Pain directly resulting from the procedure can be slight or severe and can continue from several seconds to several minutes. The pubic area is one of the most sensitive areas in the body and during the procedure special attention must be paid to avoid irritation. The strip is ideally pulled off as swiftly as possible. When the wax is set but still pliable, the wax strips are pulled away against the direction of hair growth while keeping the skin taut. Wax is applied with a spatula in the direction of hair growth the size of a strip about 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide and 4 inches (10 cm) long. It is common to apply an antiseptic cleaner and powder to the area prior to waxing. Sometimes a hair growth inhibitor is applied after waxing, which slows the regrowth of hair if applied daily for an extended period of time. A patch test is recommended, usually on the upper thigh, to test for allergies or skin sensitivities to the ingredients in the wax. If a person has never been waxed before, or has not been waxed for a long time, it may be necessary to trim the pubic hair using scissors or an electric razor prior to waxing.
