ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUt WAX
When it comes to the art of removing unwanted hair by waxing, there are a few things you need to bear in mind. Firstly, there has to be some hair to remove and, secondly, you need to invest in some good wax.
Hair that is to be removed by wax must be neither too long nor too short. Two to three centimetres is just about right; if the hair is longer, you should trim it first. If the hair is less than two centimetres in length, the wax does not have enough hair to bind onto. The wax should be applied in the direction of the hair growth and removed in the opposite direction. You should therefore check carefully to see how the hairs lie and, if they lie in various directions you should wax just small areas at a time. Applying masses of wax and then stripping it off in a completely uncontrolled way produces a poor result, where many hairs are left behind or break off, which can lead to small infections in the hair follicles. Not much fun. If you have curly hair, it can be difficult to tell in which direction the hair is growing. In that case, go to a salon for a professional waxing, or do it at home and take a chance.
Choice of wax
Given this abundance of wax types and brands, which should you actually choose? If you are a beginner, the easiest thing to do is to start with ready-made wax strips until you have developed the technique and patience. For the more experienced waxer, the use of hot, liquid wax is recommended. Liquid wax is markedly better as it surrounds and grasps the whole hair so that as much hair as possible comes away with it. Liquid wax also produces a more lasting result, though on the other hand it is much more difficult to handle.
As far as the choice of brand name is concerned, most brands on the market are of equal quality. Do not be afraid to try various different brands until you find your favourite.
How do you do it?
Most waxes on the market today come with a more or less comprehensive manual, but to expand on things a little here is a simple handbook:
Wax strips
If you have bought ready-made wax strips, for example Veet For Men Cold Wax Strips, all you need to do is to warm them between the palms of your hands, separate them (they are placed together in pairs, with the adhesive sides touching) and then apply them to the chosen area. When you apply the strip, rub your hand over it in the direction of the hair growth, grasp the bottom edge and pull off the strip against the growth of the hair. This should be done quickly. If you leave the strip in place for too long, the wax has time to cool, detach itself from the strip and remain on the skin. When you pull you should not pull straight up into the air at right angles to the skin; instead, you should pull backwards/against the growth of the hair parallel to the skin surface. Do not forget to stretch the skin before you pull away the wax strip. If the skin is stretched, it is less painful and more hair comes away.
Hot wax
The hot, liquid wax comes in a jar and has to be heated up in a microwave or water-bath. When it has warmed up sufficiently, it has the appearance of syrup. A spatula and strips are also included in the package. Most often, the strips are made of a form of thick paper. When the wax is hot, you apply it in a thin layer using the spatula in the direction of the hair growth, then place the strip on top and run your hand over the strip in the direction of the hair so the wax adheres properly to the strip. You then take hold of the lower edge and quickly pull off the strip against the direction of the hair. In the same way as with the ready-made strips in the section above, the strip should be pulled off in a reverse direction, parallel to the skin. Do not forget to stretch the skin before you pull. Any residual wax on the skin can be washed off with water or oil. If oil is needed to remove residual wax there will be some in the packet. The used strips are then discarded. After a while, any wax not used for the treatment will harden again. There are no special storage requirements; the jar can be kept on a shelf in the bathroom. Naturally, the lid should remain on. The wax can be heated up again and again until the jar is empty.
Waxing the chest
You can wax your chest yourself. Remember to stretch the skin out properly before you pull off the wax strip by tugging quickly. If a few hairs remain, it is fine to wax the same area again and does not damage the skin. You should not wax close to the nipple and areola; nor should you apply wax to this area. If there are hairs just around the edge which you would like removing these can be plucked using tweezers. Waxing the back and shoulders. The procedure is the same as for the chest. However, there are no nipples to worry about here and the skin on your back is harder and can take a somewhat more vigorous treatment. Despite this you should carry out the waxing as correctly as possible for the optimum result. Our physical limitations mean we cannot wax our own backs. Therefore, you will need a person who is willing to do it for you. It is recommended that you go to a salon for the first few times and let a professional do the job. Make sure you learn how to handle the wax; the professionals will be happy to show you.
Waxing intimate areas
Let us not mince words: this is not the easiest of tasks. Waxing intimate areas yourself requires both patience and knowledge. The skin here is thin and sensitive, with fine nerves, and irritation can easily arise. It can be hard to find a salon that performs waxing of intimate areas on men, yet doing a good job yourself is practically impossible. If, despite that, you would like to try, there are products today for home use that are specially produced for waxing intimate areas and which are both kinder to the skin and enriched with soothing oils.
Tips and advice
If you want to show your hair-free body you should have waxed at least two days before the clothes come off. This gives time for any reddening to settle down and the hair follicles to close up. Around two days after the wax treatment, it is also a good idea to scrub the waxed area using a peeling. A peeling is a cleansing/showering gel containing small granules that polish the surface of the skin and make the skin pliable so the hairs can grow out properly. A peeling should be done about once a week until the hairs can be seen on the skin surface. Waxing will unavoidably trigger a reaction in the skin. Most people get reddening to a greater or lesser extent in the area that has been waxed. The intensity of the reddening is an individual matter and depends on your skin type, how much hair you have and how coarse it is. The reddening can be lessened if the waxing is followed by applying a cream or gel that has a soothing effect. Aloe Vera gel soothes red skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect. If you find the pain is unbearable, a painkilling tablet about 30 minutes before treatment is recommended. When the reddening has settle down, it can reveal a rash that looks like small pimples. This is a very mild form of inflammation of the hair follicles. Relax, this is normal and affects most people. The more soothing jelly you apply after the waxing, the less the reaction. If you find that the small pimples are taking a long time to disappear, it is fine to squeeze them carefully after a warm shower.
For the first two days after waxing, you should be careful in the sun and when bathing. This also applies to taking a bath; quick showers are what is needed. If you do a lot of exercise and perspire profusely, it is an opportunity to allow your body to rest. Sweat contains many bacteria to which the hair follicles are sensitive in the days immediately following a waxing.
If there is itching when the hair begins to grow out again, simply scratch or have a proper scrub (peeling). Itchy skin usually means the hairs have been broken off on the surface instead of having been pulled out by the root, and is more like a shave where the hair growth becomes stubbly rather than downy. Itchy skin is best described with the words ‘a poor wax job’. If you have done the waxing yourself, you should revise your wax routines next time.
Facts and myths
YES, it hurts a little when you wax and NO, the pain isn’t fatal - it will pass.
YES, the hair does come back and the treatment should be repeated every 4 to 6 weeks.
NO, the hair won’t grow back more coarsely.
YES, in principle you can wax the whole body, but certain areas should be avoided such as the beard, scalp hair and mucous membranes.