Use a body scrub, loofah or washcloth to exfoliate your skin, or make your own exfoliating body scrub using sugar or salt. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Follow up with a lightweight moisturizing lotion – if your skin feels sensitive after the wax, make sure it is color and fragrance-free.
There are many types of home waxing kits on the market – the two major options are regular waxing kits (where cloth strips are used to pull the wax from the body) and hard waxing kits (where the wax itself dries and can be pulled off without the need for strips). Regular wax is perfect for legs and underarms, while hard wax works best on the coarse hair in your bikini area. Prepare the wax according to the instructions on the packaging. Many waxes can simply be melted in the microwave. If the area you want to wax currently has any pimples, infections, or open sores, hold off for now. Waxing could irritate your skin and make these issues worse. [3] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDBoard Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
When the wax is ready, use the wooden stick provided (or use a clean popsicle stick) to apply the wax to a patch of skin in the direction of the hair growth. Place one of the provided cloths on top and press it firmly into the wax by stroking it in the same direction as the hair growth. Wait approximately 10 seconds, then rip the cloth from the skin, in the opposite direction to the hair growth. Try to do this in one fluid movement, keeping your hand close and parallel to the skin. Don’t try to pull the strip up, as this could bruise or irritate the skin. Repeat this process all over the leg, taking care not to apply wax to the same area twice (this is very irritating on skin). When you’re done, rinse your legs in cool water (not hot) to remove any traces of wax.
Before waxing, scrub your underarms clean with a loofah, soap and warm water. This will help to soften the skin and open the pores, making waxing less painful. When you’re ready, apply the hot wax, stroking it on in the same direction as the hair growth. Your underarm hair grows in two directions so make sure you wax this area in two stages against the direction of hair growth. Put your hand behind your head and stretch your arm back. Press a cloth strip over the hot wax, using firm strokes in the direction of the hair growth. Make sure to leave a little piece of loose cloth at the top of the strip, as this will allow you to grasp it firmly. After ten seconds, quickly rip the cloth from the skin in the opposite direction to the hair growth. If this movement feels a little awkward to do one-handed, ask a close friend to help you. Repeat the process with any remaining hair on that armpit, then do the same on the other side. Wash your armpit with cool water to remove any remaining wax and avoid using any deodorants or body sprays over the next few hours.
Before you begin, you will need to decide how much hair you want to remove. Do you just want to remove the hair outside your bikini line? Do your want to make a triangle? A landing strip? If you like, you can give yourself a Brazilian (removing all the hair) but this can be quite tricky and it’s recommended that you go to a professional. Next, wash the skin around the bikini line, as this will help to make the waxing less painful. If the hair is long, trim it with a safety scissors until it’s about 1⁄4 inch (0. 6 cm) in length. Waxing your bikini line will need to be done while lying down, so you can access all areas. Try laying a towel across your bed so you can be comfortable and avoid getting wax on the covers. It might also be helpful to prop a mirror nearby, so you can see exactly want you’re doing. Lie down on the bed, propping your head up with a pillow so you can look down while you work. Use the sticks provided to apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth. If you’re using hard wax, wait 10 to 15 seconds for it to harden. If you’re using regular wax, rub the cloth strips firmly onto the wax. Pull the skin taut with your free hand, then grab the edge of the cloth or the hardened wax and rip it off in a single fluid motion in the opposite direction to the hair’s growth. Try to pull the wax across rather than up, as this is less painful and will cause less irritation. Work your way around the bikini line, avoiding going over the same skin twice. You can use a tweezers to pluck out any missed hairs at the end. When you’re done, you can apply a little baby oil to soothe the area and get rid of any wax residue. Avoid using soap or shower gel around this area for the next 24 hours, as recently waxed skin is easily irritated.
This is because the skin on your face is extra sensitive and can easily become irritated if the wrong type of wax is used. Men should use a facial wax designed for coarser hair, as their facial hair is thicker and more difficult to remove than women’s.
If you like, you can use wax strips that will remove upper lip hair without the need for hot wax – these are relatively cheap, but not as effective as they don’t grab onto the hair as well. Just follow the directions on the packaging to use. If you’re opting to use regular wax, use a cream rather than a honey wax, as these are less sticky and easier to control than honey waxes. Wash your upper lip area (and remove any traces of make-up) and dry thoroughly. Apply the warm wax onto one half of your upper lip, tracing carefully along the lip line. Pressing your tongue against your upper lip can help to extend the skin and make the job easier. Make sure to apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth. Place the cloth strip over the wax, stroking it on in the direction of the hair growth. Wait ten seconds for the wax to cool slightly, then stick your upper lip between your teeth to pull the skin taut (this is important). Grasp the edge of the strip and quickly pull off the wax strip. Remember to pull your hand across rather than straight up. Press your hand against the waxed area for a few seconds to help with the pain. Repeat the process on the other side of your lip, then use a tweezers to clean up any stray hairs.
Use a cream wax that you heat up in a wax pot, as these types of waxes are the most gentle on sensitive skin. Clean and dry the eyebrow area fully. Apply the warm wax onto the underside of the first eyebrow, tracing carefully in order to get the shape that you want (you can consult an eyebrow shaping guide here). Make sure to apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth (away from your nose). Place the cloth strip over the wax, stroking it on in the direction of the hair growth. Wait ten seconds for the wax to cool slightly, then use one hand to pull the skin of the eyebrow taut and the other to grasp the edge of the cloth. Quickly pull off the wax strip in the opposite direction to the hair growth. Remember to pull your hand across rather than straight up. Press your hand against the waxed area for a few seconds to help with the pain. Repeat this process with the other eyebrow, then use a tweezers to clean up any stray hairs. You can either use wax or tweezers to remove any stray hairs between your brows.
The baby powder soaks up any moisture or oil from the surface of your skin and helps the wax to stick to the hairs better.
Once you’ve melted the wax, test the temperature by applying a little to the inside of your wrist. The skin here is very sensitive, so if it feels okay, the wax should be at a safe temperature to apply to the rest of your body. However, it’s important that the wax is not too cold either, otherwise it won’t spread properly!
Therefore, you should avoid shaving or using any other hair removal methods in the week or two running up to your waxing session. It may be hard to resist – but you’ll get a much smoother result in the end. You also need to be wary of hair that’s too long – use a safety scissors to trim long hair to about 1/2 on inch in length for more efficient waxing. [11] X Research source
