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Below are some of the biggest reasons waxing may not be working for you.

Read ahead for expert-approved tips to double-check your next at-home waxing session is a success.

Image of a stick with pink wax being warmed in a warmer

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Meet the Experts

Your Hair Isn’t the Right Length

Most commonly,lengthis a major factor.

Generally, hair needs to be about 14 inch for the wax to fully grasp it.

But waxing isn’t necessarily about “the more, the better.”

“I like to recommend at least 6 weeks of hair growth between waxing and shaving.

Wax has to be applied in the direction of hair growth and removed swiftly in the opposite direction.

Additionally, the hair can break in the process.

Removing the hair in the wrong direction won’t lift the hair out either, for the same reason.

Watch the growth pattern, as hair can grow in different ways, especially in the underarms.

Skin should be dry, too.

Soft wax can feasibly remove this throw in of hair as well, but needs to be strong enough.

Check the label of your wax to see what throw in of hair it’s recommended for.

Don’t put soft (a.k.a strip) wax on too thick.

The strip will work to remove all the wax instead of the hair.

It should just cover the hair instead of coating it thickly.

Along with leading to missed hair, putting on too much product can lead to bruising.

Hard wax also needs to cool to fully harden.

It will look kind of dull as it hardens and will sound like plastic when you tap it.

If it’s not fully cool, it hasn’t completed “shrink wrapping.”

And if you remove it when that’s the case, the hair will still be there.

But, some people sweat by them it all comes down to personal preference.

This is important as cold wax won’t stick well to hair.

Another throw in of wax that exists, but we don’t recommend, iscold wax.

Get a wax pot, and verify you’re buying the best possible quality products.

As for a good hard wax, we recommend the GigiBrazilian Waxing Kit($44).

Uzzardi says if you’re serious about at-home waxing, she recommends investing in an affordable small wax warmer.

Skibba seconds this sentiment and recommends using Starpil’sStarter Wax Warmer($60).

“You should also avoid botox or fillers 2 weeks prior to waxing.”

Uzzardi recommendsexfoliatinga few times a week to reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs.

We recommend using Fur’sSilk Scrub($54) to help buff away dead skin cells.