How To Wax Hair

Although waxing can sometimes be painful there is no denying that it is an effective means of hair removal, which is why so many women and men continue to do it on a regular basis.

For that brief moment of discomfort you can enjoy a smooth hair free body, without having to worry about shaving every few days with a razor.

How Does Waxing Work?

The reason why waxing is such a good means of hair removal, is because it removes hairs directly from the follicles.

When this happens the hair follicle becomes damaged, which in turn slows down the rate of hair regrowth. When regrowth does occur, the hair comes back thinner and finer.

If you continue to wax over a period of one or two years, you should notice far fewer hairs in the area that you have been waxing.

How Often Should You Wax?

When you first start waxing your legs, or any other part of your body, start by waxing every two or three weeks.

Then as hair regrowth slows down, you can wax less frequently when you require it. After one or two years you should only need to wax around once every eight weeks.

However it is important to remember that unlike shaving where you can shave any length of hair, in order to wax you need to wait until your hair is at least ¼-inch long, otherwise you won’t be able to remove the hair properly.

Unfortunately this may mean looking a bit hairy for a few days until you are ready to be waxed!

Where Can You Wax Your Body?

Although you can wax any part of your body, the most common areas for women are waxing their legs, underarms and bikini area.

Some women may also wax their facial hair, such as their chin, upper lip and even their eyebrows.

Men who wax tend to do it mainly on their chest and back, however some men have now begun waxing their arms and legs.

Precautions

You should avoid waxing anywhere where you have applied Retin-A, and never wax if you have been on antibiotics for a long period of time or used Accutane in the last six months.

If you exfoliate your skin, you should stop exfoliating at least three days prior to waxing, and avoid waxing six to eight weeks after having a chemical peel.

It is important you adhere to these precautions, otherwise you risk damaging your skin which could then accelerate the appearance of wrinkles.

Waxing Products

One of the good things about waxing is that it is relatively cheap and something you can do at home alone or with a friend. Alternatively you can go to a beauty salon and get your hair waxed there.

Going to a beauty salon to get your hair waxed is actually a good idea, especially if you are new to waxing and have never done it before.

Once you see how it is done by a professional, you will be much better prepared to do it on yourself.

When it comes to choosing waxing products, there are three main types you can go for:

• Hard Wax

• Soft Wax

• Cold Wax

There are other types of waxing products available, although what you choose to use ultimately comes down to personal preference.

How To Start Waxing Your Legs & Body

Before you begin waxing you need to prepare your skin first. To do this simply cleanse your skin to remove any dirt, oil and residues left over from moisturisers and sunscreens.

Once your skin is dry, apply a protective barrier to your skin. An effective barrier to use is refined cornstarch.

Lightly dust your skin and the cornstarch will push each hair up and away from the skin, thereby making it much easier for you to see the hairs.

If you are using hard wax, be sure to read the instructions properly before using it.

Begin by heating the wax so that it turns to liquid, but is still at a temperature which is safe to put on your skin, and then apply the wax to your skin going against the direction of hair growth.

When the wax has cooled and harden it’s time to pull the wax off! It doesn’t matter which direction you pull, so just take a deep breath and rip!

When using soft wax (either hot or cold) put it on your skin in the direction of hair growth. Then put fabric strips over the wax and when you a ready, pull the strips off quickly against the hair growth.

What To Do After Waxing

When you have finished waxing you may notice that your skin appears slightly reddened.

This redness occurs because waxing removes the top layer of your skin, which is one reason why it is important you don’t exfoliate your skin at least three days prior to waxing.

To reduce the redness, apply a cooling lotion or moisturiser to your skin. This will also help to reduce any stinging you may be experiencing and help to prevent the occurrence of ingrown hairs.

Ideally look for products that contain aloe vera or tea tree oil, as these will provide you with the most relief and protection.

For the next three days try to avoid overheating or overstimulating your skin. So stay out of the sun, sunbeds, hot baths and avoid exfoliating.

Not doing so can cause your skin to become inflamed, which will then cause it to age faster and develop wrinkles quickly.