Shaving your armpits can be more painful than using a razor, but you will have hairless for 4-6 weeks. You can reduce pain and prevent ingrown hair by prepping your armpits and using the right type of wax. Here's what you need to know.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare for Hair Removal
Step 1. Prepare your armpits
You can shave without too many preparations, but if you follow these small instructions you will suffer less and hair removal will be more effective:
- Wash your armpits well. Wash them with soap and scrub them to exfoliate them. If you use hot water, the hair and skin will soften, and it will be easier to tear them off.
- Check the hairs. If the hair is longer than half an inch, it is best to trim it with barber or nail scissors. So you will suffer less.
Step 2. Wrap yourself in an old towel
Wax could splash and wreak havoc when you make it yourself, so better be naked or wear something you can get dirty.
Step 3. Put some talcum powder on your armpits
Any talc is fine. Take a large sponge and rub some talcum powder all over the area, removing any excess.
Step 4. Heat the wax
Check that the wax is intended for legs and body, and not for the face. Follow the instructions on the package and heat the wax in the microwave or in its applicator until it is well melted and liquid.
- If it's your first wax, check the temperature of the wax on the back of your hand, where the skin is least sensitive, to make sure it's not too hot.
- You can find home waxing kits in all supermarkets or perfumeries.
- You can make your own sugar wax by following this recipe: 450g of sugar mixed with 60ml of water and 60ml of lemon juice. Heat everything over low heat until the sugar dissolves and becomes a sticky syrup. Your wax is ready for use. Note: Let it cool down until the heat is bearable, or you will get badly burned!
Method 2 of 3: Apply the Wax
Step 1. Use an applicator to spread the wax
Abundant with hot wax, and spread it on the armpit in the direction of hair growth. Continue to spread, always in the same direction, until all the hairs are covered.
- Some women have hair that grows in different directions. If this is the case, you will need to shave your armpits one section at a time.
- Do not spread the wax in the opposite direction. The hairs will tangle and won't come off well.
Step 2. Apply the strip
Take one of the paper strips included in the kit. Place it over the wax-covered area and run your hand over it, in the direction of hair growth, to secure it.
- If you did the sugar wax yourself, use a cotton strip.
- Leave one side of the strip wax-free, so you can grab it to tear.
- If you can't cover them all with a single strip, use as many as you need.
Step 3. Remove the strip
Grab the strip from the free side and quickly tear in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Strip, wax and hair should come off. Repeat the step with the other armpit.
- If the wax and hair don't come off, you need to try again. Use a clean strip.
- If the procedure is too painful, remove the wax with oil and warm water, and use the razor.
Method 3 of 3: Finish the Job
Step 1. Examine your armpits in the mirror
If you see any hair that you missed, apply more wax, cover it with a strip, massage and tear.
Step 2. Remove the wax residues with the oil
Use the oil from the waxing kit or olive or almond oil and massage the area you have shaved. The oil will soften the wax, facilitating its removal without further suffering.
Step 3. Clean the area
Once all the wax is removed, wash your armpits with warm water and mild soap. You can apply aloe if they still burn you.
- If the wax has caused you to bleed, put a patch on to stop the blood.
- Do not use deodorant, cream and lotions for a few hours after hair removal.
Advice
- The best place to wax is the bathroom, so you can quickly clean up any disaster.
- Prepare everything you need before starting. That way you don't have to run around with your arms up.
- If you wax at home, the consistency should be such that if you dip a spoon in and then lift it up, the wax should fall off in one, semi-dense vault.
