How Long Does Hair Have to Be to Wax? 

Have you ever noticed your hair grows faster after some sessions of waxing while hair takes longer time to grow after other waxing sessions when your waxing routine is not regular? Also, did you hear that it is important to get the body and facial hair waxed around the same time each month? 

If yes, you must have wondered why is it so and how to know when you should get the unwanted hair waxed, right? Additionally, hair needs to be of an appropriate length to be waxed. So, let us discuss how long hair has to be to wax and answer all of your queries relating to the timeline of waxing. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Understanding the Importance of Hair Growth Cycle
• Part 2: Ideal Hair Length for Waxing
• Part 3: Ideal Hair Length for Different Types of Wax
• Part 4: Challenges and Risks for Improper Length

Part 1: Understanding the Importance of Hair Growth Cycle 

You have to understand the hair growth cycle to know how it affects waxing. Thus, let us see how the hair growth cycle works here. 

Hair Growth Cycle

There are three phases of the hair growth cycle given as, 

• Anagen: This is the actively growing phase in the hair growth cycle where hair receives its nutrition from the follicles and grows long. 

• Catagen: This is the transition period where hair moves from an active phase into a shedding phase where it detaches from the follicle but stays in place. 

• Telogen: This is the dormant or the resting stage where fully grown hair falls out of the roots and new hair begins to prepare to grow. 

The Phase to Target for Optimal Results

At any point in time, about 80% of hair is in the anagen phase, 10% in the catagen phase, and 10% in telogen. The ideal stage to target for optimal waxing results is the Anagen phase. 

It is because the hair is connected to the papilla and actively receives nutritional supply. When you remove it by force, trauma is imparted to the papilla making it shrink and the blood supply to the hair is also cut off. 

Consequently, new hair takes a longer time to grow back and it is also finer because of reduced blood supply. This is precisely why waxing causes hair regrowth reduction over time. 

Part 2: Ideal Hair Length for Waxing

The ideal hair length for waxing any type of hair on the body or face is a quarter of an inch. This is because only this length of hair is best grabbed by the wax. We will provide information about how long leg hair has to be to wax, how long pubic hair needs to be to wax, and how long armpit hair needs to be to wax.

However, hair on different body parts takes a different time to grow to this length. The average growth rate for body hair is 0.35 mm reaching ¼ inch within 2 weeks. Facial hair takes a shorter time to grow as compared to body hair. Furthermore, let us find out the exact rate of hair growth in different parts of the body for proper waxing below,

Moreover, if you want to know what are different types of wax treatments based on the body area, we suggest you read Brazilian vs. Hollywood wax and Bikini vs. Brazilian wax here.

Part 3: Ideal Hair Length for Different Types of Wax on the Body and Face

If you are unsure about How long hair needs to be for a Brazilian wax, how long hair has to be for sugar wax, and what length of hair is required for hard/soft wax, we have a generalized answer for you. Therefore, if your hair is longer than ¼ of an inch, you can remove hair using any type of wax.

Moreover, which type of wax to use is determined by skin sensitivity and hair density in a specific body area. For example, hard wax is preferred for bikini lines, underarms, and upper lips; soft wax works well for arms and legs, and fruit wax is the most suitable for hypersensitive skin. Also, check out the best wax kits at Best at-home waxing hair removal kits. 

Part 4: Challenges, Risks, and Side Effects for Improper Length

Here we have the answer to why you need to let the hair grow to an appropriate length before waxing as too long or too short hair can cause a problem. 

If the Hair is Too Long for Waxing

If your hair is longer than 1/2 inch at the time of your waxing session, we are afraid that you will face disappointing results Wax adheres to the longer hair strands but does not provide enough force to pull the hair out of the roots. 

Thus, hair breaks at its attachment point to the wax instead of being removed completely. It also causes excruciating pain. Moreover, your skin does not look smooth as some patches of broken hair are left behind and the regrowth in this case is also faster

If the Hair is Too Short for Waxing

If your hair is shorter than 1/4 inch when the time of your waxing treatment approaches, the results will be insufficient hair removal even if the skin appears hairless after the session. 

Wax fails to adhere to the short hair. Consequently, instead of pulling it from the roots, the wax is removed with the strip while the hair stays and the short hair grows quickly. 

So, you try again and again causing more pain. This irritates the skin and incompletely removed hair forms ingrown hair and bumps. 

Conclusion 

Undesired hair is removed optimally when it has a proper length of 1/4 to 1/2 inches required for waxing. Hair any longer or shorter than the recommended length results in more pain and ineffective results.

Moreover, the hair growth rate on different parts of the body varies with the hair density, thickness, strength, and more. It also varies for different individuals. For example, the hair on the legs usually grows to full length within 30-42 days, the bikini line hair takes 21-27 days to grow, and the facial hair only requires 14-21 days. 

So, your treatment should be scheduled according to this timeline to achieve the best results. If you remove hair at regular intervals, all the hair will be of appropriate length at the time of your waxing session and regrowth will be reduced.