10 Things to Know About Underarm Wax

Not seeing the underarm area makes removing the hair in those pits difficult. Shaving is only possible if you are an expert otherwise you can easily get cuts and nicks. How about tweezing? 

Imagine having to raise your arms for a long time! It is going to be tiring, painful, and uncomfortable for you. So, the best option is waxing as it is quick and you do not need much accuracy to remove underarm hair.

How to prepare for armpit waxing? Want to know more about armpit waxing? Go no further! This article will guide you about everything from price to waxing pain and the before and aftercare required to achieve seamless waxing results. 
Table of Contents:

• Part 1: How Long Does Hair Length Have to Be to Wax?
• Part 2: How Long Does an Armpit Wax Last?
• Part 3:Armpit Wax Price: Salon Services vs DIY Waxing Kits
• Part 4: Does Armpit Wax Hurt?
• Part 5: Can I Wax My Armpit While Pregnant?
• Part 6: Can You Wear Deodorant Before Underarm Wax?
• Part 7: How Often Should You Wax Your Armpit?
• Part 8: How to Prepare Your Skin for Underarm Waxing?
• Part 9:Armpit Wax Aftercare: What to Do?
• Part 10: Can I Shower After Armpit Wax?

Part 1: How Long Does Hair Length Have to Be to Wax?

The ideal length of underarm hair for waxing is about ¼ to ½  of an inch. In practical life, this equals the size of a rice grain. 

Why is it necessary? If the armpit hair is longer than this length, the wax cannot effectively stick to it. As a result, all the hair will not be pulled out as you remove the wax strip. Moreover, longer hair is also more painful to remove. Here is what you can do to ensure that the hair length is right:

• Keep track of your previous waxing or shaving session. The hair grows up to this length after about 2 weeks after waxing or shaving
• You can use a pair of mustache scissors or safety scissors to trim the hair more precisely as these are easier to maneuver
• Start by trimming to a longer length and then gradually cut the hair shorter. This will help you prevent trimming the hair shorter than required 

Part 2: How Long Does an Armpit Wax Last?

The results of an armpit armpit wax lasts for about 2-6 weeks. The variation in results depends upon your hair growth rate, your genetics, and your consistency in maintaining the waxing schedule. If you maintain your waxing schedule, the hair will grow slower than before. In addition, they will be thinner and less than the previous hair growth.

But it does not mean it will eventually make you hairless for a lifetime. Some hair removal methods like IPL can last for about months to years which is even longer than waxing. You can benefit from this hair removal method at home with the Ulike Air 10 IPL handset. It is a one-time investment for achieving silky-smooth skin that lasts for a long time. 

Part 3:Armpit Wax Price: Salon Services vs DIY Waxing Kits

The price of underarm waxing mainly depends upon the area you are getting your services. The average cost for armpit waxing is $15-30 worldwide. Famous places like Hawaii charge $28-30 for a single underarm waxing session while Pennsylvania can be cheaper and charge up to $10. 

This variation in range also depends upon the services offered by the salons. Some salons offer hair trimming and massaging along with waxing. This is surely going to be more expensive. How much do DIY waxing kits cost?

You can find most DIY waxing kits between $5-20 depending upon the number of waxing strips or other products inside. As a single kit can be used several times, this makes it a more economical option than salons. 

Part 4: Does Armpit Wax Hurt?

When hair is pulled out from its roots, it will surely hurt. But the good news is that underarm wax does not hurt as much as other areas, It is because this area is usually smaller and less wax is used. So, the session will be quicker and less painful.

The pain level varies depending on individual tolerance level and whether you have done underarm waxing before. With each waxing session, one gets used to waxing and the pain felt during the session reduces. 

Pain can be minimized in the following way:

• Make sure that the body is sufficiently hydrated before going for the session as it allows the wax to grip hair strongly and reduce waxing pain
• Avoid waxing during your periods as the skin becomes more sensitive during menstruation and increases pain
• You can also use OTC painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen half an hour before waxing to reduce the pain

Part 5: Can I Wax My Armpit While Pregnant?

