Ins and Outs of Waxing: A Comprehensive Guide

Waxing is one of the most important beauty regimes that most girls can’t give a pass. Despite the pain and the agony, it remains a top priority in their calendar. And yet, there is so much chaos and confusion about waxing. So, here I pen it all about waxing. Binge on!

There are a lot of questions hanging unanswered about waxing. 

When should girls get their first waxing? Should men go for waxing too? What’s the best time of the month to book a waxing appointment? Is there a permanent hair removal remedy? Are there safer, better and less painful natural ways of hair removal? And of course, which is the best method of waxing?

And I will try to answer all of these, one by one!

First of all, hair removal has been a part of beauty care since ancient times. Hair removal in India dates back to 4000 and 3000 BC. In many countries, it has been a part of proper hygiene to remove body hair.

Did you know? 

Cleopatra was so averse to body hair that she used to get full body threading.

Also Read: 5 Self-care tips for dry skin

All about waxing – To do or not to do!

Let’s start by talking about if it’s a good idea to go for hair removal.

The hair that covers the body provides warmth and protects the skin. In pre-historic times, this was a very important function as man wandered from place to place. But today, the functions of body hair can be managed in many other ways.

However, won’t it be just great if one can skip through this beauty ritual. It’s a painful scary inconvenient beauty ritual. If you have light and faint hair, and they can go without this monthly torture. And that won’t make a difference.

But it’s very important to remember, don’t shave if you have light hair. Shaving makes your haircome back darker, spikier and thicker. You can go for waxing though!

Also Read: Amazing Benefits of Almond Oil for skin, hair and health

Waxing for men – A new trend!

With the modern era shattering the gender biases, beauty and care became a thing for all!

Men too are trying the waxing strips.

And beyond the screaming and yelling, there are other things to know before stripping the hair.

• Men feel more pain than women because they are hairier.
• They are more likely to get redness, irritation, and pain.
• Because men’s skin is more exposed to the harsh environment, it can easily get a crack. 
• Men should not go swimming or gymming after waxing as it can cause irritation or acne. 
• And men who don’t have a good skincare routine, should not go for it.

Waxing or Threading or Shaving – All about it

The most common and contradicting options for hair removal are – waxing or shaving!

Shaving 

Shaving seems easy, convenient and painless, but it has a downside too. You can get a cut and the hair that comes aftershave, arghh, it’s spiky and rough. Shaving may be quick but the hair comes back real quick.

Threading/ Plucking/Tweezing 

This removes the hair by the follicle physically. While threading can be long-lasting, but it would take hours and can be very painful. It works well if you have to shape your brow, but plucking each hair from your hands and legs can be a mammoth task.

Waxing 

Waxing can lead to redness, irritation and pain. But when done correctly it can be painless. Waxing can last up to an average of at least 2 weeks. Also, waxing lasts longer than shaving or hair removal creams. Regular waxing makes your skin hair finer and inhibits the stubbly regrowth.

Continuous waxing weakens the blood supply to the root of the hair. 

This makes your body hair weak and light in colour. The hair becomes less coarse and sometimes the hair may not even grow back at all. In other words, the more you wax, the lesser hair grows back!

Laser treatment 

The thought of taking care of your hair for once and all sounds appealing. Laser treatment is the most common technique for permanent hair removal. But it is very expensive and is not suitable for all skin types.

All about waxing – Know your type!

Earlier the only option for waxing was “Sugaring”. This was a sugar paste rolled over the skin to remove hair.  It consisted of lemon, sugar and water. There are no additives or cloth strips. Sugaring exfoliates the skin gently without any harshness. It’s a natural alternative, safe, effective and environment friendly.

But the hot sugar paste can cause burning and the wrong pulling technique can cause bruising. Also leaving the paste for longer can lead to infections. Probably, these are the reasons people moved on to find more effective alternatives.

Today the options are boundless and so the choice becomes tricky. Wax can come from many sources – Beeswax, honey, sugar, and pine resin are some of the most common waxes. Right now, it’s Rica wax that everyone is raving about!

Here are some of the most common waxing options –

Hot wax 

Hot wax contains honey, beeswax and other components. Hot wax uses fabric strips to remove hair. It is cheaper and effective but painful. I won’t recommend it if you have sensitive skin. 

Hard wax 

This is a mixture of beeswax, resin and oil. It is applied hot on the skin and removed after cooling. It’s effective and less painful but can cause burns if done by an amateur. Most salons use this universally as it suits most skin types.

