Preparing your skin for waxing is easy and important. Here’s how to do it.

Waxing is the art of removing unwanted hair from your body. Waxing isn’t something that anyone loves. At least, I don’t. We do know, however, that waxing has many benefits. It allows you to skip shaving every day and prevents ingrown hairs. Because I have coarse hair waxing is essential if I want to remove unwanted hair and not get a lot of bumps.

Although there aren’t many things you can do to reduce the discomfort of a waxing appointment, you can prep your skin so that you don’t have any irritation. These tried-and-true tips will help you prep your skin for waxing. There are many ways to do this, but these are the most common. We spoke with celebrity esthetician Ildi Pellekar and Dana Pellegrino (esthetician, educator, co-owner of The Haven Wax Lounge) to get all the details. For the best waxing tips, keep reading.

Avoid Certain Beverages

While we all enjoy a good cup of coffee or a well-crafted cocktail in the morning, standing wax appointments should be avoided if they are within two to three hours of any caffeine boost or happy hour. Celebrity esthetician Ildi Perkar advises us to avoid stimulants such as coffee and alcohol. This increases your skin’s sensitivity. This is why it’s best to stick to water and keep hydrated.

Scrub for more than two to three days before you apply it

When it comes to pre- or post-waxing, exfoliating is an option. There is one caveat. Dana Pellegrino is co-owner of The Haven, and an educator, says «Everyone should exfoliate before their waxing appointment.» She recommends that you exfoliate at least two to three days prior to your appointment. «A gentle exfoliant removes dead skin cells and other debris that can get in the way of hair growth.»

Both experts recommend gentle exfoliants. Pellegrino suggests formulas that contain jojoba beads. They are perfectly round and not like other scrubs which can be too sharp or jagged, which can cause severe skin irritation. Jojoba beads gently glide across the skin to remove dead skin cells and restore skin’s appearance. Pekar suggests a DIY option using oil, granulated sugar and honey.

Pellegrino suggests a product with salicylic acid for coarse hair types. She explains that salicylic acid can be used to treat ingrown hairs and prevent new ones from growing. This ingredient penetrates deep into the skin and clears away any buildup that may be preventing hairs from reaching the surface. Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate resurfacing body scrub ($56) is our favorite. It resurfaces the skin and polishes it with lactic, salicylic, and pumice acids. Also, it contains enzymes from papaya and pumpkin. You can use a body brush such as this one ($129) by Gilded Body to really get it in.

Avoid tight-fitting clothing

Although you may not consider your clothing choices part of your pre-waxing skin preparation routine, you should. Ingrown hairs can be a problem if your skin isn’t properly cleaned after waxing. To avoid irritation and ingrown hairs, you should wear breathable cotton undies (we love the Skims Cotton Rib Boxers, $32), as well as your favorite maxi dress, or loose pants, to your appointment (such Reformation’s Carrington Two-piece, $178). Pellegrino says that it is best to remove tight-fitting clothing after waxing to prevent irritation. The wax should not be kept in a closed area as it can lead to ingrown hairs or breakouts.

Hair Length Matters

For a smooth finish, it is important to wax your hair at the right length. This is especially true for hair that is coarse or curly. Pellegrino says that for coarse hair or coiled hair, the recommended hair length is about a half inch for the first few sessions. This will ensure that the waxing technician has a good grip on the root. The result will be thinning the hair. She recommends that you waxe at three-and-a half to four weeks. This will allow your technician to get a tight grip on the root, which will result in thinning of hair.