And you’re not alone.

Ever wonder why you have more ingrown hair, stubble, and prickly regrowth after shaving? And why it grows back so fast after you’ve been waxed??

Unbeknownst to many, there are two commonly used techniques for hair removal — hard and soft wax. While both do essentially the same thing, the outcome is completely different.

On top of that, one can significantly increase the potential for ingrown hair.

Hard wax is a thick, colorful, bubblegum-like consistency that semi-solidifies once on the skin. The technician then flicks up the ends and pulls off the hardened resin with her fingers. By comparison, soft wax spreads on thinly, stays sticky and uses a cloth to remove.

What isn’t readily confessed by those in the know is that hard wax is no different than shaving, as they both only remove surface hair. Soft wax, on the other hand, removes the entire root.

  • Surface removal traps roots under the skin as follicles mend for up to 24 hours after waxing
  • The root continues growing but struggles to get past the recuperating follicles and starts meandering under the skin
  • With nowhere to go, the trapped root festers and becomes ingrown

Since soft wax removes the prickly root, what grows back is the softer new hair of the next growth cycle.

Plus, the time between appointments for hard wax is 3 weeks, while it’s 4-6 weeks for soft wax. Some places use both hard and soft wax, which makes your hair grow back unevenly and requires you to return more frequently.

These are the main reasons why I exclusively use soft wax.

Why is this important? Educating clients about body waxing helps them make the best decisions for their self care.