Use a numbing cream! Numbing creams come with a variety of different sensations. There are numbing gels, sprays, and creams that can be applied to any part of your body, including your bikini area!
Prior to waxing apply something to numb the skin like No Scream Cream. Take an aspirin or ibuprofen about 30 – 45 minutes before your wax. This is especially helpful when getting waxed above the lip, chest, bikini and genital areas- which top the list as the most pain-provoking areas.
But there are ways to make the experience tolerable instead of dreadful. First, apply a numbing cream to the bikini area 30 minutes before you're about to wax. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Aspirin to minimize the pain. Also, ensure that the wax is cool before application.
Best Numbing Cream For Waxing
Whether you're waxing yourself at home or dreading going to the appointment you have scheduled, two numbing products Dr. Sperling recommends using to relieve some of the pain are Lidocane Plus Pain Relieving Cream ($15) and Aspercreme Lidocaine Pain Relieving Crème ($11).
In order to avoid having a painful incident occur during your wax experience, many people choose to use a topical product like a numbing cream or a numbing spray to ease the pain. Although it won't take away the pain completely, topical numbing creams can certainly help make the experience a little more bearable.
Take an anti-inflammatory about an hour beforehand (avoid ones that act as blood thinners like Aspirin). Exercise and get enough sleep the day/night before waxing. Apply numbing cream before the appointment if pain tolerances are especially low.
First and foremost, getting your timing right. You need to put it on early, but not too early. I would say 30-45 minutes (in general - but always follow directions for your specific product) before your waxing appointment. When you numb the area, you can make it more sensitive to hot and cold.
Shaving. Shaving is an extremely common alternative to waxing. It occupies a happy medium for many, being well-priced, quick, and pain-free. The better the tools you invest in, the easier it becomes to do.
You can buy numbing creams and patches at your local pharmacy. You do not need a prescription from your health care provider to buy them.
Compared to other areas of the body, Brazilian waxing is the most painful because pubic hair is thicker than hair in other areas of the body. Hence, more force is required to remove the thick hair. I usually advise new clients to begin with under-arms waxing and/or bikini waxing before proceeding to Brazilian waxing.
What are the most painful areas to have waxed? Brazilian, upper lip, chest (not areolas), the sides of your abdomen, hairline. That being said, your first time trying waxing as your hair removal method in almost any area is not going to be pleasant.
However, it's really difficult to say who much discomfort or pain you may feel since everyone's threshold for pain varies. Some feel slight pain, some feel none. But the pain will never be completely unbearable and the discomfort is it's worth it and that it gets better with each session.
However, most people forgo numbing cream for a bikini wax because it has complications. The numbing creams are greasy and need to be completely washed off the skin and hair before waxing so they don't interfere with the binding of the wax. Also, some numbing creams have ingredients that you may be allergic to.
Make Sure Your Hair Is the Right Length
"Your hair should be about a quarter of an inch long—or what we say is a grain of rice," Roberts said. If your hair is longer, waxing will be more painful.
Brazilian wax prep is simple! First, be sure that your hair is about a ¼ inch long, or the length of a sprinkle. If it's your first Brazilian wax, avoid shaving at least two weeks before your reservation. Next, be sure that the area is properly cleaned and moisturized.
Curist Numbing Relief contains lidocaine 5%, which is the strongest OTC lidocaine cream available at the highest percentage.
When it comes to the best overall tattoo numbing cream, it doesn't get much better than Zensa Numbing Cream. Zensa Numbing cream is one of the few tattoo numbing creams available on the market that is FDA approved. The vegan formula contains 5% lidocaine and vitamin E and is both steroid and cruelty-free.
Our best overall pick is Zensa Numbing Cream 5% Lidocaine, a vegan formula safe for all skin types and that works quickly to numb the skin.
Hard wax and strip waxes are less harsh on the skin. These methods are formulated to grip hair (not skin, ouch!) so even your most sensitive areas will see fewer ingrown hairs. “It's created specifically for sensitive areas, as hair comes out easier, which reduces the pain and prolongs smooth, hairless results.
Arms: Having your arms waxed should be an absolute breeze, according to Mari.
Fruit wax is generally a great option for those with sensitive skin because it won't cause bumps, rashes, or marks, but you'll want to make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients. As with any natural beauty product, you can expect to pay a little more for a fruit wax than a simple resin-based option.
Do not—we repeat, do not—use ice to numb the area before waxing, because it will tighten and close up your pores, making the waxing much more difficult. Instead, use a numbing cream about 30 minutes before your appointment to help dull the pain.
The best way to minimize pain from waxing is to take a pain reliever such as Tylenol 30 to 40 minutes prior to the wax, and stay on a regular waxing schedule of every 4 to 6 weeks without shaving in between.
No Scream Cream is an FDA approved topical numbing cream containing 20% benzocaine. When used properly, No Scream Cream will ease the discomfort of waxing between 50-80%.
Taking Advil or Ibuprofen before any wax service can help minimize the pain. The Changes Estheticians recommend taking a half hour before your appointment for best results. Taking a painkiller prior to your appointment may reduce any mild swelling that might come about from the waxing.