Anyone who shaves their underarms regularly knows that it can be the pits — whether it’s because you’re battling bumps, irritated by ingrown hairs or simply sick of keeping up with quick hair regrowth. Sound familiar? We’ve got you! Follow this guide to learn how to wax underarms, get tips for effectively waxing your armpits (hint: it most likely involves a professional!), and find out why it’s worth visiting a Waxing the City studio so an expert Cerologist can remove the hair on your delicate underarm skin.
Waxing vs. shaving your underarms
Rocking body hair or removing it is a personal choice. It’s also a form of self-expression and a way to boost self-esteem. But if you’re not feeling the au naturel armpit look, waxing and shaving are both reliable ways to get rid of unwanted hair in this region.
However, shaving to maintain smooth, bare underarms at home often results in bumps and ingrown hairs that can leave your armpits irritated and itchy as hair starts to grow back. Depending on how fast your hair grows back, shaving also can be an everyday commitment — and not always a convenient one!
Benefits of waxing armpits
There are many reasons to ditch the razor for good and wax your underarms smooth instead:
- It’s quick and convenient. Waxing your armpits takes only a little longer than shaving — it can be done in about 15 minutes at a Waxing the City studio!
- It’s low-maintenance. After waxing, you can expect hair to grow back more slowly than it does with shaving. Depending on your hair’s growth cycle, a wax can last anywhere from two weeks to a month.
- Hair growth may slow over time. This means that the more you wax your armpits, the less time you’ll spend dealing with the hair that grows there.
- No razor burn. Enough said, right? Your sensitive underarm skin will thank you later.
- No uncomfortable regrowth. Since hair is pulled out at the root with waxing, there is less chance of itchiness as it grows back.
- Less sweat and odor. When you wax, there’s no place for odor-causing bacteria to hang out under your arms, and sweat has an opportunity to evaporate faster when it’s not trapped in hair.
Brighter skin: Yes, waxing armpits can help reduce underarm darkness! Shaving, deodorant use, and dead skin cell buildup can darken this skin over time. Switching to waxing helps prevent dark patches. (If you’re also looking to address uneven underarm skin tone, consider a Bryght Skin Brightening Treatment.)
How to wax underarms
Underarm waxing is done by applying wax directly to the area. The wax adheres to the hair as it’s pressed on to the skin, then it’s pulled off, taking the hairs with it.
Can I wax my armpits at home?
While armpit waxing can be done at home, it requires a mirror and some prep work — and some flexibility (literally). You’ll likely need both hands in order to correctly apply the wax and remove it while holding the skin taut (a process that’s better left to professionals!). Learning how to wax armpits is a process, and without the proper technique acquired through professional training, it will likely involve more pain.
For a long-lasting wax that leaves you completely soft and smooth, and to ensure that the right wax is being used for the application, we recommend letting a professional Cerologist do the job. Our Cerologists and proprietary hard wax formula make for a much more comfortable waxing experience than doing it yourself.
What direction does armpit hair grow?
Since hair in this region can grow in different directions, underarms are usually waxed in segments. For armpits, wax should be applied in the direction of hair growth — not against it — so that it can better grip the hair and pull it out. Waxing small sections allows your Cerologist to always stay with the grain of your armpit hair.
Now that we know how to wax armpits, how effective is it?
When you shave, hair in this region can grow back quickly and require constant maintenance. Underarm waxing — especially when done by a professional — is an extremely effective method of hair removal with the bonus of longer-lasting results.
How to prepare for your armpit wax session
Preparing for an underarm wax with a Cerologist is pretty simple. Make sure to exfoliate the area well at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. This will help keep skin smooth while giving it time to breathe before your session.
How long does armpit hair need to be to wax?
The ideal length is about ¼”, or about the size of a grain of rice, so the wax can properly grip the hair follicle and pull it out completely. If you normally shave, stop doing so about a week beforehand to ensure that hair is grown out to the right length. If you’ve been waxing at home, it’ll take closer to a month to grow out.
A few days before your underarm wax
- Stop using self-tanners. These may cause irritation or discoloration.
- Use a gentle exfoliant on your armpits about two days before your appointment. This will slough off dead skin cells, which helps prevent ingrown hairs and irritation.
Just before your wax appointment
- If your hair has grown longer than ¼” at this point, trim it down to that grain-of-rice length. This will help the wax adhere properly so the Cerologist can pull the hair from the root. But it’s not the end of the world if your hair is longer!
