Waxing schedule planner.

Worked example

Last wax Thursday, October 1, 2026; 4 weeks to regrow; 5 days off retinol. The next waxes are Oct 29, Nov 26 and Dec 24, and the first retinol pause starts Oct 24. At $50 a wax with a 20% tip, each visit is $60; every 28 days is about 13.04 visits a year, so about $782 a year. With a growth figure instead: at 1.5 mm a week, 6.35 mm takes 6.35 ÷ 1.5 = 4.23 weeks, which rounds to a 30-day gap.

How it works

Next date = last wax + (weeks × 7 days); the retinol pause date is that many days earlier. Yearly cost = 365 ÷ interval days × price × (1 + tip). A quarter inch is exactly 6.35 mm.

The American Academy of Dermatology says hair should be about one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch long before waxing, to avoid retinol creams and prescription retinoids two to five days before waxing your face (ask your esthetician or dermatologist about other areas), never to wax sunburned or very sensitive skin, and not to wax if you have taken isotretinoin in the last six months. Healthline says to expect about four weeks for hair to regrow to 1/4 inch, and that some people who wax consistently can wait 5 to 6 weeks. Your own growth is the real guide, so measure it.

Sources and basis (opened 2026-10-08): American Academy of Dermatology, Hair removal: How to wax; Healthline, How Long Does Hair Have to Be to Wax? Underarms, Legs, Bikini, More.

FAQ

How long should hair be before waxing?

The American Academy of Dermatology says about one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch. Healthline puts the minimum at 1/4 inch, about the length of a grain of rice.

How often should you wax?

It depends on how fast your hair grows. Healthline says hair takes about 4 weeks on average to regrow to 1/4 inch, and some people who wax consistently can wait 5 to 6 weeks. Enter your own number in the planner.

When should I stop using retinol before waxing?

The American Academy of Dermatology says to avoid products with retinol and prescription retinoids two to five days before waxing your face. Ask your esthetician or dermatologist about other areas. The planner defaults to 5 days.

Who should not wax?

The American Academy of Dermatology says never to wax sunburned or very sensitive skin, and not to wax if you have taken isotretinoin in the last six months.

How is the yearly cost worked out?

365 divided by the days between waxes gives visits a year; that times the price and the tip. At 4 weeks, $50 and a 20% tip it comes to about $782.