Pick the right kind of salon Just because you can add on a waxing service to your mani-pedi doesn’t mean you should. Grupenmager and Arsenault agree that the single best way to protect yourself from a wax-gone-wrong is to go to a salon where waxes are the only thing on the menu. “If that’s all they’re doing, they’re probably pretty good at it,” Arsenault says. “If they’re doing two facials, a massage, and one bikini wax, how much experience could that person really have?” Other steps to take: call ahead to make sure each treatment room has a sink and individual wax warmer that’s emptied and sanitized between clients. Your waxer should wash her hands before she starts working with you and never double-dip the applicator into the wax she’s prepared for you. Don’t DIY When it comes to bikini waxing, you’re better off going au naturel than to trying to pull it off (no pun intended) yourself. “We don’t even wax ourselves,” says Grupenmager. Even if you’re confident you won’t burn the delicate area by applying too-hot wax, it’s not physically possible to do a good job. “You just don’t have enough leverage to really remove the hair from the root, which can result in broken and ingrown hairs,” she says. Don’t stress Getting nearly naked in front of a stranger probably isn’t something you do every day, but for your waxer, it’s business as usual. “Each waxer at our salon does between four and five bikini waxes per hour, and sees thousands of clients in a year,” Grupenmager says. “They’re way more focused on making sure the customer has a good experience than on what they look like.” Keep your appointment when you have your period—really You may be a little more sensitive to pain during that time of the month, but unless you’re having can’t-leave-the-couch cramps, don’t cancel: “Put in a tampon before you come in, and we’ll work around the string,” Arsenault says. If you don’t come in, you’ll throw off your schedule (it’s ideal to come in every four weeks), and the salon’s, too. “Each of our salons book 30-40 waxes a day—if every woman cancelled when she was on her period, it would mess up the entire calendar.” MORE: 13 Healing Spas To Visit In Your Lifetime A bikini wax shouldn’t hurt that much Next time they rip and you wince, remember this: “If it doesn’t hurt, the hair didn’t come out,” Arsenault says. But this “ouch” moment should only last for a split second, if your waxer is trained to apply pressure to the spot immediately after removing the wax, Grupenmager says. If they don’t, you can either ask that they do so—or find a waxer who does. Speak up The most common complaint women have after a wax is that they still see strays, Arsenault says. And it’s not because your wax wasn’t up to snuff: Hair grows in cycles and it’s typically not all long enough to be removed in one session. While diligent waxers will tweeze the barely-there growth without prompting, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask that it be removed at the end of your session if they don’t. “We ask customers to inspect the job we did to make sure we got everything right before they leave,” she says. “There’s no reason you shouldn’t ask for perfection.” MORE: 3 Steps To (Safely!) Remove Ingrown Hairs Play it safe for 24 hours afterwards Because the hair has been ripped from them, pores remain more open than usual for the next 24 hours, so you’ll want to avoid hopping in a pool or hot tub, which is likely to introduce chemicals and debris to the skin, Arsenault says. Otherwise, don’t change your plans: Work out, have sex, wear whatever you normally would. Stick with water2 HO is the best beverage to chug before your appointment; the stimulating effects of caffeine and alcohol can constrict pores so they grip the hair more tightly and make hair more likely to break at the skin’s surface. Bonus: Ingrowns, which sometimes occur when dry skin’s tough, scaly exterior traps hairs beneath its surface, can be prevented if you stay well hydrated, Grupenmager says. When coupled with the use of scrubs and moisturizers, guzzling water keeps skin soft and supple. Be diligent at home Taking care of your skin between appointments will keep you from having unsightly ingrowns when your hair begins to grow back, and will also prep your skin for an even better wax next time. Keep the area bump-free by using physical exfoliators like salt or sugar scrubs every day, along with a chemical exfoliating treatment that contains salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acids, Arsenault suggests. We like Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads ($38, blissworld.com), which contain salicylic and glycolic acid along with soothing oat extract and lavender oil. Top off with a lotion like Skinfix Daily Lotion ($20, target.com) to keep skin soft and conditioned. And ideally, your waxer will diligently remove all bits of wax from your skin when wrapping up, but if they missed a piece or two, try this DIY trick from Gibb: Swipe a cotton pad soaked with olive oil or baby oil over the spot and voilà—it’s gone. MORE: How To Remove Hair From Everywhere
