How To: Waxing at Home

by About Face Team

Waxing at home is an option when you just want to do the pampering yourself at the convenience of your home sweet home.

There are several techniques to do waxing, but the hot waxing is preferred by beauty salons as this technique is more effective than other techniques. Read these useful tips to get the smooth and hair-free skin.

Pre-waxing Treatment

Before you start, it is important to prepare the skin for waxing. This is done to get the best result from waxing.

 

1. Exfoliate and Moisturise

Before waxing, clean and exfoliate your skin with gentle scrub formulated for pre-waxing treatment, and then moisturise the skin with a light lotion for pre-waxing treatment. Do exfoliate and moisturise your skin as well after waxing. By doing this, you prevent ingrown hair which can be frustrating.

 

2. Trim Long Hair

If the hair is too long, you need to trim it with safety scissors beforehand to let the waxing process works efficiently. If the hair is too short, the wax won't be able to get a good grip to the hair. The ideal hair length is between 0.6cm (¼ inch) and 1.9cm (¾ inch) long.

 

3. Use Baby Powder

Clean the skin and use a little bit of baby powder to the skin about to be waxed to absorb excess moisture. This way, the wax and wax strip can get a good grip to the hair.

 

Waxing Process

Get the necessary waxing products, including the wax itself, wax heater and accessories, pre-wax, after-wax, waxing spatula, waxing strip, before you start. Read the product manuals or instructions carefully as different brands can have different methods of usage.

 

1. Temperature Test

Heat the wax in a wax heater. Test the temperature of your wax before you start. Make sure the temperature is at a comfortable spreading temperature. Test it by applying a little of it to the inside of your wrist. If it's too cold, it won't spread, and if it's too hot, it will burn the skin. You want to get smooth skin, not burnt skin!

 

2. Apply Wax

Apply wax in the direction of hair growth to allow the wax to get a good grip of the hair. Use a waxing spatula to get a nice and thin layer. If you are using hot wax, leave the wax until it dries according to product's instructions. If you are using strip wax, place the wax strip over the wax right after spreading, and press it down firmly using strokes in the same direction as hair growth. Leave the strip on to set according to product's instructions.

 

3. Pull It Right

Once the wax is set, hold your skin taut and quickly pull the dried wax (hot wax) or the strip (strip wax) off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Keep the wax or strip parallel and as close as possible to the skin. Don't lift the wax or strip up vertically in the air.

 

After-waxing Treatment

To get the best result and minimum side effects, it is important to treat the skin after waxing.

 

1. Waxing Oil

After waxing, it is highly recommended to apply oil formulated for after-wax treatment. This oil is usually formulated to clean the wax residue as well as soothe and moisturise the skin.

 

2. Ingrown Removal

It is best not to pick at ingrown, as wrong method could lead to infection. If you have a stubborn ingrown, you can try removing it using ingrown treatment products. Again, read the instructions carefully.

 

3. Hair Growth Inhibitor

Keep the hair from growing back too fast by using hair growth inhibitor products. These products also help soften coarse hair, which means the next waxing process will be easier and less painful.

 

Warning

  1. Always read and use products based on their instructions as different brands may have different instructions. Pay attention to the warning notes and always follow the direction label of each product.
  2. Don't wax the same area more than twice as this can be damaging to the skin. Use tweezers if you need to remove any stray hairs left from waxing.
  3. Don't try Brazilian Wax at home. This method is better left to the professionals as there are some very hard to reach places.
  4. Don't do waxing under the following condition: if you are using oral/topical retinoids, when you have a sunburn or open wound or irritated skin, if you are taking strong acne medications, two days close to or two days after your period.
  5. Beware of the side effects that may occur from incorrect waxing methods: pain, ingrown, scarring, folliculitis, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation.
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