Waxing Safely

Posted on July 15, 2009 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Women's Health

For as long as there has been hair, there have been ways to remove it. Shaving, plucking, threading, sugaring, laser removal, and depilatory creams and lotions are some of the more popular options. Waxing is also a widely used method for getting rid of unwanted hair.

If a friend is going to discourage you from getting waxed, chances are the reason is simply that it hurts. There is a definite ouch-factor involved that should be taken into consideration, although studies show that the degree of discomfort experienced during waxing is short-lived and also lessens over time if you continue to choose waxing as a hair removal method.

Probably the more serious risk to consider is hygiene when choosing a waxing salon, rather than discomfort. The differences between a $20 and an $80 bikini wax are not just in the price. That higher price buys you a clean environment, professionally trained and hygienically aware estheticians, extra measures for sanitation and disinfectants, and probably a nice little dish of chocolates in the waiting room.

On the other hand, if you choose the cheaper option you should be very aware of your surroundings when you are inside. Are all visible surfaces of the salon clean? Is there sanitary paper put down for you on the table? And if the esthetician double dips the waxing stick, game over. Get out of there immediately.

Lax sanitation measures are no joke, especially when your skin becomes as vulnerable as it does during waxing. It’s not uncommon to experience some bleeding of the follicles after a wax, which means you are more susceptible to infection. And if the signs of infection are hidden by what you presume to be simply wax-irritated skin, you could be risking blood poisoning in the long run. Common sense and a keen eye for detail will be your best allies when choosing a waxing salon that is clean and safe.