Waxing has been used for hundreds of years and is a relatively quick and safe way to remove unwanted hair as long as a few guidelines are followed. If you find a trained professional who specialises in waxing and has experience and satisfied customers there should be no problems. If you have a severe allergic reaction you will be one of the very few who do, most people only experience mild redness and irritation, though this can be visible for up to 24 hours. If you have very sensitive skin it is advisable to a test patch on your leg or ask to have one done at a salon before waxing a larger area.

Some of the side effects are:

•    Temporary redness and irritation
•    Allergic reaction to the waxing products
•    Slight bleeding, especially with coarse hair.
•    Dark pigmentation due to the wax being too hot.
•    Can cause wrinkles where the skin is stretched as in the eyebrow area.
•    Ingrown hairs  – never wax in the opposite direction to the hair follicle.

To ensure that the waxing process is as smooth as possible avoid the following:

•    Never wax skin that is irritated, sunburnt or broken.
•    Don’t sunbake after waxing or expose the area to the sun for at least 24 hours.
•    Do not wear tight clothing to reduce the possibility of ingrown hairs.
•    Always check the temperature of the wax on the back of your hand before using.
•    Always wax in the direction in which the hair is growing.
•    Never wax when taking or using Retin A products or if you are diabetic.
•    Choose a professional salon that has high standards of hygiene that uses disposable waxing strips.
•    Use a moisturiser to calm and soothe the area you have had waxed to keep the hair soft and help to lessen the chance of ingrown hairs.
•    If you have a bad reaction or you are worried, please seek the advice of a health professional.