In brief
- Waxing removes the hair root and all. That's why you stay smooth for three to four weeks.
- Your hair needs to be at least five millimetres long. That's usually ten to fourteen days after you last shaved.
- Waxing and harsen are the same thing. Hars is the old Dutch word for wax.
- For the first 24 hours, skip the sauna, sunbed, swimming pool and hard exercise. From day three or four, a scrub twice a week helps against ingrown hairs.
- At Moons in Enschede you book per zone: a facial zone from €8.00, underarms or bikini line €18.50 and lower legs €25.00.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
Waxing or harsen, what is the difference?
There is no difference. Waxing and harsen are two words for the same thing: warm wax is applied to the skin, grips the hairs and takes them out root and all when it is removed.
Because the hair is completely gone, it takes weeks before you see it again. It grows back with a soft tip. After shaving, a hair comes back with an end cut straight across, and that feels coarse. Hence the idea that shaving makes hair thicker.
On your face we work with a softer wax than on your body, and we remove stray hairs with tweezers.
Waxing, shaving, epilating or laser?
| Topic | How it works | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Waxing | Removes the hair from the root, a whole zone in one go | Smooth for three to four weeks |
| Shaving | Cuts the hair off at the surface of the skin | Short. The hair comes back quickly and coarse |
| Epilating | Pulls hairs out by the root, with tweezers or a device | Also weeks, but it goes one hair at a time |
| Hair removal cream | Dissolves the hair at the surface of the skin | Short, similar to shaving |
| Laser | Reduces hair growth with light, over a series of treatments | That's a treatment for a clinic. At Moons we don't do laser |
Sugaring works the same way as waxing, with a paste made of sugar. At Moons we work with wax.
How do you prepare for waxing?
The most important thing is the length of your hair. The wax has to be able to grip the hair, and below about five millimetres it slides over the top. So let your hair grow for ten to fourteen days and don't shave just beforehand.
Scrub lightly the day before. That removes the dead skin cells lying over the hairs, so the wax grips better. Shower before your appointment and don't put on any thick body lotion or oil afterwards.
Around your period, waxing feels more sensitive for many people. Then it's better to plan your appointment a few days later.
Does waxing hurt?
It's briefly sensitive, and it's a matter of seconds per strip. The first time is the most sensitive, especially on the bikini line and underarms.
The times after that are clearly easier, because the hair grows back thinner. If you come every four weeks, you'll notice it gets easier each time. It also helps if your hair is the right length and you don't come around your period.
What do you do after waxing?
First 24 hours
Leave your skin alone
Your skin is still open and warm. Skip the sauna, the sunbed, the swimming pool and hard exercise, and wear nothing tight or chafing over the waxed zone.
Days three to four
Start scrubbing
From now on, scrub lightly twice a week and keep your skin supple with a body lotion. That's the best step against ingrown hairs.
Weeks two and three
The first hairs
Hairs don't all grow at the same pace, so they come back in phases. It's better not to shave in between, because then the wax grips less well next time.
Week four
The next appointment
For most people the hair is long enough again by now. If you keep up that rhythm, you often see the hair growth become thinner.
Red bumps or ingrown hairs?
Redness straight after
A little redness is part of it and usually fades within a few hours.
Bumps in the first few days
These often come from heat, sweat or friction in the first 24 hours. That's why you skip the sauna, exercise and tight clothing that day.
Ingrown hairs
These can usually be prevented with light scrubbing, twice a week from a few days after the treatment, and supple skin.
Shaving in between
Better not. Shaving is exactly what causes ingrown hairs, and afterwards your hair has different lengths again.
What does waxing cost per zone?
These are the prices at Moons in Enschede, as they currently appear in our price list.
| Topic | Price at Moons | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| One facial zone | from €8.00 | Short |
| Full Face, with brows | €40.00 | 45 minutes |
| Underarms | €18.50 | 20 minutes |
| Bikini line | €18.50 | 20 minutes |
| Lower legs or upper legs | €25.00 per part | 20 minutes per part |
| Forearms or upper arms | €20.00 per part | 20 minutes per part |
| Lower back or upper back | €20.00 per part | 20 minutes per part |
By the bikini line we mean the hairs that fall outside your bikini bottoms. A Brazilian wax is not on our price list. We only do body waxing for women; the facial zones are for everyone.