Soft wax 

 This is made with rosin, oils, and other additives. This can be applied to the skin and pulled off. Soft wax tends to rip off the soft skin making it more painful.  Again, I don’t recommend it for the trauma it causes to your tender skin.

Which one should you go for?

Honestly, it’s always good to go back to the roots. Sugaring is one of the best natural ways to get rid of body hair. It is cheap and you can do it yourself. But make sure you know how to do it right.

Always do a patch test before choosing your preferred option. When it comes to the skin don’t go after recommendations as the sensitivity of each skin is different. Try it yourself on a patch of skin, wait for the reaction and then you decide.

Here are a few Natural hair removal tricks you can try

Sugar and Lemon

Sugar is a natural exfoliator and lemon is a natural bleach. It removes dead skin and makes your hair lighter. Also, it’s not painful!

• Mix two tablespoons of sugar and lemon juice. 
• Add 8-9 tablespoons of water. 
• Heat the mixture till it bubbles and let it cool. 
• Apply it on and keep it for about 20-25 minutes. 
• Wash off with cold water while rubbing in a circular motion.

Lemon and Honey

Honey moisturizes the skin while bleaching the hair. This is highly recommended for those with dry skin.

• Take two tablespoons of sugar and lemon juice.
• Add one tablespoon of honey. 
• Heat the mix for about three minutes and pour water if required.
• Once the paste cools, apply corn starch on the skin.
• Spread the paste in the direction of hair growth.
• Use a waxing strip or cotton cloth to pull off the hair.

Oatmeal and Banana

Oatmeal is a great, hydrating scrub. It’s loaded with antioxidants that reduce redness of the skin. Banana again is great for your skin. It’s rich in potassium and magnesium.  

• Blend two tablespoons of oatmeal with a ripe banana.
• Spread this paste on your skin. 
• Massage it for 15 minutes, and wash it off with cool water. 

All about waxing – The best time to do it!

Well, you can book your parlour appointment anytime you like. But there are a few things you must know, especially the ladies!

First of all, your hair must have a growth of a certain length for smooth waxing. Ideally, hair should be of the length of a rice grain which is ¼ of an inch. Most people wax roughly every four-six weeks and that’s the time hair takes to regrow. 

Secondly, your skin is extra sensitive a few days before and during the periods. Also, you might already be dealing with a lot of pain and discomfort. So, it might not be the best idea to add to the ache. So, I would advise you to book an appointment any week that doesn’t collide with your periods! But it’s totally up to you and your pain tolerance threshold. 

Pre-waxing Preparations

To get the best results out of your waxing session, you must prep your skin beforehand. It should start a few days before your parlour day. Here are a few must-knows that you must note in your diary.

Hold off on booze and caffeine before your waxing appointment. 

• Alcohol and excess caffeine can constrict your pores. This can make your waxing experience more painful and waxing more difficult.
• On the day of waxing skip your skincare routine. Do not apply lotions or oil on the skin before waxing as that prevents the wax from sticking to your hair. This makes it extra hard to remove them. 
• A day before your waxing appointment gently exfoliate the skin to remove the dead skin cells. 
• While going to your parlour make sure to choose your clothing right. Wear loose, smooth and comfortable clothing and breathable knickers to avoid friction and rashes.
• And don’t forget to carry your SPF sunscreen. It’s very important to protect your skin from sunburn during the first 24 hours after waxing.

After Wax Care

• Waxing is no doubt a harsh treatment for your skin. So, it is very important to pamper and nourish your skin after the session. Remember, the redness can linger for a day or two. So, it is very important to take care of.
• Most parlours apply oils after waxing is done. You can opt for a mix of tea tree and lavender oil. They are antimicrobial and antibacterial which can prevent irritation and allergies. You can also opt for aloe vera gel if your skin feels itchy and scratchy. 
• Do not scratch the area as the skin is very tender and can easily get a crack or irritation. 
• Avoid swimming, sweaty workouts, and harsh skincare for at least 24 to 48 hours after waxing. 
• Do not apply deodorants or sprays directly on the skin. It can cause burning and irritation.
• Avoid excessively hot baths. Go for warm showers only.
• Continue caressing your skin for three days after waxing with gentle exfoliation. Exfoliate your skin two to three times a week to maintain smooth skin and encourage outward hair growth.

Also Read: Tea in skincare

Wrapping it up – All about waxing!

Waxing is a popular beauty ritual but a very personal choice. So, it’s completely up to you whether you want to do it or not and which one you want to go for. However, it’s important to educate yourself with all the options available!

I hope this blog helped you a bit in making the right choices.