By Mariela
Updated: August 13, 2024
6 minutes
Eyebrow waxing can be an essential part of the grooming routine for many individuals. It gives their brows a more defined and clean look. But waxing them too often can cause skin damage, or waiting too long will make the eyebrows look unkempt.
Therefore, it is essential to know the right time for waxing your eyebrows. So, this article is for all first-timers or waxing enthusiasts who are continuously worrying about their eyebrow waxing schedules. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: Can You Wax Your Eyebrows?
- Part 2: Understanding Eyebrow Hair Growth Cycle
- Part 3: How Often Should You Wax Your Eyebrows?
- Part 4: Signs That It Is Time to Wax Your Eyebrows
Part 1: Can You Wax Your Eyebrows?
Yes, you can wax your eyebrows by yourself or get them waxed at a salon. Eyebrow waxing is a popular hair removal method that many love to shape their eyebrows. It helps you achieve the desired eyebrow shape without the risk of nicking or cutting yourself.
Moreover, it is a quick method of removing extra eyebrow hair. Unlike shaving or plucking, you do not need to be an expert to shape your eyebrows however you want. Even at salons, getting the eyebrows waxed takes only a few minutes.
The results for eyebrow waxing last longer than shaving. Therefore, if are tired of shaving the eyebrow hair every other day, waxing can be a good choice for hair removal.
Part 2: Understanding Eyebrow Hair Growth Cycle
Before discussing the results of waxing for eyebrow hair removal, let’s understand the eyebrow hair growth cycle.
All hair on our body goes through four phases of the hair growth cycle, including the anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen phases. These include the whole life cycle of hair, from the time hair growth starts to the time hair goes into a resting phase. Then, comes the shedding period of hair from the body.
Hair in some areas of the body takes years to complete this cycle, while for others, it only takes a few months. For instance, scalp hair goes through all the phases within 3-7 years, while eyebrow hair takes up to 4 months only to complete the cycle [1].
Also, keep in mind that all the eyebrow hair can be at different phases of their cycle at the same time. Therefore, eyebrow hair keeps on growing. Once the cycle is complete, new hair growth starts. Hence, you can expect regrowth even after waxing within a few weeks.
Part 3: How Often Should You Wax Your Eyebrows?
Our eyebrow hair grows up to 0.16mm daily when they are in the growth phase [2]. It takes them about four to six months to regrow completely. However, the regrowth becomes noticeable within the four to eight weeks of waxing hair removal.
Therefore, if you want to maintain the shape of your eyebrows and look polished all the time, you can wax once every one to two months. On the other hand, if you are fine with subtle regrowth, you can also keep them unwaxed for up to four months until they grow completely.
You can also trim the hair shorter every few weeks to maintain the waxing results for a longer period. But if you are tired of waxing eyebrows every other month, try a more long-lasting hair removal method with the Ulike Air 10 IPL handset.
It will allow the results to last as long as six months to two years so you will not have to worry about the stray hair anymore with IPL hair removal.
Part 4: Signs That It Is Time to Wax Your Eyebrows
The hair growth cycle varies from person to person because the length of each phase is different from one person to the other [3]. Then how to know that your brows need waxing? Here are a few signs that can help you:
Problems in Eyeshadow Application
Girls who love makeup must know this. If you are having problems with eyeshadow application, especially under the eyebrow area, it means your brows are ready for the next waxing session.
It often happens because long stray hairs extending down the brow line can interfere with eyeshadow blending by making the surface uneven. If the hair is too long, the product may accumulate.
Disruption in Your Eyebrow Shape
Those who are very conscious about their eyebrow shape can notice even small changes easily. This can help them estimate the time of their next waxing session. When you see the stray eyebrow hair appearing around the brow edges, it means they need to be removed.
These extra hair makes the eyebrow shape less defined which might later become noticeable in your whole appearance.
Unruly Brows
If you face any difficulties while styling your brows and brushing them to the desired shape, it means it is time for the waxing appointment. This mostly applies to those who have thick and coarse hair.
You can also estimate this by noticing the difference between the tail of your eyebrows and the outer corner of your eyes. If after brushing, the tail extends beyond the corners of the eyes, it is an indicator that the hair are now long enough to get them waxed.
You Want a New Shape
Lastly, if you love experimenting with your looks, the time of the waxing appointment will depend upon your desire to reshape the eyebrows. When you feel like your current look is now boring, you can book an appointment and achieve the desired shape.
In such cases, it is mostly recommended to book appointments at salons rather than experimenting with the looks at home. This increases the accuracy and reliability of the results as professionals are experts who do this every day.
How Long Should You Wait Before Eyebrow Waxing?
Waxing too often will only be painful and increases the chances of ingrown hair. The wax will also not be able to adhere properly to the hair thus making the session ineffective. Therefore, one must wait for at least 4 weeks before the next eyebrow waxing session.
This allows the hair to grow to the optimum length for waxing. However, those with thick, curly hair can get it waxed every two weeks.
What Are the Downsides of Eyebrow Waxing?
Eyebrow waxing offers a quick and effective solution for removing unwanted stray hair from the eyebrows. However, it is also painful and can cause redness, irritation, or slight inflammation, depending on your skin sensitivity. Therefore, it cannot be done immediately before your important day.
Moroever, if the waxing process is too aggressive there is also a chance of skin lifting. Applying too hot wax can also cause burns.
Can You Wax Your Eyebrows Every Two Weeks?
Usually, eyebrow hair growth becomes noticeable after 4 weeks of the previous waxing session. Hence, most clinicians and professionals recommend waxing the eyebrows every 4 weeks. It saves you time and money. This period also allows the hair to grow to the optimal length.
However, this time duration can vary from person to person. Those who have a faster hair growth rate or have curly hair that are difficult to maintain can get their eyebrows waxed every two weeks.
How to Maintain Eyebrows Between Two Waxing Sessions?
When the eyebrow hair start regrowing, they can interfere with your well-groomed look and makes the eyebrow shape less defined. In such cases, you either try makeup, trimming or tweezing them to maintain the look between two waxing sessions.
You can use a primer to conceal the extra hair and make the eyebrow shape more defined. This is a temporary solution you can try in times of emergency. If you want to prolong the time between two waxing sessions, then trimming or tweezing the eyebrow hair will help.
At What Age Should I Start Eyebrow Waxing?
There is no certain age at which one should start waxing their eyebrows. Some people have started waxing or plucking their brows as early as 10 or 11 years. However, most professionals believe that 13 to 16 years is the right age to start waxing.
There are no downsides to waxing hair early in age so it is completely a personal choice. If you feel like your eyebrows are too thick or you do not like their shape, you can get them waxed at any age.
Conclusion
Eyebrow waxing is a great method of grooming eyebrow hair and maintaining the perfect eyebrow shape. However, you must let the hair grow to the required length before getting it waxed again. This helps you achieve better results and a flawless brow arch.
Eyebrow hair starts regrowing after the waxing sessions, but the growth becomes noticeable after four to eight weeks. So, you can book your next appointment in between this time.
References
[1] 5 Ways to Get Overplucked Eyebrows to Grow Back, Cleveland Clinic
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-ways-to-get-overplucked-eyebrows-to-grow-back
[2] Nguyen, B., Hu, J. K., & Tosti, A. (2023). Eyebrow and Eyelash Alopecia: A Clinical Review. American journal of clinical dermatology, 24(1), 55–67.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9870835/
[3] Hoover E, Alhajj M, Flores JL. Physiology, Hair. [Updated 2023 Jul 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/
