When you wax and yank out the hair, the hair follicles will become damaged, which may eventually prevent the hair from ever growing back. Although the results will last for weeks and the hair follicles become damaged which may prevent hair growth, waxing is not considered to be a permanent hair removal treatment.
The Truth: Similar to the thinner hair myth, waxing can reduce the volume of hair present, but it will not alter its thickness or growth rate.
While it depends on many factors, results from waxing can last up to 6 weeks. However, this doesn't mean you're hair-free for this long. You'll probably start to see new hair growth around 3 to 4 weeks.
The only treatment that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describe as permanent is electrolysis. Another method of hair removal that provides long lasting results is laser hair removal. However, some people need touch-up sessions to maintain the results.
Your skin may darken
Post-inflammatory pigmentation may occur on your skin after your waxing session, which may lead your skin to appear darker. This means that due to the hot wax being applied on your skin and ripping action, your skin may react by producing pigment that cause dark spots.
Waxing cons
Waxing can cause inflamed hair follicles, pain, redness, ingrown hairs and skin irritation. Removing female facial hair while using retinoid anti-aging or acne products can lead to abrasions, infection and even scarring, so be sure to do your homework before trying a wax.
Dark upper lips are a sign of dry skin and/or sensitivity problems. Waxing and other hair removal methods can result in a dark upper lip when the skin isn't healthy enough to withstand the treatment.
Eyebrow threading is fast taking over as one of the most popular methods for safe, natural hair removal. Eyebrow threading is better than waxing because it uses absolutely no chemicals and cuts hair removal time by half.
“Waxing lasts longer over time because hair is being removed from the follicle whereas shaving just cuts it at the surface,” says Shays. “Waxing will leave you smoother longer as unwanted hairs become thinner and in some cases don't grow back at all.
It keeps your genitals clean, reduces contact with viruses and bacteria and protects your tender genital skin from irritation. Experts have now found out that freshly waxed pubic areas are exposed to herpes infections.
Folliculitis. Folliculitis occurs when the hair follicle becomes inflamed, and sometimes infected. This condition can be the result of shaving, waxing, or other hair removal methods that leave the hair follicle open and at increased risk of exposure.
How do I benefit from waxing? Waxing reduces hair growth when performed at every four to five weeks. While shaving crops the hair at the skin's surface, waxing pulls it out by the root, so it grows back softer, finer, and thinner. Waxing is great for those who are tired of the hassle of shaving several times per week.
"Hot wax adheres to the hairs stronger and more firmly than cold wax, which makes it more effective for removing shorter or finer hairs from the root." So if you don't want to wait as long in between waxing sessions, then hot wax might be the best option for you.
Instead of solving the problem, regular waxing or plucking actually worsens the problem! This is because the follicle sustains damage whenever a hair is removed in such forceful manner. The body, in effort to repair this resulting damage, increases blood supply to the site.
Using a lotion or moisturizer with hair inhibitor properties may help slow the regrowth process.
Strawberry legs is not a condition in and of itself. Instead, strawberry legs refers to the appearance of the pores on your legs and can be used to describe several skin conditions. If you have strawberry legs, your legs may have dark dots that are similar to the seeds in strawberries.
Strawberry legs occur when enlarged pores or hair follicles trap dead skin, oil, and bacteria. A person often experiences strawberry legs following shaving. Other skin conditions that can cause strawberry legs include clogged pores, folliculitis, dry skin, and keratosis pilaris.
Many people develop folliculitis — a bumpy, pimple-like rash — after hair removal. It's usually caused by inflammation. Inflammation typically goes away on its own without treatment. If you have white or fluid-bumps that last more than a few days, your folliculitis may be the result of a mild infection.
A recent study that surveyed a diverse group of women found that more than 80 percent of gals groom their pubes regularly. About 5 percent of ladies groom daily, but a monthly regimen is more common. About 75 percent of women stick to removing hair from the front and the bikini line.
Dr. Barba also suggests that shaving and waxing can contribute to armpit discoloration, due to a higher chance of inflammation from the ripping and pulling of coarse hair from the skin.
Is waxing painful? Yes, usually. There are more nerves around your genital area, so pain is more prominent during these procedures, according to Silverberg.
Many times, the skin in the armpits is darker than the surrounding skin. This is due to the accumulation of dead skin cells over time. Waxing not only removes hair, but it also removes the dead skin along with it. The removal of these cells lightens the skin, making the underarms tank top and swimsuit ready.
Laser hair removal is a relatively painless process that permanently destroys the hair at the root. The light pulses emitted from the laser destroy the hair follicle and root so that hair can no longer grow in that area. The process requires several sessions spread out over a period of several months.