Naturally lots of women want to be hair free when the weather is nice (which is about one week in the UK!). You want to be smooth and sun ready and waxing will definitely do that for you. Here’s the thing though; it takes around 3 MONTHS of regular waxing to get the hair growing all at the same time so it can all be removed at the same time and you get longer being hair free, which is exactly what you want. This is why starting waxing in colder months when you’re more covered up anyway – so growing the hair isn’t too awkward for you, is the best time.
So what do I need to do to be hair free for longer? I’m going to tell you how right now.
But first, science!
All our hair has a growth cycle, this is as follows:
- 1st stage – Anagen phase
This is the active growing phase of hair and the best time to get waxed. In this stage hair grows about 1cm or ½ inch every 28 days. Being waxed when hair is in the anagen phase allows you to be hair-free for longer as the hair is being removed at its earliest and youngest stage of development. Waxing anagen hair could also lead to a reduction in some hair growing back at all because hair that is repeatedly removed from the full depth of the follicle will eventually weaken it.
- 2nd stage – Catagen phase
The catagen phase signals the end of the active growth of a hair. This phase lasts for about 2–3 weeks while the hair converts to a club hair. During this short transitional phase, the lower part of the hair is cut off from its blood supply and from the cells that produce new hair and a club hair starts to be formed.
- 3rd stage – Telogen phase
This is the final stage of hair growth and is the resting phase. During this stage the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of a new anagen hair. This is the worst time to get waxed because during this stage brand new anagen hair may already be developing below the skin and existing hair surface, which won’t be picked up by the wax. The result of your wax; therefore, won’t last as long because even though all of the old hair was removed, new hair could start to break through your skin very soon after your wax. (You can tell when you have pulled out hair during the telogen stage, because you can see the white bulb at the hair’s root).
Coming for a one off wax will not give you the results I’m sure you desire: weeks of being hair free and no maddening stubble itch, am I right?
In order to get the best results, it is vital you establish a regular routine for your waxing to ensure that we try and catch the hair in the anagen growth phase every time you come for waxing. The best and easiest way to train the hair on any part of your body into a growth cycle is to do what I recommend new clients do and get waxed every 4-5 weeks for 3-4 waxes. During this time you may notice that the waxed area actually starts to look even hairier than it did before; which is another reason why winter really is the best time to get into this cycle! This is good because it means that all of your hair is coming through at once (in anagen phase), instead of at different stages. Once you get to that stage and if you keep the routine up (by coming every 4 – 6 weeks for a wax), only then will you start to notice longer-lasting and better results from every treatment.
