Waxing - tell me the absolute truth.....

[welshmum]

Don't know if this is the right category for this but I figured you ladies were probably veteran hair removers...
I'm a complete coward but am considering waxing for the first time. I need to know how painful it is for
a.a leg wax
and
b.bikini line
Please be honest with me - and is there anything you can do to make it hurt less.....or am I a total wimp?

I know this is pathetic but what sort of pain are we talking about?

I have tried, myself twice to wax and I just end up a sticky half hairy mess. And thats my legs. Havent attempted bikini line, I would end up looking like hitler down there
Pain doable- but it goes against your instinct to rip quick when you know its gonna hurt. Maybe get a friend round for yout legs and you can rip each others off???

Hi welshmum - I'm a waxing veteran of over 20 years - legs, bikini line and underarms. It does hurt, but it's momentary - sort of like ripping a large plaster off. I think there is a level of skill required so if you have an experienced person, they know how to minimise the pain....often by quicky rubbing the spot that's been "stripped". I think it hurts more for people who have lots of thick, coarse hair. A huge benefit of waxing is that the hair grows back much softer, and not so bristly. Also, if you do it regularly for a long time you eventually have less hair to be removed.
A tip - don't put lotion on your legs prior to having them waxed. For some reason, it works better on dry skin.

It's fab. Bit nippy in the immediate moment (don't go just before or during your period - much more painful) but away in a second and then loads of nice lotion afterwards. Never try to do it yourself. Find a nice beauty salon that pref uses cloth rather than paper strips (and doesn't reuse wax ). Didn't get bikini line done until we came to Oz - so not painful; was only being chicken before. Much better for your skin than shaving - I haven't had excema on my legs since I started waxing (10 years).

I also find that waxing requires regular loofah on areas that have been waxed to prevent ingrowing hairs.

Right ladies you've strengthened my resolve, I'm going to go for it for our holiday in June. I'll find a salon and get it done properly as I'd have no idea what to do myself. Presumably you have to leave hair grow for a few days before???Not for ages though....
Thanks for your advice.

oops and hello Earlybird - hope you're doing ok, your dd must be 5 now? Is she at school already or starting in Sept?

Welshmum,

Your hairs need to be about 5mm long to get a good result, so it make take more than a few days wait!

WA

It is worse than labour.

I have never felt such pain in all my life and i gave birth naturally to ds2.

Waxing is from the devil.

Welshie, You have never been waxed My god, I'm shocked I am indeed a veteran waxer, as you call it. I've been having my legs waxed for about 15 years and in that time have probably only shaved them half a dozen times. I have my bikini done only when it will be on display i.e. holidays or when it's so bad I (or dp!) can't find anything down there!

Legs are fine, it just smarts a bit, I wouldn't have them too long though, that tends to be more painful. Bikini line does hurt, but it's just completely worth it it really is. Get a recommendation for a salon from someone who knows. You should also, exfoliate quite a bit to prevent in grown hairs. As you know I have curly hair, butit's not curly on my legs or bikini area, so I don't know if I get excessively more in-grown hairs than anyone else.

PS. Don't do it yourself.

Lippy!!! How lovely to hear from you - should've guessed that a thread on waxing would smoke you out
I haven't waxed because I don't really do pain - didn't even pluck my eyebrows until last year....
Children doing ok? I'm so happy today - threw out the ice cube trays as ds has decided he likes to feed himself and is sleeping until past 7 as a result of eating more stuff (think I've just hijacked my own thread )

I got horrible bruises waxing my bikini line.

Take a paracetamol half-hour beforehand

And hope you get a chatty waxer

It hurts more if the room is silent

Bikini line really hurts IME. I bled too . Legs are fine as long as you are not due on, because the skin is more sensitive. It is much better getting a professional to do it, because they can reach the backs of the legs, and it is quicker!

I find that waxing always causes me ingrowing hairs, even if I exfoliate, so I don't do it.

I had my legs done yesterday. back of legs, knees and shins most painful.
My skin looks like I have measles.
Goes after a few days.
You need to loofah or exfoliate legs afterwards to make sure none go ingrown.
Also, if you have previously shaved your legs, and let them grow to a length suitable for waxing - it may take a couple of waxes to get every last hair (as some will be too short for the wax)

To think I was dead against waxing until not so long ago....
Could never have ladygarden done though - think childbirth would be easy compared to a brazillian.

I have my legs and bikini line done.

Now honestly it does hurt, but it depends on your own pain threashold and the person doing the waxing. I've had very bad experienses and really good ones, the only advice I have is talk endlessly to the beautition (it does take your mind off it slightly), tell them if it hurt and if you need a break and if you find a good beautition stick with them. Remember it is only for a little while and the first time is the hardest (cos the hair is stronger) after that it gets better.

You'll be fine....

IME leg-waxing is a doddle. The backs of the knees and the top of the feet were a bit more sensitive than the rest of my legs, but it's over so quickly that it's really not a problem.

OTOH I've had bikini line done twice, and never will do so again. It was excruciating (but underarms were worse - once only and never again) and I bled. The salon, who said the second time that I must have been done badly and that it shouldn't bleed, then told me that I should never get my bikini line or underarms waxed, as I obviously have far too delicate skin.

LOL Hi Welshie, I know, I ignore all threads about parenting and children and post all threads about personal grooming!!
My girls are fine, they had their first fight a couple of weeks ago, so, it's started! Dd2 isn't crawling, which is great and she is also into finger foods in a major way, much more versatile at mealtimes. I too am out of that awful mush faze. I'm still bf-ing though, I can't work out how to stop it as she refuses fluids from any other recepticle other than my breast. However, my resolve has not been that strong, it's the easy option to still bf.

When I was in north London I used to go to a salon which was part of a chain called... Pamela Stevens, they were always very good. But I really would ask someone you know to recommend a salon for your first time. I reckon underarms hurt more than anywhere else my self. I normally have half leg, bikini and eywbrows waxed, underarms only when going on hols.

I have my top lip waxed and it hurts like hell. Bikini line is quite bad too. I also have eyebrows and that doesn't hurt one bit.

Ooooo my bits are starting to go all squidgy just at the thought of it....don't know if I can do it now.....
Lippy there's a Pamela Stevens salon just down the road from where we are....

Try a half-leg wax for your first time, and see how you feel about it afterwards.