Waxing is an effective method of removing unwanted hair from both large and small areas of the body. It is a hair removal technique, which means that the hair shaft is completely removed from the surface of the skin. It is one of the most effective temporary methodologies. There are many hair removal techniques with wax, but hot wax guarantees the best results and is usually done in a beauty salon. It is not difficult to learn how to wax at home, you just have to be careful that the wax is not too hot!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Shaving the Body
Step 1. Gather all the necessary materials
The first thing you need to do is to buy a "do-it-yourself" kit or prepare the wax with sugar.
- On the market you can find different kits, the two main types are the traditional one (which uses strips of fabric to remove wax and hair from the skin) and the Arab waxing one (the strips are not necessary).
- The normal kits are perfect for the legs and armpits, while the Arab wax is suitable for thicker hair in the groin.
- Prepare the wax by carefully following the instructions on the package. Most can simply be melted in the microwave.
Step 2. Unfold your legs
Before proceeding, wash yourself with warm water to open the pores of the skin and make it easier to remove hair. Waxing is most effective on freshly washed skin.
- When the wax is ready, use the wooden stick included in the kit (or use a popsicle stick) to apply it in the direction of hair growth on the affected skin area.
- Place one of the fabric strips supplied with the kit on the wax layer and press it firmly, smoothing it according to the direction of hair growth.
- Wait about 10 seconds and then tear the strip off the skin against the grain. Try to do this in a smooth motion, keeping your hand close and parallel to the skin. Do not tear the strip upwards, as you could bruise yourself and irritate your skin.
- Repeat the process on the entire surface of the skin, avoiding applying the wax twice on the same area (it would irritate the epidermis very much). Once finished, rinse your legs with cold (not hot) water to get rid of any traces of wax.
Step 3. Shave your armpits
The procedure for this area is quite similar to that for the legs. However, it is slightly more complicated (as you can only use one hand) and painful (it is recommended that you take a pain reliever beforehand or apply a numbing cream).
- Before applying the wax, exfoliate your skin with a clean loofah, soap and water. This allows you to soften the skin and open the pores, reducing pain.
- When you're ready, apply a not too hot layer of wax following the direction of hair growth. The armpit hair has two directions of growth, so remember to proceed with the hair removal in two different phases.
- Put your hand behind your head and extend your arm backwards. Place a strip of fabric on the wax layer, smoothing it vigorously in the direction of the hair. Remember to leave a small piece of fabric free (without wax) at the top, so you can grab it with a good grip.
- After 10 seconds, firmly tear the fabric in the opposite direction to the direction of hair growth. If it is too difficult a movement to perform with one hand, ask a friend to help you.
- Repeat the process with the hairs left under the armpit and then switch to the other arm. At the end wash with cold water to eliminate any residual product and do not use deodorants or sprays in the first few hours.
Step 4. Shave the pubic area
Waxing the groin and pubic area can be a little scary, but the procedure is, more or less, similar to that of other parts of the body. Purchase a specific bikini kit and remember that Arabian waxing would be more appropriate, as it sticks to coarse hair more effectively.
- Before you start, you need to decide how much fluff to remove. Do you want to take off just the one sticking out of the bikini? Do you prefer to define pubic hair in a triangle or a thin vertical stripe? If you wish, you can also undergo a Brazilian hair removal (all hair is removed), but it is rather complicated and it would be advisable to consult a professional beautician.
- Next, wash the affected area of skin so the hair removal will be less painful. If the hair is too long, trim it with a pair of scissors to a length of 6mm.
- To shave your groin you have to lie down, so you will be able to reach the various areas. Try placing a towel on the bed, so you will be comfortable and avoid getting the covers with wax. It could be very useful to put a mirror nearby so you will see exactly what you are doing.
- Lie on the bed, lifting your head with a pillow so you can look down as you go. Use the stick included in the kit to spread the wax according to the direction of the hair. If you are using Arabian wax, wait 10-15 seconds for it to become hard. If you are using a regular kit, lay and smooth the strip of fabric over the wax layer.
- Keep the skin taut with your free hand and with the other hand grab a flap of the fabric or hard wax and tear with a fluid movement against the grain. Try to keep the wax parallel to the body and not to pull it upwards so as not to cause excessive pain and irritation.
- Work along the entire line of the bikini without going over the same area of skin twice. You can use tweezers to remove any remaining hair at the end of the hair removal. When you are done, apply a little baby oil to soften the skin and remove any residual wax. Do not use soaps or bubble baths on the pubic area for the next 24 hours, because the skin that has just been shaved is easily inflamed.
Part 2 of 3: Shaving the Face
Step 1. Gather all the necessary materials
When you decide to wax facial hair, it is essential to use a specific kit for this area.
- Facial skin is particularly sensitive and is easily irritated if you use the wrong type of wax.
- Men should use a specific wax for thick hair, as their hair is thicker and more difficult to remove than women's.
Step 2. Shave your upper lip
This is a relatively simple operation, similar to the hair removal of the other areas. It is one of the most common areas that women (but also men) wax at home.
- If you wish, you can use the pre-prepared hair removal strips instead of getting hot wax. They are quite inexpensive, although not as effective, as not all hairs adhere perfectly. Simply follow the instructions on the packaging of the strips.
- If you have decided to use a normal waxing kit, choose a cream product and not based on beeswax, as it is less sticky and easier to manage.
- Wash the upper lip area, remove all traces of makeup and dry carefully. Apply a little hot wax on half of the upper lip (the area of the mustache, not the mucosa) following its line. Press the tongue on the upper lip from the inside, so the skin remains relaxed and the work becomes easier. Remember to spread the product in the direction of the hair growth.
