have to pay me before I even considered it.
To each their own, but there are many ways of grooming oneself (if one wants to) that are much simpler and less painful.

which can be painful?!!!!!!!

I think the trend (for women) to look pre-pubescent that has gone on for at least two decades is worrying.