Is there such a thing as painless waxing?
We hate to break it to you but unfortunately, waxing isn’t completely painless. The good news is that waxing doesn’t have to be really painful, either. Especially when you choose Nova Wax!
Pain during waxing is completely subjective, and varies from person to person. Some people have a high pain tolerance and think waxing feels more like a “sting” or a “pinch” and wouldn’t associate those words with “pain.” People with more sensitive skin are the ones most likely to feel more of a pain sensation with waxing. If you’re sensitive, don’t freak out just yet! Any sensation you feel with waxing is usually very quick, and shouldn’t linger behind too long.
Another piece of good news is, the beginning of your waxing journey is the worst part and it only gets better after that! Naturally your skin will not only build a tolerance to waxing, but you’ll adjust to the sensation you feel and most likely will get to a point where you don’t associate that feeling with “pain.” It’s only up from here!
We asked our Nova Community how they describe the feeling they get after removing a wax strip - is it painful? Stinging? Pinching? This is what they had to say:
How Do I Make Waxing Painless?
As mentioned earlier, you cannot make waxing painless… however you can reduce the pain you experience when waxing.
First, remember pain is subjective! What one person thinks is super painful might not even bother someone else. The only way to find out is to try it out!
It is important to know the kinds of wax that are out there, so you can make the best decision for your skin type. Hard wax is typically considered less painful than soft wax (strip wax) so seeking out a wax formula or salon that uses hard wax will be a great place to start.
Additionally, using a high-quality formula will ensure the experience is effective (Nova, is a professional-quality wax product created with the home-user in mind, SHAMELESS PLUG!). If you’re using a low quality formula that does not remove all the hair, you will end up having to go over the same area multiple times to get the smooth results you’re looking for. Waxing repeatedly over an already sensitive area will lead to more pain and irritation.
Our Top Tips For Reducing Waxing Pain
If you are looking for a way to reduce or minimize the pain of waxing, here are our top tips:
- Exfoliate before your wax.
The words “exfoliate” and “waxing” will ALWAYS come hand in hand. Two peas in a pod. You cannot do one without the other.
Exfoliation is a necessary preparatory and maintenance step in the waxing routine, and can also help with ensuring the wax goes as smoothly as possible. Exfoliation will help with removing the dead skin cells on the surface of your body which will make the wax much more effective. Dry, flaky skin can cause hard wax to crack and break on the skin, which leads to a painful removal. Exfoliation will also help with removing any dry skin that is blocking your pores, so the hair can have a cleaner removal from the follicle. You can exfoliate in a number of ways using a washcloth, loofah, or scrub. Be careful to not use anything too abrasive as that can sensitize your skin!
- Take a pain reliever
Ibuprofen (not aspirin) can potentially help minimize waxing pain - we recommend taking it 30 to 60 minutes before your appointment for the best results.
-
Plan accordingly
We recommend not waxing right before a big event, or when you have plans to be in the sun. Your skin needs time to recover after a wax and exposing your sensitive, freshly-waxed skin to the free radicals of the world can prolong the pain you experience from waxing. It is the same with makeup and products on the skin right after a wax - these can clog pores leading to irritation and inflammation. We definitely do not want to experience pain AFTER the wax, so planning properly will help immensely with this.
Periods are also not an ideal time to get waxed. Can you get waxed on your period? Sure! But if you consider yourself sensitive to pain, we’d advise you to wait. The body is much more sensitive around your period, so waxing right before or right after can lead to you feeling more pain than normal. We consider the “danger zone” to begin around 5 days before your period. Your pain tolerance is typically higher a few days after your period, so we recommend a few days after as the “safe zone.”
Of course, periods are a natural body experience and can be unplanned or not totally on a schedule. Like we mentioned earlier, you can still get waxed when you’re on your period - just be prepared that you may feel the pain a bit more. If you are not waxing yourself and have made an appointment with your esthetician, be aware of the cancellation policies and stay communicative! Your esthetician will probably be more than happy to reschedule your appointment with enough notice.
- Start Small
If you are new to waxing, start slow! Begin with an area that has tougher skin and isn’t as sensitive, like the legs or arms. Let your body get a feel for the sensation so you can build the confidence to work your way up to more sensitive areas like the underarms and the bikini line. It is not ideal to have a Brazilian wax as your first ever wax experience, as this is one of the more painful services and it will totally scare you from waxing anything else ever. If pain isn’t really an issue for you or you’re very bold, feel free to go for it! - Stay relaxed and work with purpose
Whether you are going to see a professional or you are waxing yourself at home, it is super helpful to stay as relaxed as possible. If you’re thinking about the pain constantly, it will only make it worse. Take a deep breath before you remove the wax strip, and exhale as you remove.
If you’re waxing yourself at home, it is a little more difficult to get over the fear of the pain since you are the one in the driver’s seat. It can be super easy to talk yourself out of removing the strip because you don’t want to deal with the pain! Remember this: the sooner you remove the strip, the quicker the pain will be over! So work with a purpose and don’t try to prolong the experience out of fear.
As we mentioned earlier, hard wax is much gentler on the skin than soft wax. Choosing to use hard wax over soft wax is going to be your first major step towards a more tolerable waxing experience!
Nova Wax is a hard wax crafted with the best ingredients - ensuring it is not only gentle on the skin but effective in removal as well (a one strip wonder, as we like to say!).
Best Painless Wax Kit
Nova Wax is the closest to painless waxing as you’re going to get! Our waxing kits provide you with everything you need to wax comfortably and effectively at home. Click here to register for our priority waitlist to be notified when we restock!
Summary
As much as we’d love to tell you that waxing can be completely and totally painless, it’s just not the truth! Unfortunately, ripping hair from your follicles does come with some sort of sensation -whether it’s considered “painful” or more of a “stinging” feeling. There are steps you can take to minimize the pain of waxing, and the best step you can take is choosing the right wax formula.
Nova Wax is gentle on the skin and produces excellent results - a TOTAL win-win! With the right wax formula and our tips for success, waxing definitely doesn’t need to be a miserable experience. What’s beauty without a little pain, right? The sensation, whether painful or not, usually only lasts a few moments and the silky-smooth results you feel afterwards makes it all worth it.
