Waxing is commonly known as a very effective means of hair removal, and while the cost, speed and convenience play a role, so too does the length of time that the results last for.
The length of time between waxes can be affected by the following considerations;
- Your age and hormone levels
- Your genes and ethnicity
- The area of the body
- Personal rate of hair growth
- Personal preference and tolerance for the presence of regrowth
If it is your first time waxing, it can be expected that results will last for 3 to 6 weeks, dependent on your rate of hair growth, and your tolerance for it. The length of hair required for waxing is between one quarter to half an inch in length at least, and so it is required that you wait until regrowth is at this length before attempting to wax again. This helps to ensure that when waxing is performed, that as much hair is removed as possible; if you attempt to wax with shorter hair, the waxing agent may not be able to adhere to the shorter hairs, resulting in uneven results. For some people, the rate of regrowth can be affected by hormone levels; with many women going through menopause experiencing an altered rate of growth. Factors that can also affect results are regrowth on some areas of the body being more noticeable than others; for example, some women find the appearance of underarm hair to be very quickly noticeable after waxing, and find its presence intolerable. Alternatively, men waxing their back may not notice regrowth as quickly, and thus be satisfied with the results for a longer period of time before feeling the need to wax again.
In addition to personal factors affecting the lifetime of results, oftentimes people who have a history of shaving find the first few waxes less satisfying in their results; mostly commonly because the rate of hair regrowth is uneven due to irregular shaving and waxing schedules, or possibly even utilization of both hair removal methods; resulting in un-uniform regrowth. In addition to this, the first few times you wax, it is often more uncomfortable or painful, leading some people to delay their return.
As waxing is repeated with proper scheduling, and without interference from other hair removal techniques, it is often found that hair regrowth is finer, fairer, and occurs slower; giving the appearance of overall less hair. This can extend the period of time between waxes; resulting in a more effective, efficient and convenient waxing schedule. There is no concrete rule for the length of time between waxes; for many people it is a matter of trial and error to see what schedule works for them. For some people, having their bikini line waxed once every 6 weeks, whilst legs and underarms are on a shorter 4-week schedule may work, while others may feel it is more efficient to simply do all body areas done at the same time; pushing out the schedule to 7 week intervals. If in doubt, talk with your esthetician about your concerns, and they will be able to work with you to develop a schedule that works for you and your hair type.