This post is in partnership with European Wax Center®
If shaving has been your go-to method of hair removal up until now, and you're thinking about making the switch to waxing, you might have a few questions. "It is going to be painful?" and "how often will I need to wax?" are common among them. For those who have never been blessed by the hands of a professional waxer before, it's completely normal to be equal parts curious and nervous (been there!) about how your first session will go. But know that it's oh so worth it! Before you break up with your razor and move over to smoother pastures, here are five things to know before you switch from shaving to waxing.1) Stop Shaving Two Weeks Before Your First Wax
The most essential part of beginning your waxing journey is to let your hair grow out long enough to ensure you're getting the best result from your waxing service. Wax experts at European Wax Center recommend that you stop shaving at least two weeks before your very first wax. The reason? You want the hair to be the length of a grain of rice (especially when it comes to the bikini area.) This allows the wax to properly grip the hair. If it's not there yet, wait a little while and schedule your wax appointment for a future date.
2) Be Great and Exfoliate!
No seriously, we can't stress this enough. Exfoliation is the key to a successful wax. Not only does it remove dead skin cells pre-wax, but it's also a great method for preventing ingrown hairs (more on that soon!) If you're in the market for something to kick your exfoliation game up a notch, or you just don't know where to start, add some new products into your shower routine. This gentle exfoliating gel with calming ingredients like aloe and vitamin E will soothe your skin while fruit enzymes eat away at dead skin cells effectively prepping the area you plan to wax. You can also grab a pair of exfoliating mitts for a more targeted approach. These are great, because you can throw them in the washing machine every 3-4 uses
3) Make Water Your Best Friend
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body. Not only does it help carry nutrients to your cells and aid in digestion, but it keeps the skin (your biggest organ) supple and healthy. Drinking plenty of water pre-and post-wax will help guarantee a more comfortable wax and smoother-feeling skin in the area you choose to wax. To ensure your skin stays hydrated, look for moisturizers that will not clog pores like this shea body butter.
4) Stop and Put Down The Razor!
We get it. Shaving as a hair removal method can be convenient and quick, especially if you've got somewhere important to be. However, before you pick up that razor, take a second to reconsider! Shaving in between waxes is not recommended, and for several reasons. Unlike shaving which cuts the hair right at the surface of your skin, waxing pulls the hair out from the root. Because of this, waxing causes the hair to grow back slower and the texture of the hair in that area usually becomes softer over time. When you shave in between waxes, you are pretty much reversing all of the benefits of waxing plus causing further irritation to the area. And believe me, waxing the stubble left over from the razor will be more painful than if you were to leave it alone. So after your first wax, it's important to stay the course and remain razor free until your next appointment.
5) Patience, Grasshopper
Waxing is best thought of as a journey, not a one-off experience. The more you wax, the more changes you will see in the texture and growth pattern of your hair. Keep in mind that you may not get a totally smooth underarm, leg, or bikini area on your very first wax. That's because starting out, your hair will be in different phases of growth. European Wax Center's experts advise their clients that the third wax will usually be your best wax. With consistency and proper home care, your wax appointments will become more comfortable and will reveal nothing but radiant skin. Stick with it, sis!
Thinking about taking the plunge and booking your first wax? Visit waxcenter.com to book a reservation with a wax specialist near you. Your first wax is on the house!
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage