Waxing. It’s a word that that brings up mixed thoughts and feelings. On the one hand, we hear the term and immediately think of smooth, sexy skin. On the other, we hear the word and cringe in pain and fear. Especially guys. If you’re a guy, you hear the word wax and usually run the other away. Funny, then, that over the last few years, men of all ages and backgrounds have in fact been running toward it. And for good reason too. Not only does a hairless body look better, but a waxed chest can also help reveal the results of all those pushups you’ve been sweating out at the gym, not too mention keep you cooler in the hotter summer months to come.
So… whether you’ve thought about it and were too afraid, or just thinking about it now for the very first time, we spoke with a leading NYC wax specialist to give you the breakdown and help show you how to prepare, both mentally and physically, for a cleaner, smoother, and arguably hotter (or so we’ve been told) upper body.
How Painful is It?
The truth is, it’s not as bad as you think. There are newer methods out there today that are a lot quicker and less painful than in days past. That being said, we’re not going to lie—it definitely does sting, but the good news is the more you wax, the thinner your hair gets, making each progressive waxing appointment a little less painful than the one before.
Why Don’t I just Shave?
When you wax, it usually lasts for at least 2-3 weeks, whereas shaving typically lasts just a couple of days. Obviously everyone’s body and hair type are different, but the outcome is pretty much the same in the end—shaving will no doubt take up more of your time and lead to more razor cuts and bumps, while waxing will ultimately be less time consuming and a lot smoother on the skin.
How Often Will I Need to Wax?
Again, while everyone’s hair type is different, our wax specialist recommends every 4-5 weeks. This is long enough to give your hair sufficient amount of time to grow back, but also frequent enough to ensure your hair doesn’t grow too long to the point where pulling becomes more painful.
Ok, I’m Ready. Now What?
You need to have hair in order to wax, so don’t go if you recently just shaved. Our wax specialist recommends waiting about 4 weeks after your last shave to give the hair enough time to grow back.
You’ll want to exfoliate one or two days before your appointment. This removes dead skin cells that get in the way of waxing, making your hair easier to grab. Be sure to use a light exfoliator. The waxer we interviewed prefers a body wash that lacks alcohol (so the skin doesn’t dry out) and contains jojoba beads, which gently slough off dead skin cells. You can also simply use a washcloth or a loofah. And if you’re not sure what a loofah is or what it means to exfoliate, please see below.
Where Do I Go to Book an Appointment?
You want to go to a place that offers hard wax, not soft. Soft wax uses cloth or muslin strips that are applied after the wax is in place and are then pulled off to remove the hair. Unfortunately, a lot of the skin is also pulled with that hair, making for a longer, more painful waxing experience. Think Steve Carell in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Exactly.
Hard wax, on the other hand, is a newer kind of wax that’s a lot gentler on the skin because it hardens and acts as a pullable strip in place of the tape-like cloth strips. Sans the actual cloth strips, the waxing experience is significantly less distressing, not to mention a lot quicker, as it allows for bigger strips of hair to be pulled at once.
Franchises like Uni K Wax Center, European Wax Center, and Bliss all offer their own proprietary method of hard wax that provides a less painful waxing experience. Beyond those, there are also more and more local, smaller shops slowly switching over to the hard wax method. A quick google search in your area should be able to pull them up.
What can I expect Once I’m there?
If you’re a first-timer, any good wax specialist will walk you through the process beforehand. Most places will start by applying a light pre-wax oil onto the skin. This acts as a protective barrier so that the wax only picks up your hair, and not your skin (for the most part). Once that’s done, the actual waxing part begins. This is where you brace yourself and just let the wax specialist do their thing. Of course, certain music can help set the tone.
Suggested Tunes:
How Long Will the Whole Process Take?
While everyone’s body hair is different, you can generally expect a full chest, stomach, and back session to last about 30-45 minutes total.
What Do I Do Once I’m Done?
Before you leave, be sure to ask your waxer for a recommended product to prevent ingrowns from sprouting. National chains like Uni K Wax Center, European Wax Center, and Bliss will have their own in-house brand of treatment that you can purchase, or you can just as easily go to your local drug store. Most of them all work the same in that they moisturize and calm the skin to help prevent breakouts. They also help promote healthy hair regrowth so that ingrowns become less frequent.
What Don’t I Do?
Don’t exfoliate for the next 48 hours, as your skin will be sensitive and needs to recover. After two days, you can continue exfoliating 2-3 times a week to remove dead skin cells and ensure healthy hair growth.
Don’t work out and/or break a sweat for 24-28 hours after you wax, as the natural salt from perspiration tends to irritate your recently opened pores.
And finally, whatever you do, DO NOT get high before your session. We all know that cannabis heightens the senses, and you definitely don’t want your pain sensors heightened when someone’s ripping out your hair follicles.
When all’s said and done, the results of waxing are well worth the few minutes of mild pain you’ll experience, and you’ll be a lot happier knowing those results will last 4-5 weeks longer than having to shave every other day. To quote your mother, don’t be a bitch and take the plunge.
