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Waxing, sugaring, laser procedure in the salon, electrolysis at home – there are many methods of hair removal now. However, regardless of the method, preparing the skin for this effective, but rather painful procedure, includes the same steps. We’ll tell you which ones.
Why you need to prepare for epilation
To begin with, let us recall what epilation is. This is a procedure for removing hair from the root, that is, with the concomitant destruction of the hair follicle. Methods can be very different.
Use of wax or wax strips.
Sugaring, when a heated sugar-based paste is used instead of wax.
Hardware photo-, electro- or laser hair removal, which is performed in a beauty salon or clinic.
Electrolysis with a device for home use.
And although depilation is still considered the most popular method (shaving the legs with a machine or using a depilatory cream), epilation is still ahead of it in terms of efficiency. However, soreness too. To reduce this, perhaps the only, but a big minus, you will have to prepare the skin.
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Although, of course, there are several other important reasons for preparation:
reduces the risk of ingrown hairs;
the degree of skin irritation after the procedure is reduced;
minimizes the risk of red dots and inflammation;
increases the efficiency of the procedure.
How to prepare your skin for an epilator
For some, the epilator is a tool of torture, for others it is a useful gadget. This device pulls out hairs from the root. And yes, it hurts, no matter what the beauties in the commercials say. The first experience of positive emotions most likely will not bring. But the skin will remain smooth for a long time.
Over time, with regular use of the epilator, the hairs will become thinner and weaker and will be much easier to remove from the root.
Preparing the skin for hair removal with an epilator looks like this.
Choose a time when the length of the hairs will be 5-6 mm. This is the best indicator for a home epilator.
Avoid sun exposure for a few days before waxing. UV exposure is stressful for the skin, and tanning is a form of inflammation that makes the skin more sensitive.
The day before the procedure (in no case on the day of hair removal), use a scrub, paying special attention to the areas of the intended hair removal.
Moisturize your skin well after scrubbing. Most importantly, do not use body butter or oil-based cream. This will complicate the epilation process. Choose light textures (lotion, milk) that are quickly absorbed without leaving a film.
Before epilating, take a warm bath or at least a shower to steam out your skin. This will make the process easier.
Some epilators can be used directly in the water. But more often the skin is still wiped and moisturized with a light milk without oils in the composition. Shaving gel will not work: it will only make it harder to capture the hairs.
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Stages of skin preparation for waxing
Stage 1: Timing
There are three essential conditions here.
Do not epilate the skin on the eve of the solemn event. The skin can react in a variety of ways, including redness, irritation, and an allergic reaction.
Do not do the procedure on critical days, as the pain threshold is lowered at this time. The ideal time is 10-14 days after the start of the cycle.
Do not spend much time in the sun for a few days before and after waxing. There is no need to double the stress on the skin.
Stage 2: skin preparation
The principle of preparation for any type of hair removal is approximately the same.
Intensively cleanse the skin, freeing it from dead cells of the stratum corneum and impurities – for greater accessibility of hairs.
Moisturize thoroughly to make it more resistant to stress. Use water-based, oil-free moisturizers.
Steam the skin before the procedure.
Make sure there is no irritation or inflammation. Otherwise, the procedure will have to be postponed.
Tape moles and age spots before waxing to avoid damaging them.
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Stage 3: moral preparation
It will hurt. But besides the annoying “beauty requires sacrifice”, this moment will calm you down a bit: with regular hair removal, the hairs become thinner and weaker, and the procedure is easier.
Life hacks to minimize the stress associated with hair removal.
Take at least one and a half to two hours for epilation. Most likely, it will take less time, but in order to calmly deal with this important matter, it is better not to rush.
If you are doing hair removal at home, turn on relaxing music, you can even light aroma candles. The calmer you are, the lower the stress level for the skin and the faster it will recover.
Stage 4: skin care after the procedure
With a sigh of relief, proceed to post-epilation care.
Soothe the skin with products with softening and anti-stress effect. Essential oils do not help you: they are very active ingredients that can further irritate the skin that is sensitive after the epilation procedure. Your choice – formulas with chamomile, aloe, allantoin, vitamin B5.
Wear light, loose clothing to let your skin breathe.
After waxing your armpits, do not use deodorants for two days unless the label says “for sensitive skin” and “suitable for use after epilation.”
Refuse for the next couple of days from sunbathing, baths or other thermal effects on the skin. It is also undesirable to visit the pool with chlorinated water.
Use a scrub 2-3 days after the procedure to prevent ingrown hairs.
Moisturize your skin daily.
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How to prevent irritation after epilation
Funds overview
Body scrubs
Nourishing Body Scrub “Precious Beauty Scrub”, Garnier exfoliates with cupuaçu seeds and nourishes with argan, almond, macadamia and rose oils.
Cream body scrub “Coriander”, Kiehl’s exfoliates due to the action of loofah cylindrical, softens and moisturizes due to the content of aloe and chamomile extracts.
Oil-free body hydration
Moisturizing body milk with bifido complex and aloe vera, Garnier strengthens the protective forces of the skin. Intensive moisturizing provides aloe.
Spray that accelerates the restoration of the skin barrier, Cicaplast Gel B5, La Roche-Posay Based on thermal water, hyaluronic acid, panthenol and madecassoside, it is designed to restore the skin after aesthetic procedures.
Intensively regenerating body milk Nutrix Royal Body, Lancôme thanks to peptides and hazelnut extract, it stimulates the internal forces of the skin, helps to restore the hydrolipidic mantle.