How Long Should Hair Be To Wax?
Unlike more invasive hair removal methods like laser treatments, waxing requires sufficient hair growth above the skin’s surface to achieve touchable, silky-smooth skin. While waxing demands little hands-on maintenance between sessions, growing your hair to the right length is an essential step to ensure your comfort and maintain long-lasting results. But exactly how long should hair be to wax?
This guide has you covered! Learn how hair length affects waxing results and what to expect if waxing hair that’s too short or too long.
How long does your hair have to be for waxing?
One-quarter inch is the general guideline for how long hair should be to wax. But here are a few other considerations to keep in mind:
Does the area matter?
Yes! Your hair may need to be slightly longer than ¼” in body parts with thick, coarse strands. Consider growing hormonal or pubic hairs targeted during Brazilian, bikini line, and facial waxes to ⅓” long, especially if you have sensitive skin. On the other hand, you may be able to wax fine, thin hairs that are only about ⅛” in length.
How long should hair be for hard wax vs soft wax?
When using hard wax vs soft wax, it’s generally recommended to grow hair to at least ¼” to effectively remove the root from the follicle. Soft wax can often be used on hair that’s ¼” to ½”, as a small amount of additional growth can help the wax adhere better to the hair strands. You want to aim for the size of a grain of rice. In other words, give your hair at least three weeks to grow out.
How long should you wait between waxes?
At a minimum, you should grow your hair for two to three weeks before waxing. Here’s a general guideline for the average time between sessions:
Face and underarms: Every 2 to 4 weeks
Brazilian and bikini line: Every 3 to 5 weeks
Arms, legs, back, chest: Every 4 to 6 weeks
Ear and nose: Every 4 to 6 weeks
Waxing is most effective for hairs in the anagen (active) phase of the growth cycle, but can also remove strands in the catagen (transitional) and telogen (resting) stages. As you maintain a consistent waxing schedule, your growth cycles will begin to align, allowing for longer-lasting results.
Related: Does Waxing Reduce Hair Growth?
What happens if hair is too short for waxing?
Now that you know how long hair should be to wax, let’s discuss the consequences of waxing short strands:
Wax can’t grip
When hairs are less than ¼” long, wax can’t form a strong bond with each strand. This can cause patchy results, as many hairs are left behind.
Resist the urge to re-wax treatment areas right away, which will lead to increased sensitivity.
Can cause breakage and patches
Short hairs that aren’t fully removed during a wax may break off mid-shaft, causing stubble and ingrown hairs only days after your appointment. In fact, you may not achieve silky-smooth skin at all unless you or your waxing specialist follow up with intensive tweezing.
More pain and irritation
Removing short hairs from follicles requires more force than it takes to eliminate longer strands. This extra tugging and pulling can induce redness, swelling, and skin trauma, especially for folks with sensitive skin types.
Ineffective hair removal
You pay good money for each waxing service, and you expect the results to last for weeks. Instead of waxing short strands, give yourself a little extra time to reach the appropriate length and achieve long-lasting, silky-smooth skin.
Related: Waxing Aftercare Tips for Long-Lasting Results
What happens if hair is too long for waxing?
Short hair isn’t the only problem you may face in the waxing studio. However, long hair shouldn’t be a concern before your first appointment. Your specialist will be happy to trim longer strands to give you a visual of the ideal length.
At The Wax Studio, longer hair is totally okay! While some places might require trimming beforehand, we’re trained to work with all hair lengths, so we’ve got you covered if a quick trim is ever needed (though it’s rarely the case).
Our team is skilled in applying wax in a way that ensures we’re grabbing the hair right from the root, even if it’s on the longer side. The only thing you might notice is a bit more tugging during the application—but it’s typically not an issue at all.
In fact, clients often see even better results when the hair is a little longer, so no need to stress or shave before your appointment! With all of that in mind, here’s more information on what could happen when waxing longer hair:
Can increase the risk of ingrown hairs
Breakage and incomplete hair removal create the perfect environment for ingrown hairs, especially if you have wavy or curly hair. If you fail to address these trapped strands, they can develop into painful bumps and eventually become infected.
Can cause more pulling and pain
Long strands can interfere with your esthetician’s waxing methods, causing waxing products to clump together rather than adhere firmly to hairs. As a result, the removal process can be much more uncomfortable than waxing hair of the appropriate length.
Related: Your Guide to Eyebrow Threading vs Waxing
Discover your smoothest skin yet at The Wax Studio!
At The Wax Studio, we’re passionate about providing world-class hair removal services in a warm, welcoming environment. Reach out today to learn more or schedule an appointment to get started!
