MBM: The Caffeine Confession

MBM: The Caffeine Confession

It's the first Myth Buster Monday of 2026! And Caffeine Confessions won the vote, as a coffee fanatic myself this one hurts the heart a tiny bit but luckily it's only temporary. 

We’ve all been there: it’s Sunday morning, you have a 10:00 AM wax scheduled, and you stop by your favourite coffee shop for a double espresso or your favourite latte to "prep" for the day. You think you’re fueling up to handle the pain, but I have a confession to make: That latte is making your wax significantly worse.

The "Morning Coffee" Myth

The Myth: "I should drink coffee to wake up to help me through my wax."

The Reality: Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that increases blood flow and heightens your central nervous system. When you consume it before a service, you are essentially "turning up the volume" on your nerve endings.

Because your skin is on high alert, the sensation of the wax strip pulling is magnified. What should be a quick, manageable sting becomes a sharp, lingering pain. Plus, caffeine can cause your skin to flush more easily, leading to extra redness and sensitivity long after you leave the treatment room.


Why Do We Think It Helps? (The Psychology of the Myth)

You might be wondering, “If it’s so bad for my skin, why did I think it was a good idea in the first place?” You’re not alone! Most people fall into one of two traps:

1. The "Adrenaline Defense"

It’s common to treat a wax like a high-intensity sport, using caffeine to trigger that 'go-time' energy. We think that if we’re "hyped up" and alert, we’ll have the mental edge to "fight through" the discomfort.

  • The Reality: While coffee wakes up your brain, it also puts your nerves on a hair-trigger. Instead of helping you "tough it out," caffeine makes the sensation of the wax pull feel like it’s being shouted at your brain rather than whispered. You aren’t becoming tougher; you’re just becoming more sensitive.

2. The Painkiller Confusion

This is the biggest source of the myth! If you’ve ever looked at the back of a bottle of Tylenol Ultra Relief or high-strength migraine relief, you’ve probably seen caffeine listed as an ingredient.

  • The Logic: “If caffeine is in my headache medicine, it must help with pain, right?”

  • The Reality: In medicine, caffeine is an adjuvant. Its only job is to help the actual painkilling ingredients (like Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen) absorb into your bloodstream faster. Without those actual painkillers present, caffeine on its own is just a stimulant that increases blood flow and skin sensitivity.


Additional reasons to skip the extra cup and replace it with water


The Secret Saboteur of Clear Skin

If you are investing in high-end serums and regular facials but still seeing breakouts, we need to talk about your caffeine habit.

  • The Cortisol Trap: Caffeine triggers your adrenal glands to release cortisol (the stress hormone). Elevated cortisol tells your sebaceous glands to overproduce oil. If you’re prone to acne, this extra oil is like fuel to a fire.

  • Dehydration Congestion: Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it pulls moisture out of your body. When your skin is dehydrated, dead skin cells don't shed properly; they become "sticky" and clog your pores, leading to those stubborn, under-the-skin bumps.


The Esthetic Toll: Why Daily Caffeine Matters

Beyond just your wax day, a heavy daily caffeine habit can be detrimental to your long-term health and your esthetic results:

  • Slowed Recovery: Caffeine can interfere with the body's inflammatory response. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker, you may notice your skin takes longer to "calm down" after extractions or waxing.

  • Nutrient Depletion: Chronic caffeine intake can hinder the absorption of Vitamin B and Magnesium, which are essential for skin elasticity and a healthy barrier.

  • The "Sleep Gap": Even if you fall asleep easily, caffeine reduces the quality of your deep sleep. Since nighttime is when your cells regenerate and repair themselves, you are effectively robbing yourself of your best (and cheapest) beauty treatment. 


The Pre-wax Mandate: Skip the coffee for at least 3 hours before you hop on my table. Drink a large glass of water instead! your skin, your pain tolerance, and your glow will thank you.


TL;DR: The Caffeine Confession

  • The Myth: Coffee helps you "handle" a wax.

  • The Truth: Caffeine is a stimulant that heightens your nervous system, making the wax feel significantly more painful and leaving skin extra red.

