Hair Removal (Waxing and Tweezing)
Waxing questions are safety questions dressed up as technique questions. Know the growth cycle, the products, and the list of clients you must turn away.
Growth cycle
Anagen is active growth, catagen is transition, telogen is rest. Waxing removes hair at the follicle but does not stop growth; anagen hairs remove most easily, which is why regular intervals matter.
Soft versus hard wax
Soft wax is applied thin and removed with a strip, best on finer hair. Hard wax is applied thicker, sets on its own, and is removed without a strip; it grips coarser hair and is gentler on sensitive areas. Always test temperature on your inner wrist and on a small patch of the client's skin, apply in the direction of growth, hold skin taut, and remove against the growth with the skin supported.
Contraindications
Isotretinoin within the past six months, prescription retinoids on the area, recent chemical peel or laser, sunburn, active infection, moles and raised nevi, varicose veins, thin or fragile skin, blood thinners, and uncontrolled diabetes warrant refusal or medical clearance.
Aftercare
Cool compress; no heat, friction, chlorine, or tight clothing for 24 hours; sunscreen. Advise the client not to pick ingrown hairs.
Worked example
A client mentions she started isotretinoin last month and wants a brow wax. Reasoning: the drug thins the epidermis and impairs healing, so waxing can avulse skin and leave a scar or pigment change. You decline the wax, explain the six-month guideline, and offer tweezing only if the skin is intact and the client accepts the risk - documenting the conversation.
Traps
Double-dipping the wax stick; waxing over a mole; failing to patch-test; removing wax in the wrong direction; ignoring the medication history because the client "has done it before."