Waxing is an effective way to remove unwanted hair from a multitude of areas. Regardless of the area, preparing your skin for waxing is an important first step in the epilation process.

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• Check the length of your hair. The best length for waxing is generally 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch (13 to 19 mm). For very fine hair, like women's facial hair, it can be a little shorter.

• Cleanse. Use a gentle soap to clean the area you want to be waxed. Avoid using very hot water as this may irritate your skin, and ALWAYS use SPF 30 or above post treatment.

• Avoid waxing when skin is more sensitive. It's best not to wax when your skin has had a lot of sun exposure, when you are menstruating, or when you have used aggressive skin care products (such as AHA or retinoid treatments). Give your skin about a week after any of these before you wax.

• Consider taking a pain reliever. Taking an oral anti-inflammatory about an hour before waxing will not only keep the skin from swelling, but it will also alleviate some of the pain associated with waxing. This is optional and at your discretion. Some salons also sell topical pain relievers that you can spray or rub onto the skin. These take a minimum of 15 minutes to start working. If they are oily at all, you will need to cleanse your skin again before waxing.

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