The Waxing Guide
Everything you should know about waxing from benefits to what do before and after your appointment to how waxing works. Please refer to this page for all your waxing guide information.
What Is Waxing?
Waxing is one of the most popular and effective methods of hair removal in the beauty industry, and for good reason. Unlike shaving, which simply cuts hair at the surface and leaves you stubbly again within days, waxing removes hair directly from the root, leaving your skin irresistibly smooth for weeks at a time.
Here’s how it works: a specially formulated wax is applied to the skin in the direction of hair growth, then swiftly removed, taking the entire hair follicle along with it. The result? Skin so smooth it feels like you’ve never had hair there at all.
But waxing isn’t just about hair removal, it’s so much more than that. With every appointment, waxing also acts as a gentle exfoliant, removing layers of dead skin cells and revealing the fresh, glowing skin underneath. Many clients notice their skin not only feels hair-free but looks brighter and more radiant after their wax!
One of the most exciting benefits of regular waxing is what happens over time. The more consistently you wax, the finer and softer your hair grows back — and in some areas, hair growth slows down significantly. That means over time your appointments become easier, less uncomfortable and your results last even longer. Many longtime waxing clients find their hair grows back so fine it’s barely noticeable between appointments!
Whether you’re looking to feel confident at the beach, smooth in your favorite outfit, or simply free from the daily hassle of shaving, waxing delivers results that shaving simply can’t match. One appointment and you’ll wonder why you waited so long!
Benefits of Waxing
- Silky Smooth Skin That Lasts For Weeks Unlike shaving which leaves stubble within days, waxing removes hair from the root leaving you silky smooth for 3-6 weeks. Wake up every morning for weeks with perfectly smooth skin without lifting a finger!
- Hair Grows Back Finer & Softer Over Time Every time you wax you weaken the hair follicle at the root. Over time hair grows back noticeably finer, softer and slower. Your results just keep getting better the more you come and the easier your waxing sessions get.
- No More Razor Burn, Cuts or Stubble No more cuts, no angry red razor burn and no prickly next-day stubble. Just smooth flawless skin from day one!
- Built-In Exfoliation — Hello Glowing Skin! Waxing removes dead skin cells along with hair, revealing fresh bright glowing skin underneath. It’s like a mini facial for your body!
- Save Time Every Single Day One waxing appointment gives you weeks of smooth skin. No more daily shaving, get hours of your week back!
- More Cost Effective Than You Think When you add up razors, blades, shaving cream and razor burn treatments over time, waxing is surprisingly affordable. Plus as hair grows back finer your appointments stretch even longer! It’s always way better for your skin and way more cost effective than laser hair removal, which isn’t a guarantee to work on everyone.
- Freedom & Confidence Every Day No planning around stubble, no last minute shaving before a special occasion. Just effortless confidence every single day between appointments. Got a trip coming up or a special event? Getting waxed before will guarantee smooth and hair free skin.
- A Relaxing Professional Experience At Beauty Works by Karla you’re in the hands of a Master Waxer with 16 years of expertise who genuinely cares about your comfort and results. Every appointment is calm, professional and completely personalized to you!
- Less Painful Over Time The more regularly you wax the less uncomfortable it becomes! As hair grows back finer your appointments become quicker, easier and more comfortable. Most regular clients barely flinch! Staying consistent is they key to easy, flawless appointments.
- Suitable For All Skin Types Whether you have sensitive, dry or oily skin — waxing works beautifully for you! Hard and soft wax are strategically selected based on your unique skin type and area being treated for the gentlest most effective result. (Certain medications that make you skin sensitive may cause you to not be a valid candidate for waxing due to possible lifting. Please check with your doctor before scheduling.)
How Often Should You Get Waxed
This chart is going to give you an average but this time frame is not a one size fits all. You will vary depending on your history with waxing, hair type and hair strength.
- Eyebrows: every 3-4 weeks
- Brazilian: every 4-6 weeks
- Legs: every 3-6 weeks
- Underarms: every 3-4 weeks
- Arms: every 4-6 weeks
- Face (other than brows): every 3-4 weeks
How Long Does Hair Need To Be
For waxing to be effective, hair should be at least 1/4 inch- 1/2 inch (about the length of a grain of rice). This length allows the wax to properly grip the hair for removal. It is important that not just some of the hairs are long enough, but ALL the layers. You may notice your hair growing in different lengths, these can sometimes represent different hair growth cycles. It is important we remove all these hairs together and in the same hair cycle.
Can my hair be too long to get waxed?