When it's fine, and when to hold off.
A good idea if
- You're fed up with shaving every day and want to be set for weeks
- You want the hair on your face removed without it growing back coarse
- You're going on holiday and want everything sorted in one appointment beforehand
- You get razor bumps or irritation from the blade
Check with us first
- A strong retinol or an acid on the zone being waxed. Stop using it a few days beforehand
- Skin medication. Tell us beforehand, and only stop medication in consultation with your doctor
- Sunburnt skin or skin tanned from the sunbed. Then we wait a while
- Small wounds, eczema or an inflammation on the spot itself. We don't wax there
- A recent peel or microneedling. Then we leave time in between, and we'll tell you beforehand how much
Frequently asked questions about waxing
What is the difference between waxing and harsen?
There is no difference. They are two words for the same thing: warm wax grips the hairs and takes them out root and all.
How long does the hair stay away after waxing?
Three to four weeks, on your face sometimes a little less. The hair comes back in phases, because not all hairs grow equally fast.
How long does hair need to be for waxing?
At least five millimetres. That's usually ten to fourteen days after you last shaved. If the hair is shorter, the wax doesn't grip it properly and hair gets left behind.
How long before waxing should you stop shaving?
Don't shave for the last ten to fourteen days before your appointment.
How often should you wax?
About every four weeks. By then the hair is long enough again. If you keep up that rhythm, the hair usually grows back finer.
Does waxing hurt?
It's briefly sensitive, and it's a matter of seconds per strip. It's most sensitive the first time and on the bikini line and underarms. After that it's not so bad.
Is waxing or shaving better?
Shaving is quick, but the hair comes back fast and coarse. Waxing removes the hair from the root, so you're smooth for three to four weeks and the hair grows back softer.
Waxing or laser, what is the difference?
Waxing removes the hair for a few weeks. Laser reduces hair growth with light, over a series of treatments at a clinic. At Moons we don't do laser.
Should you shower before or after waxing?
Before. Come with clean skin, without thick body lotion or oil on it. Skip the sauna and the swimming pool for the first 24 hours afterwards.
Can you get waxed on your period?
You can, but for many people it feels more sensitive then. Feel free to move your appointment by a few days.
Can you go in the sun or use a sunbed after waxing?
Skip the sunbed for the first 24 hours. If you got sunburnt before your appointment or have just been on the sunbed, we wait a while before waxing.
Can you exercise after waxing?
Skip hard exercise on the first day, just like the sauna and the swimming pool. Heat and sweat bring on bumps and irritation more quickly then.
What can you do about ingrown hairs after waxing?
From a few days after the treatment, scrub lightly twice a week and keep your skin supple with a body lotion. Don't shave in between.
Does waxing make your hair thinner?
With regular waxing the hair often grows back finer, and over time the hair growth often becomes thinner and more irregular.
Do you do a Brazilian wax?
At Moons we do the bikini line: the hairs that fall outside your bikini bottoms. That takes twenty minutes and costs €18.50. A Brazilian wax is not on our price list.
Can men get waxed?
Everyone is welcome for the facial zones. At Moons we only do body waxing for women.
What does waxing cost?
At Moons in Enschede a facial zone costs from €8.00, underarms €18.50, the bikini line €18.50 and lower legs €25.00. You book per zone.
From reading to doing
What we do with this in the salon
Waxing in Enschede
All zones for face and body, with price and duration.
Facial waxing
Upper lip, chin, jaw, neck or cheeks, or all of it with Full Face.
Bikini line waxing
The hairs outside your bikini bottoms, in twenty minutes.
Leg waxing
Lower legs, upper legs or both, smooth for three to four weeks.
Underarm waxing
A small zone that's done quickly, then weeks without shaving.
Arm waxing
Forearms and upper arms, separately or together in one appointment.