- Avoid wearing deodorant or antiperspirant the day of your session.
- Clean your armpits with soap so that sweat and dirt won’t interfere with the waxing process. Your Cerologist will also take steps to cleanse the area during your appointment.
We will take care of the rest!
What to expect at your waxing appointment
Getting your armpits waxed at a Waxing the City studio typically takes no more than 15 minutes. The convenience of popping into a studio will give you better results and spare you the time, effort and cleanup of waxing at home.
If you’re curious about Waxing the City’s underarm wax process, get a sneak peek of how it works on our Instagram page.
Types of wax used for armpit hair
There are several types of wax that can be used in underarm hair removal. At Waxing the City, we use hard wax, which is designed to effectively remove small areas of hair. If you opt to wax at home, you’ll first need to decide which you want to use:
- Hot wax (warm): Wax is heated and melted in a warmer, then applied hot to the skin using a waxing spatula. As it cools, it either hardens and is pulled off, or a cloth or paper strip is used to do so. There are at-home kits available, but take note that learning how to hard wax armpits at home can be tricky to do safely, especially for beginners. So, if you’re curious about how to hard wax armpits, we highly recommend visiting a studio for hot wax instead.
- Wax strips (cold): Pre-made soft strips, sometimes called “cold wax,” don’t require any heat — your body warms the wax as it’s applied, or you can rub the strips with your hands to add a little heat. They’re often sized for specific parts of the body such as the underarms or face.
- Sugar wax: While technically not a wax, sugar hair removal products adhere to hair like wax does, just without sticking to skin. The wax is often warmed to a comfortable (not hot) temperature before application. While extremely gentle, this method is less effective on coarse armpit hair.
- Roll-on wax: Similar to hot wax, this method uses a roller, rather than a warmer and spatula, to heat up the wax. It allows more control during application, so you can more easily and evenly apply the hot wax to the curves of your body.
Hard vs. soft wax
At all Waxing the City studios, our Cerologists use two types of hot wax: hard and soft. We specially formulated each type to the sensitivity levels of different parts of the body — and to the waxing techniques that are best suited to those areas, making way for a wayyy more comfortable waxing experience.
Soft wax
Our soft wax, which we call Cerasuave Yellow, works well on large areas of fine hair growth. Much easier to spread and better able to grab fine hair without breaking the strands, soft wax is spread on areas where skin is thicker (think legs, chest, and back). It’s pulled off using strips.
Hard wax
Our hard wax — which we call Cera Naranja Orange — is ideal for smaller areas where hair growth is dense, coarse, or has multiple hair growth patterns, such as underarms, face, and the bikini area. Our hard wax includes moisturizing Azulene oil, as well as glyceryl rosinate, which helps the wax adhere to hair.
Hard wax doesn’t require strips, since it solidifies for easy removal. The Cerologist applies a thick, warm layer of this wax in the direction of the hair growth, then seamlessly pulls it off once it cools and hardens.
Underarm waxing aftercare
Just like with other parts of your body, it’s important to give your sensitive underarm skin some extra TLC following a wax. Your Cerologist will give you specific aftercare tips during your session, but here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind.
Waxing aftercare tips
Do
- Apply a cooling lotion or gel, such as aloe vera, to soothe your skin if it feels irritated or sensitive after the session. Our post-wax serum is also designed to heal skin while preventing ingrown hairs.
- Keep your underarms moisturized with gentle, unscented products (but wait 24 hours to apply).
- Exfoliate your underarm skin regularly, about four times per week, starting a week or so after your waxing session.
- Wear a loose, comfortable top or go sleeveless following your session.
Don’t
- Shower, bathe or swim for about 24 hours after your wax.
- Expose your freshly waxed armpits to the sun for 24-48 hours.
- Exercise or do any activities that will make you sweat excessively for a day or two.
- Apply deodorant, antiperspirant, body sprays, or other products on the area for 24 hours.
Still thinking about how to wax underarms? Skip the DIY mess and leave it to an expert Cerologist!
While there are plenty of at-home waxing kits available on the market — and you may have a good handle on how to wax your armpits at home — underarm waxing tends to be easier, efficient and more effective when done by a professional. Find your nearest Waxing the Location here and get all your waxing and beauty questions answered by our experts.
If you love the look and feel of smooth underarms, boost your confidence even more with an underarm Skin Revelation Body Treatment.