  • The Acne Link: It spikes cortisol (stress hormone), which triggers excess oil production and leads to breakouts.

  • The Health Toll: Daily use dehydrates the skin, robs you of "beauty sleep" quality, and can slow down your skin's natural healing process.

  • The Fix: Swap the coffee for water or herbal tea at least 3 hours before your appointment.

Ready to ditch the jitters and get on a schedule that works?

Stop chasing myths and start seeing real results. Now that you know the secret to a more comfortable appointment. Put down the latte!

Taking it a step further & getting your hair cycles synced up is the real key to the smoothest skin you’ve ever had.

When you rebook consistently, the hair grows back thinner and sparser. Now, combined with your new caffeine-free routine, the process becomes a total breeze.

Don't forget to rebook at the end of your appointment! Let’s keep your skin consistently smooth and your cortisol levels low.

A Note From the Dewdrop Team

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the science of your skin! We know there is a lot of misinformation out there, and our goal at Dewdrop is to ensure our community has access to honest, science-based hair removal advice.

Make sure to follow Dewdrop on Instagram! These blogs will be announced in stories on the first Monday of every month for a brand-new edition of Myth Buster Monday!

We’re dedicated to clearing up the confusion so you can get the best results possible.

We truly value the trust you place in us to help you feel confident and smooth. Whether you are a regular or considering your first visit, we are here to support your skincare journey every step of the way.

See you at your next appointment!

— The Dewdrop Team

 

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Frequently Asked Questions: The Science of Smooth

Ever wonder why your hair grows back in patches or why a schedule matters so much? We’ve pulled together the most common questions about the biology of hair removal. From debunking industry myths to explaining the 'Golden Window' of growth, find everything you need to know to get the most out of your next appointment at Dewdrop.

TL;DR

1. Why do I sometimes see hair regrowth just a week after my appointment?

It isn’t "fast" regrowth or a missed hair. It’s biology! This usually happens due to the Kenogen or the empty phase. If a follicle was empty during your appointment, there was no hair to pull. That hair was simply "napping" and decided to emerge a week later. Consistency is the only way to eventually catch these "napping hairs" in their active growing phase.

2. Is it true that sugaring lasts longer than waxing?

Biologically, no. Whether we use sugar or wax, the goal is the same: removing the hair from the root. Once the bulb is removed, the follicle resets. Your hair growth speed is determined by your genetics and hormones, not the material used to pull the hair out. Both methods provide the same window of smoothness.

3. What is the "Golden Window" for hair removal?

The golden window is the anagen or growing phase. During this stage, the hair is firmly attached to its nutrient supply. When we remove hair during Anagen, it weakens the follicle most effectively. Over time, this results in hair that grows back significantly finer and thinner. The best way to achieve smooth skin for longer is to come for regular waxing every 4-6 weeks.

4. Why does my esthetician insist on a 4–6 week schedule?

We aren't just trying to fill our calendar; we are trying to synchronize your hair cycles. Since your hairs grow in different stages, coming in sporadically means we are always catching "resting" hairs. By sticking to a strict 4–6 week schedule, we "train" the follicles to grow at the same time, leading to a much smoother, longer-lasting result.

5. Will my hair ever stop growing back entirely?

While professional hair removal isn't classified as permanent like laser, it does offer long-term refinement. If you are consistent with your appointments at Dewdrop, you will notice your hair becomes sparser, softer, and much easier to remove over time because the follicles are being weakened during the Anagen phase.

6. What happens if I wait too long between appointments?

If you wait 8–10 weeks, your hair follicles have time to fully reset. The old hair detaches from the nutrient supply and a new hair begins forming underneath it before we’ve even had a chance to wax. This means that even after a treatment, you’ll feel regrowth much sooner. Staying on a 4–6 week schedule ensures we catch the hair at the perfect time to weaken the follicle and keep you smooth for longer.

7. Does my health or lifestyle affect my waxing results?

Absolutely. Since hair growth is a biological process, things like hormonal changes, stress, and certain medications can shift your growth cycles. This is why you might have a "perfect" wax one month and slightly more regrowth the next.