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Fact: Women are born with body hair. But that doesn't mean you have to accept the fuzziness on your legs. If you want to show off your pins during the warmer months, hair-free legs are an absolute must. With so many hair-removal options around, you can become confused when deciding which is right for you. If you're looking for a hair-removal method that lasts more than a couple of days, consider waxing.
Longer Hairs = Easier Waxing
Stop shaving at least two weeks before your first waxing appointment. Your beautician might be a miracle worker, but even she will have trouble with hairs shorter than a quarter-inch long. During this time, wear longer skirts and capris to cover your legs if your hairiness bothers you. You'll be glad you did when you can rock your Daisy Dukes on your beach vacation without having to worry about daily shaving.
Ingrown Hairs
One of the most common complaints of serial leg waxers is annoying ingrown hairs that cause icky-looking red bumps on your legs. A good way to prevent ingrown hairs is to exfoliate before waxing, as well as every few days post-wax. If you still get ingrown hairs, there are some solutions. While picking and popping these bumps seems seriously tempting, doing so can actually make the problem worse. Coax those suckers out of your skin with a retinoid cream to remove dead skin cells from above the ingrowns. If yours are particularly red and angry-looking, a topical steroid ointment can help reduce inflammation.
Pain Level
You might have a higher pain threshold than your BFF, but when it comes to waxing, nobody's safe. As you might imagine, ripping hairs out of your body from the roots isn't exactly a picnic. But there are some things you can do to help minimize the pain. Take two ibuprofen tablets an hour before your waxing appointment to head off any pain. And don't wax while you have your period -- this can make a painful process hurt even more.
Longer Lasting
Waxing is one of the longest lasting non-permanent ways to remove leg hair. Depending on the thickness and amount of leg hair you have, waxing could last anywhere from two to six weeks. This is perfect if you're planning a week-long vacation, because you can leave your razor at home and save valuable poolside time in the shower. If you're unsure about letting your leg hairs grow before your next appointment, bear in mind that your hair should grow back finer after each waxing appointment.