Yes, if your hair is too long, it can make waxing less effective and more painful. For best results, its best to remove the hair out of the anagen hair cycle (the first cycle). When you wait too long we then allow the hairs to shift into the next transitional cycle which will not be as effective for long lasting results. It will not do damage to the hair follicle the way it should. You may hear people say to trim, which yes trimming helps in the aspect of helping reduce the amount of length in relation to pain, but it doesn’t change the cycle of the hair. The only way to ensure proper removal of the hair is to catch it in the correct cycle before it shifts out. So if you ever experience hairs growing back almost immediately after waxing it out, those are hairs in a different hair cycle, it doesn’t mean your hair is growing back faster.
Hard wax or Soft wax- What’s the difference?
Both waxes have their own unique benefits but each one works better for specific hair types then the other. It’s important to pick the correct type of wax when analyzing the hair type. Using the wrong one can sometimes result in incorrect removal, hair breakage, ingrown hairs cause by incorrect removal, wax that gets stuck or tangled, skin sensitivity and unnecessary additional pain. What works for one person, may not work as well for the other and it comes down to your hair type. The goal is simple for best results, removal the hair from the root. And how we get this result is by using the correct type of wax for the correct hair type that will help remove it without any issues. Hard wax can be a bit gentler on the skin and applies on and hardens around the hair catching the hair by the base with the most pressure, getting those thicker tougher hairs out better. While soft wax is applied and removed by a cloth or strip and removes out those finer, straighter hairs easier. All wax should be warm, not HOT. This idea of hot wax and cold wax is not really correctly portrayed. Wax should not be overly hot but it does require heat/warmth to be applied to do what it needs to do.
First time waxing? Here’s what to expect for your appointment
Getting waxed for the first time can feel intimidating but there is nothing to worry about. First off, as a waxer, we do this all day and we have seen all sorts of body shapes, sizes and ages. Its just another day in the office.
- Hair Length- You want to make sure you have grown your hair our to the appropriate length, avoid shaving. If you can grow the hair out enough this will set your future waxing sessions. It takes more time to get your cycles even again then it does to just allow the hair to grow to the correct length for the first appointment.
- Exfoliation- Exfoliate gently with a manual exfoliation 24-48 hours before your appointment to free any stuck hairs that would have normally been hidden.
- Avoid excess sun exposure- Avoid any tanning or sun exposure 24 hours before your appointment and if you are sunburned, please avoid waxing until that has healed up. The reason we ask this is because the sun can make your skin more sensitive. And when waxing we are exfoliating the skin, so this can cause some unnecessary lifting.
- Bare skin- Arrive with clean, dry skin- no lotions or oils the day of your appointment. Your skin will be prepped before getting waxed to avoid waxing over any dry skin so don’t worry. If you use lotions or oils that work against the wax or have ingredients in them that can cause irritation then this will just work against what we are trying to do.
- Clothing- You also want to wear loose comfortable clothing if doing any body waxing.
- Will it be very painful?– You should expect a tolerable pain, but it shouldn’t be excruciating. However, with that being said everyone’s pain tolerance is different and should be treated as such. There are techniques we use to help alleviate any additional pain and the service itself is very quick, specifically talking about a brazilian wax. Some redness is normal and typically fades within a few hours to 24 hours. Your skin may also feel a bit sensitive to the touch but that will also go away very quickly.
What will it feel like afterwards?
Its important to know that your skin may feel a bit sensitive after getting waxed, don’t worry its not for very long and you can carry on with your day as you would. However, there are a few things we will recommend avoiding the day of your wax appointment you can find below in the post waxing section. One thing can is very common but also very misunderstood is what is called a histamine reaction.
🧬 What Is A Histamine Reaction?
- A histamine reaction is your body’s natural immune response to stimulation or perceived irritation of the skin. Histamine is a chemical that your body naturally produces and releases when it detects something that triggers it, in this case, the physical act of hair being removed from the root during waxing. When hair is pulled from the follicle, your body recognizes this as a form of stimulation and releases histamine to the area as a protective response. This is completely normal and is simply your body doing exactly what it’s designed to do, protect your skin!
- What does a histamine reaction look like? It’s small raised red bumps that sometimes can feel itchy. This normally occurs on very sensitive-skin clients, and it does go away with 12-24 hours post waxing. At Beauty Works by Karla, you can add on a healing mask during your service to help reduce this reaction down, along with helping heal the skin and prevent ingrown hairs. This can be added for a small additional cost per area.
- It is important to note that histamine reactions are immediately shown up and go away quickly. If yours lasts longer than 24-48 hours or is accompanied by any other symptoms then you should seek your medical support.
Are your wax products natural?
🌿 Why We Use Synthetic Wax At Beauty Works By Karla
It may surprise you to hear this, in a world where “natural” is often considered the gold standard, when it comes to professional waxing, synthetic wax is actually the superior choice. And here’s why!
