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Few things feel as luxurious as having incredibly smooth skin—100% cashmere and silk pillowcases are up there—but achieving it by shaving is time-consuming and often causes bumps and ingrown hairs. If you haven’t started a head-to-toe waxing routine yet, now is the time to start: The benefits are tenfold.
“Because the hair comes out by the root, it grows back in much slower than shaving, so you stay nice and smooth longer,” says New York-based dermatologist Angela Lamb, M.D., director of Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice.
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Not convinced? There are other reasons to wax besides the obvious. Before you book your reservation, though, be sure to check online to make sure that your local European Wax Center location has reopened. EWC is doing so much to keep its clients safe—you can read more about their new safety protocols (so important right now) here, but think: additional deep cleans, wax specialists wearing face shields and/or masks, and no more product-testers at the front of the store.
Read on for five dermatologist-confirmed benefits that will have you making a reservation faster than you can say “razor burn.”
Waxing is an exfoliator
When wax is applied to your skin and then removed, it peels away any excess dead skin cells with it. The results are like a two-for-one wax and exfoliation treatment. “Waxing can actually simultaneously remove some of the top layers of dead skin cells, which can make your skin feel smoother,” explains Dr. Lamb.
To additionally get rid of dull skin between your waxes, use an exfoliating product at home a few times a week (though it’s gentle enough for daily use). Try European Wax Center’s Reveal Me® Body Exfoliating Gel, which uses natural fruit extracts from pineapple and papaya that scrub away dead skin gently but effectively to prevent ingrown hairs by helping keep hair follicles clear after waxing.
It saves you time and money
When your hairs are pulled out by their roots, it takes way longer for hair to grow back in than it does when you shave because the hair has further to go when growing back. You’ll have softer skin for much longer than the day or so it takes for hairs to start showing up again on your skin after shaving, giving you back precious minutes formerly spent wielding a razor in the morning.
Plus, by making the switch, you’ll no longer have to keep replacing your razors and shaving cream, which can really add up. To go as long as possible between waxes, slather on a moisturizer that can help keep hair from growing back quite as quickly. European Wax Center’s beloved Slow It Body Lotion uses a proprietary Hair Growth Minimizer to help visibly reduce the appearance and thickness of hair re-growth in between waxes.
Thick hair may grow in more finely when you wax
Waxing can actually change the texture of hair when it grows back: “Sometimes the hair is finer because of damage to the hair follicles,” says Lamb. And although waxing doesn’t prevent your hair from fully growing back in, it’s an ideal solution if you’re not ready to make a pricey commitment to laser hair removal.
Waxing can prevent ingrown hairs
What exactly is an ingrown? It’s simply when a hair grows back down into the skin instead of up and out, creating a little bump.
To help prevent ingrown hairs, Lamb recommends doing a gentle exfoliation after each wax or using an over-the-counter antiseptic. A product with alpha and beta hydroxy acids, such as European Wax Center’s Smooth Me® Ingrown Hair Wipes, will help support cell turnover, keeping skin clear. Plus, the single-use pads are easy to swipe across skin and are perfectly portable.
The experience improves over time
The more consistent you are with your waxing routine, the less painful it feels—because your hair isn’t as thick as it once was, and finer hair is easier to remove from the skin. So you’re essentially rewarded for keeping up with your regimen.
Making sure you prep properly for each visit helps, too. Exfoliate 48 hours before you go, and stop shaving at least five to seven days prior to ensure your hair is the size of a grain of rice.
Want more info about waxing? Head to European Wax Center’s website to get waxing 101 info on Brazilian bikini waxes, brow waxes, and facial hair waxes.
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