Waxing has, with good reason, been steadily gaining popularity as a safe and affordable form of hair removal. Even though it's relatively simple, if you've never tried it before it can be a little scary for a first-timer. The worst part is always the unknown. What should you expect? Here are some of the most common questions that I've been asked about what to expect from a personal waxing service — and the answers apply, whether you're considering waxing your legs, your eyebrows, or your bikini area.

Q. How long do I have to let my hair get so the wax works well?

You should let your hair grow out a little so the wax has something to grab on to. If you have at least a 1/4" growth of hair, you should get good results. That would be about a 2 to 3 week growth of hair, more or less depending on how your own hair grows. Some say this is the most uncomfortable part of the process; letting your hair grow and not shaving.

Q. What do I need to know about getting my body ready for waxing?

You must have no sun exposure for the 48 hours prior to waxing. About 2 or 3 days before you come in for the waxing, lightly exfoliate the area to be waxed, using any exfoliator that you would typically use on your body. Don't over-scrub, just as you would gently exfoliate your face. On the day of your waxing, be sure you thoroughly cleanse the area being waxed, but do not exfoliate, and do not apply any oils, lotions, powders, perfumes, etc.

Q. Will the waxing process be painful?

To be perfectly honest, there will be some pain and discomfort during the first waxing visit. However, each appointment after that will become easier, due to the simple fact that there is less hair to remove each time. Pain threshold is different for each person, so it is hard to estimate the degree of discomfort that any one person will experience. It is certainly not extremely painful, but your level of pain tolerance will be something that you and your esthetician can and should discuss before beginning the waxing procedure. Avoid waxing during times that your skin is stressed for whatever reason. One such time is during your period, which has been shown to be a time that your skin is more sensitive.

Q. If I'm having a bikini wax, can I leave my panties on?

Your esthetician will have a disposable panty for you if you choose to be covered during your bikini line wax. Of course, estheticians are professionals and will treat you with respect. Before you begin the bikini waxing, discuss any confusion or discomfort you may be experiencing about the actual waxing procedure with your esthetician. You should agree beforehand on the bikini line you wish to wax so there are no mistakes made during the waxing to cause you and your esthetician discomfort. However, if at any time during the waxing you should become uncomfortable, you will want to stop the waxing and discuss your feelings with your esthetician. Don't be afraid to seek out a different esthetician if you feel that you are not receiving professional treatment at all times.

Q. After the waxing is over, do I need to baby my skin?

After each waxing appointment, give your skin a break. Stay out of the sun for at least 24 hours and do not climb into a tanning bed for at least 48 hours or more. Your skin is a bit stressed and will not like any alcohol based products, perfumes, lotions, powders, or oils. As a matter of fact, your skin will let you know in no uncertain terms that it wishes to be babied a little. Most any product you normally put on your skin will burn if you try to use it on your freshly waxed skin, so avoid these products for about a day or two.

Q. How long will I be able to go between waxings before I see hair growing in again?

Depending on how long you've been maintaining a waxing routine and how fast your hair normally grows, you could be relatively hairless for anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. The longer you've been waxing at regularly scheduled visits, the longer your hair will take to reappear. However, during the first 3 sessions, most people experience rather unnerving hair growth that was not expected. Hair actually grows in cycles; so the hair you see today is removed but there is hair under the surface that is waiting until tomorrow or the day after to make an appearance. After about the 3rd waxing, you'll notice that we've caught up with your scattered hair growing intervals, and now all the hair has had a chance to be removed at least once. Now each waxing should result in fewer hairs, and longer times between waxing appointments.

If you haven't decided yet whether you should try waxing, you may want to ask yourself a few questions. When's the last time you threw on a skirt or pair of shorts without worrying about the last time you shaved? Are you constantly sneaking a peek at your bikini bottoms trying to see if there's anything peeking back at you? You may consider waxing as a way to finally relax and quit worrying and wondering whether or not anyone will notice you haven't shaved. Getting rid of that razor, and razor burns, and cuts, is reason enough to call your esthetician and discuss the possibilities of waxing.