Waxing & Hair Removal Guide
Men and women use waxing and other techniques to remove unwanted hair from the face, chest, back, legs and other areas of the body, primarily for aesthetic and hygienic reasons. Waxing uses a wax application that grasps and swiftly pulls hairs out by the roots. Other methods include shaving, plucking and laser treatment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Hair Removal Methods
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Waxing is a common service offered at salons and spas. It keeps the area smooth for two to three weeks, but it does cause a painful sting. Hot and cold wax and sugaring are variations of this method.
Shaving is the least expensive and least painful choice. However, hairs grow back quickly, often curlier and thicker than the original hairs.
Threading involves the removal of facial hairs using threads that wrap around the root of the hair and remove it.
Epilation is the tweezing of hairs.
Depilatories are creams that dissolve and remove hairs, though they can cause irritation in those with sensitive skin.
Laser removal deters hair growth for up to 10 years with a series of light treatments that target follicles below the skin.
Finally, electrolysis involves the injection of a super-fine needle into the individual follicle to cauterize the hair's blood vessel, leading to permanent cessation of growth.
Hot Wax at Home
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Before treatment, clean the area with soap and water, and trim hairs to 1/4 inch--usually necessary for the armpits, chest or pubic region. Kits that use wax cartridges require the cartridges to be warmed by immersion in hot water rather than by melting in the microwave, which delivers uneven heat and can burn the wax.
Paint a thin layer of hot wax on the hairy area. Pull the skin taut while the wax cools and solidifies; if your kit provides a removal strip, place it on the wax before it cools. To remove the wax, hold the skin as taut as possible with one hand, while grasping the wax or removal strip with the other. Rip off in one swift motion, in the opposite direction of the hair's growth.
Use the kit's wax-removal cream to remove any remnants that stick to the area, and avoid applying perfume, deodorant or sunscreen to the waxed area for two days.
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Cold Wax and Sugaring
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As the name suggests, cold wax does not need to be warmed before use; it is already attached to a removal strip. Sugaring uses a wax-free substance made of sugar, water and lemon juice, with a thick, gel-like consistency.
Use the same removal technique with these treatments as with hot wax. Since they do not grip hair as tightly as hot wax, repeat applications may be needed.
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