- Place a strip of fabric on the wax layer, smoothing it according to the direction of the hair. Wait 10 seconds, for the wax to cool slightly, clamp the upper lip between the teeth, so that the skin remains taut (this is an important detail).
- Grab one end of the strip and pull it quickly. Remember to perform a movement parallel to the skin and do not pull the strip upwards. Press your hand against the skin for a few seconds to soothe the pain.
- Repeat the process for the other half of the upper lip, finally use tweezers to remove residual hair.
Step 3. Shave the eyebrow area.
Shaving this area at home is a bit complicated and is not recommended if you are a beginner, because you have to spread a very hot substance on the sensitive area near the eye. Plus you could get disastrous results and get rid of even half of the eyebrow! However, if you feel ready for this challenge, here's how:
- Use a cream wax that you can heat in the special saucepan. This product is much gentler on sensitive skin. Clean and dry the eyebrow area carefully.
- Apply the hot wax on the lower part of the first eyebrow, taking care to define precisely the shape you want to obtain (you can consult a guide on the shape of the eyebrows by reading this link). Remember that the wax should be spread in the direction of the hair growth (from the nose to the temple).
- Place a strip of fabric over the wax layer, smoothing it in the direction of the hair. Wait 10 seconds for the product to cool slightly and then use one hand to stretch the skin, while with the other you grab an edge of the strip.
- Quickly tear off the wax against the grain. Remember that the hand must perform a movement parallel to the skin and not upwards. Press your hand on the area for a few seconds to soothe the pain.
- Repeat the process with the other eyebrow and then remove the residual hair with tweezers. To remove the hair between the two eyebrows, at the root of the nose, you can use both tweezers and wax.
Part 3 of 3: Hair Removal Effectively and Safely
Step 1. Avoid ingrown hair formation
You need to moisturize and exfoliate your skin in the weeks before and after hair removal.
- Use a body scrub, loofah or towel to exfoliate your skin. Alternatively, you can make a homemade product with sugar or salt.
- Apply a gentle body lotion, not too thick, if you feel very sensitive skin after waxing. Make sure it is a colorless and odorless product.
Step 2. Use talcum powder
A trick to make hair removal more effective is to sprinkle clean skin with talcum powder before spreading the wax.
The talc absorbs excess sweat and sebum from the surface of the epidermis and allows the wax to adhere better to the hair
Step 3. Avoid wax burns
It is important to heat it to the correct temperature, since getting burned with this product is anything but fun!
- Once the wax has melted, check its temperature by placing a small amount inside the wrist. In this area the skin is very sensitive, therefore, if the temperature is tolerable on the wrist, the wax should also be safe on the rest of the body.
- However, it is important that it is not too cold, otherwise you will not be able to spread it properly.
Step 4. Make sure the hair is long enough before you shave
For the wax to stick and be effective, the hair must be between 6 and 12mm long.
- Also, you should avoid shaving or waxing the area with other techniques in the two weeks before waxing. It is not easy to resist, but this way you will have a better result.
- Remember that if the hair is too long you will have to shorten it with a pair of scissors to the length of 12 mm. This way you will get excellent results.
Step 5. Don't shave the same area twice
Ripping the wax off the skin twice in a row is quite painful and could cause damage to already sensitive skin. For this reason, if you notice any residual hair, use tweezers to remove it.
Advice
- The pain you feel depends on your individual pain threshold.
- Sprinkle the area to be depilated with a little talcum powder. This allows the wax to grip the hair.
- Remove bits of wax that remain on the skin with a mild body lotion. If, once you've applied the wax, you don't have the courage to tear it off, the lotion will help you remove it from your skin.
- Use tweezers to remove any remaining hair.
- If you can afford it, you can consider seeing a professional beautician, as “home-made” waxing could be dangerous if done improperly.
- Waxing is one of the most effective hair removal techniques, because the hair is removed completely from the shaft and in large quantities. After a waxing, it takes 2-3 weeks for the hair to grow back.
- Virtually anyone who wants to get rid of unwanted hair can undergo waxing. This technique is used to remove hair on large areas of the body, but also on small areas such as the mustache, chin, eyebrows, legs and bikini line.
- When you try waxing for the first time, know that the hair should be at least 3mm long to fit perfectly into the wax. If you are a beginner, try one of the cold waxes that are widely available on the market.
Warnings
- It is very important that the wax is not too hot to avoid burns. To be safe, test by placing a small amount of wax on your wrist.
- People who take retinoids orally should be especially careful: they should not undergo waxing until treatment with these drugs has been suspended for at least 6-12 months. Using this hair removal method in conjunction with oral therapy could cause skin breakdown and subsequent scarring. On the other hand, people who use retinoids topically should stop using them for 3-4 weeks before undergoing waxing to avoid skin damage and pain. All this because the retinoids thin the skin to exfoliate it and to reduce the excessive presence of papules and pustules.
- You should avoid overheating the wax as this deteriorates and deteriorates the quality, making it more difficult to remove from the skin. If this were to happen, you would not be able to effectively pull the hair from the dermal papilla, but you would break it. Furthermore, an excessive temperature of the wax represents a danger and a risk of fire.
- Do not wax irritated, sunburned or broken skin with wax. During a session, do not apply the wax multiple times on the same area.
- The side effects of an inappropriate hair removal technique are: pain, folliculitis, scarring, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation and ingrown hair.