Waxing usually does not affect pregnancy in any way. However, during this time the skin becomes more sensitive which can make waxing a very painful experience. If you are getting the waxing session done during your pregnancy, keep these points in mind:

• Make sure that you communicate to your professional about your skin sensitivity so they use a wax made for sensitive skin
• During pregnancy, your underarms and other areas of your body might get darker resulting in melasma. If it has reached your armpits, do not wax them 
• Be sure to be gentle while applying and removing the wax from the armpits

Part 6: Can You Wear Deodorant Before Underarm Wax?

Some of us might be very used to wearing deodorants as they drive away the smell and keep our underarms dry. But if you are going for an underarm waxing session, just skip it can clog your pores and increase the chances of waxing side effects.

Additionally, the building up of any product in your underarms will hinder the wax from sticking to your hair. thus making hair removal less efficient.

Part 7: How Often Should You Wax Your Armpit?

How often should you wax the armpits? As mentioned earlier, the waxing results usually last for 6 weeks but underarm hair tends to grow faster than other areas of the body. Therefore, professionals recommend getting underarm waxing done every three weeks. 

This time can vary from person to person then how to know when it’s time to go for the next waxing session? Keep track of your hair length. Once the length becomes approximately equal to the size of a rice grain, you are good to go for your next waxing session. 

Part 8: How to Prepare Your Skin for Underarm Waxing?

Here is how to prepare your skin and yourself before getting the armpit wax done:

• Relax: Being nervous during the waxing session will naturally make your mind more sensitive to pain. A warm water shower can help relax your body and mind. It will also soften the underarm hair that can later be removed more easily 

• Exfoliate the Armpit Area: Exfoliating the armpit area 24 hours before the waxing session can help remove dead cells from the skin surface which can act as a hindrance in sticking of wax to the skin This allows the wax to grasp the hair better. You can use a gentle scrub or exfoliating gloves during your shower for this 

• No Tanning Before Waxing: Tanning can contribute to increasing the waxing pain as harsh chemicals can irritate the skin. In addition, waxing on a tanned body makes the skin look uneven and patchy

• Stay Hydrated: Keeping your body hydrated is a way to relax it. You should keep drinking water and also apply a gentle moisturizer at least 12 hours before the session. Skip it on the day of the session as moisturizer will prevent the wax from sticking to the skin

• Do not Consume Caffeine and Alcohol: Using caffeine or alcohol before waxing tightens the skin pores and makes waxing more painful. So, avoid them for at least 24-48 hours before waxing

Part 9:Armpit Wax Aftercare: What to Do?

Here is what you can do to soothe your skin after armpit waxing and let your skin heal properly:

• Moisturize: As wax sticks to the skin surface, it can also strip off the moisture barrier of the skin making it dry and sensitive. This causes the skin to be more vulnerable and also delays the healing process. Therefore, you must keep moisturizing the skin after armpit waxing

• Exfoliate: Exfoliation after waxing can help prevent the accumulation of dead cells on the skin that causes ingrown hair. However, do this after 2-3 days of waxing as exfoliating immediately can damage the skin

• Avoid Hot Bath: A few of you might love hot baths but these can damage the skin cells and slow down the healing process. In addition, it can cause itching and irritation in the body

• Wear Loose Clothes: Tight clothes rub against the body. The small fibers from these clothes irritate the skin and it becomes more sensitive. So wear loose clothes until your skin heals completely

• Use Cold Compresses: Cold compressions aid in relieving redness and inflammation caused by underarm waxing 

Part 10: Can I Shower After Armpit Wax?

Showering immediately after a waxing session is usually not recommended especially if it is a hot water shower. It can irritate and damage the freshly waxed skin thus increasing redness, inflammation, and itching. 

When to take a shower after waxing? If you want hot water bathe then wait for at least 24-48 hours. Otherwise, waiting for 2 hours before bathing is enough. 

Final Verdict

Underarm waxing offers quick, long-lasting, and comfortable hair removal. It is also less painful as compared to other hair removal methods because the area is small and all the hair can be removed in one go.

But if you want to achieve good waxing results, avoid exfoliating or wearing a deodorant immediately before the waxing appointment. You just need to keep your body hydrated and relaxed as it can help in reducing the underarm waxing pain.