Joanna Czech’s Waxing Prep: 2026 Skincare Secrets

You hear Joanna Czech talk about skin prep for a good wax, and you realize getting smooth skin isn’t just about the 30 minutes on the table. It’s about a whole routine you do before and after. With her decades of experience, she turns a basic appointment into a real skin health session. So what do you actually need to do to get your skin ready for the best possible wax?

1. Start Hydrating Internally and Externally (One Week Prior)

Any good esthetician will tell you that healthy skin, the kind that’s ready for a treatment like waxing, all starts with hydration. This means you need to attack it from two angles. Inside, you need to be drinking more water, at least eight glasses a day, and even more if you work out or live on coffee. This keeps your skin flexible and healthy, which makes it less likely to get irritated when the hair comes out. On the outside, you need a solid moisturizing routine, applying a rich body lotion or cream twice a day. Look for stuff with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and shea butter. These ingredients pull moisture deep into your skin and lock it in, building up a protective barrier.

Pro Tip: Try running a humidifier in your bedroom at night, especially in the winter. It puts moisture back into the air, and your skin will thank you for it.

Common Mistake: Thinking you can just chug water and slap on lotion the day before. You can’t. Building up real hydration in your skin takes consistent daily effort, and a last-minute panic won’t make up for a week of neglect.

2. Gentle Exfoliation is Key (Three to Four Days Prior)

Exfoliating is your best defense against ingrown hairs and it helps the wax grab the hair itself instead of sticking to your skin. But you have to get the timing and the method right. About three or four days out from your appointment, work a gentle exfoliant into your shower routine. You could use a soft body brush or a mild scrub that has tiny, round beads, not those harsh, scratchy ones with jagged bits that cause micro-tears. A body wash with a little bit of lactic acid (an AHA) can also work. You’re just trying to slough off the dead skin that can trap hairs, not scrub your skin raw. If you overdo it, you’re just going to make your skin sensitive and red.

Pro Tip: Really focus on spots where you always get ingrowns, like your bikini line. Even just using a damp washcloth in circular motions can be a really effective, gentle way to exfoliate.

Common Mistake: Scrubbing like a maniac or doing it the day before your appointment. Scrubbing too hard will inflame your skin, which not only makes the wax hurt more but can also leave you with dark spots (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) later. And exfoliating right before your appointment just leaves the skin too raw and sensitive.

3. Avoid Sun Exposure and Tanning (One Week Prior)

Don’t even think about waxing skin that’s seen too much sun. Sunburned or even just sun-damaged skin is way too sensitive. The sun literally thins your skin and makes it fragile, setting you up for lifting, tearing, or major irritation during a wax. For a full week before you go in, you need to be religious about applying a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen on any area you plan to wax. And yes, even on cloudy days. Stay in the shade during peak hours (10 AM to 4 PM). Same goes for fake tans from tanning beds or sprays. A spray tan isn’t as innocent as it looks. It coats the skin’s surface and messes with how the wax works. And on top of that, the wax will just rip off your fresh spray tan, leaving you with a patchy, weird-looking mess.

Pro Tip: If you have to be outside, cover up. A big hat and a long-sleeve shirt are your best friends for protecting skin against UV rays.

Common Mistake: Thinking a “little base tan” is fine. It’s not. Even a little bit of a tan is a sign of sun exposure and some level of skin damage. Any good pro will take one look at compromised skin and refuse to wax it, it’s just not worth the risk of a bad reaction.

4. Cleanse Thoroughly on Wax Day

The day of your appointment, you need to show up with clean skin. It’s that simple. Take a warm shower, not hot, because you don’t want to over-sensitize your skin, and use a mild, pH-balanced body wash on the area. A good wash gets rid of any oils, dirt, or leftover product that can get in the way of the wax and your hair. Rinse all the soap off, pat yourself dry with a clean towel, and then stop. Don’t put on any lotion, oil, deodorant, or perfume. That stuff stops the wax from sticking to the hair properly, which means a bad wax and irritated skin.

Pro Tip: If your skin is on the oily side, you can take a cotton pad with an alcohol-free toner and give the area a quick wipe right before you leave for your appointment. It’ll sop up any extra oil without drying you out.

Common Mistake: Going on autopilot and putting on body lotion after your shower. Even a tiny bit of lotion creates a slick film on the skin that prevents the wax from grabbing the hair, forcing your esthetician to go over the same spot again and again, which is terrible for your skin and results in a patchy job.

5. Ensure Adequate Hair Length

Hair length is everything for a good wax. You need about a quarter of an inch of growth, which is about the length of a grain of rice. If your hair is too short, the wax has nothing to hold onto, and you’ll be left with stray hairs and a finish that isn’t smooth at all. And if it’s too long, the pull is more painful and the hair is more likely to snap off instead of coming out cleanly from the root. This is why you can’t shave between appointments. When you wax consistently, you’re actually training the hair follicle to give up, which is why the regrowth comes back finer and more sparse over time. Shaving just reinforces the hair. So plan your waxes for every three to four weeks to hit that sweet spot of growth.

Pro Tip: If you let it go and your hair is way longer than a quarter-inch, you can trim it down. Just be careful. Use a small pair of scissors or a trimmer with a guard so you don’t accidentally go too short.

Common Mistake: Panicking and shaving a few days before your appointment because you don’t think it’s long enough. It almost never works. Your hair will be too short. It’s always better to show up a little too hairy than not hairy enough.

6. Communicate with Your Specialist

Before they even touch you with that wax stick, talk to your esthetician. You have to tell them about any new medications you’re on, especially skin-sensitizing ones like retinoids (even topical ones), Accutane, or certain antibiotics. Mention if you’ve been in the sun, or if you have any known skin conditions or sensitivities. A true professional will use this information to change their technique or maybe switch to a hard waxing product that’s better for delicate skin. This conversation is what allows your esthetician to give you a safer, more comfortable wax that’s actually customized for your skin.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask what kind of wax they’re using. If you have allergies or just sensitive skin, you have a right to know what’s going on your body. A good salon will be totally open about it.

Common Mistake: Keeping quiet about your medications or a recent sunburn because you’re embarrassed or just really want to get the wax done. This is dangerous. It can lead to burns, lifted skin, and serious irritation. Your safety is more important than a Brazilian wax, trust me.

Skin prep isn’t some optional extra. It’s the most basic part of getting a great wax and keeping your skin healthy in the long run. Follow these steps and your skin will be ready for the treatment, which means the whole experience will be smoother and more comfortable, leaving you with gorgeous results that last.