While natural products have their place in the beauty world and we absolutely appreciate the power of nature, natural based waxes come with one significant drawback, a higher risk of allergic reactions. Many natural waxes contain ingredients like tree resins, honey, beeswax or botanical extracts that can trigger reactions in clients who have sensitivities or allergies to those ingredients. Since allergies aren’t always known until a reaction occurs, using natural wax introduces an unnecessary risk that no client should have to deal with!
Synthetic wax on the other hand is formulated with consistency and skin safety at the forefront. Here’s what that means for YOU as a client:
- ✅ Consistent results every single time– synthetic wax behaves predictably, meaning every appointment delivers the same high quality smooth results regardless of temperature, humidity or other variables
- ✅ Significantly reduced risk of allergic reactions– without natural allergens like natural resins, honey or botanicals, synthetic wax is far less likely to trigger a skin reaction
- ✅ Better performance on all skin types– synthetic wax is designed to work effectively on a wide range of skin types including sensitive skin
- ✅ Superior grip on hair– professionally formulated synthetic waxes are engineered specifically for effective hair removal, gripping hair efficiently for cleaner smoother results
- ✅ Gentler on the skin– high quality synthetic waxes are formulated to minimize trauma to the skin while still delivering exceptional hair removal
At Beauty Works by Karla we are committed to using only the highest quality professional grade synthetic waxes for every single service. This isn’t just a preference, it’s a promise to every client who comes in. You deserve consistent, safe, effective results every single appointment and the products we choose reflect that commitment to your skin and your experience.
Because at the end of the day, the best wax isn’t always the most “natural” one. The best wax is the one that keeps YOUR skin happy, safe and beautifully smooth.
Waxing vs Other Hair Removal Methods — Which Is Right For You?
With so many hair removal options available today it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which method is right for you. To help you make the most informed decision, here’s an honest breakdown of the four most popular hair removal methods — waxing, shaving, laser hair removal and threading — so you can decide what works best for YOUR lifestyle, skin type and goals!
| Waxing | Shaving | |
| Results Lasts | ||
| Hair Regrowth | ||
| Skin Feel | ||
| Exfoliation | ||
| Risk of Cuts | ||
First Time Waxing What To Expect
Before: Avoid sun exposure, exfoliate gently a day before, and ensure hair is the right length. Avoid caffeine to reduce sensitivity.
During: The wax will be applied, then quickly pulled off. You may feel some discomfort, but it’s brief.
After: Skin may be red or sensitive. Avoid hot baths, direct sun, and exfoliate gently after 48 hours. Apply soothing lotion or aloe vera.
Hard Wax vs Soft Wax
Hard wax hardens as it cools and is removed without strips, making it ideal for sensitive areas like the face and bikini line. Soft wax remains tacky and is removed with strips, better for larger areas like legs and arms.
Waxing Aftercare
Do’s:
- Keep the skin clean and moisturized
- Wear loose clothing to avoid irritation
- Apply soothing creams or aloe vera
- Exfoliate gently after 48 hours to prevent ingrown hairs
Don’ts: - Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds for at least 24-48 hours
- Do not use harsh skincare products or exfoliants immediately after waxing
- Avoid hot showers, saunas, and swimming pools for 24 hours
Who Should Avoid Waxing
- People with sunburn or irritated skin
- Those using certain medications like Retin-A or Accutane
- Individuals with skin infections or open wounds
- People with certain skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
- Those with very sensitive skin prone to allergies
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does waxing hurt?
A: There is some discomfort, but it is usually brief and lessens with regular waxing.
Q: Can I wax if I have sensitive skin?
A: Yes, but it’s best to do a patch test first and consider hard wax for sensitive areas.
Q: How soon can I shave after waxing?
A: It’s recommended to wait until the hair grows back to the required length for waxing, about 3-4 weeks.
Q: Can waxing cause ingrown hairs?
A: Proper aftercare and exfoliation can reduce the chance of ingrown hairs.
Q: Is waxing safe during pregnancy?
A: Yes, but check with your healthcare provider for any specific concerns.
Book your appointment by texting Karla, available Fridays and Saturdays in Las Vegas.
Waxing & Lash Service Guide: What You Need to Know
Have questions about waxing or lash services? Here you’ll find everything you need to know before your appointment, including how to prepare, what to expect during your service, and detailed aftercare instructions to help you get the best results. My goal is to make every visit comfortable, professional, and customized to your needs.
Before & Aftercare Instructions
Before your waxing appointment, allow hair to grow at least 1/4 inch (about 2–3 weeks of growth), gently exfoliate 24 hours prior, and avoid heavy lotions the day of your service. After your appointment, avoid heat, sweating, tanning, and tight clothing for 24–48 hours. Keep the area clean, moisturized, and exfoliate regularly after 48 hours to help prevent ingrown hairs. If you ever have questions or concerns, I’m always happy to help.