Home Spa: Do-it-yourself Waxing
From leg-baring skirts to swimwear, with
the warmer months finally upon us, women
are baring more skin. For many women, the
cost of in-salon hair removal treatments
can be expensive and the notion of baring
certain areas can be a little intimidating.
Rhonda Shupe, coordinator, Cosmetic Techniques
and Management and professor, Cosmetics
& Esthetics Diploma Program at Seneca
College of Applied Arts and Technology in
Toronto, advises bringing the spa home and
becoming a waxing expert in your very own
bathroom for a fraction of the cost of in-spa
treatments.
"Home waxing options have come a long
way," says Shupe. "From gentle
cloth-backed wax strips to no-strip waxing
kits, there is a solution for everyone's
needs. It's easy to get at-the-salon results
right in your own home with a few tricks
from the trade."
At-home Waxing Tips
For best results, wait until your hair
is at least one-quarter inch long. If you
wax hair at this length you will be more
likely to get the entire papilla or entire
hair follicle.
If you are new to at-home waxing, start
with the basics, like your legs, which provide
an easy training surface. As you get more
comfortable, graduate to other areas of
the body.
As with any new product, do a patch test
prior to getting started.
Make sure you are comfortable and warm.
If the air conditioning is cranked up and
you are chilly, your pores will constrict
making skin more sensitive.
Prep the area to be waxed by making sure
it is clean and dry. Shupe suggests a light
dusting of powder in the areas where you
perspire to absorb any access moisture so
the wax adheres to the hair, not skin.
Depending on your level of comfort and
experience, choose your application method
accordingly. "Wax strips are great
for beginners because they are easy to prepare
-- just massaging between your hands warms
the wax. And if you make a mistake, you
can use the same strip in another area,"
suggests Shupe, adding that cloth backed
strips are kinder to skin.
Shupe recommends looking for kits, like
Nair Soothing, that contain menthol to help
minimize the pain of waxing with pre and
post-wax cooling wipes. To ensure success,
apply the wax strip in the direction of
the hair growth and pull off the strip in
the opposite direction of hair growth, pulling
across the skin, not upward - a common mistake
that most women make.
When finished waxing, soothe skin with
a refreshing post-wax wipe. Post-waxing
care and a little preventative maintenance
will keep your skin in good condition and
prepped for your next treatment.
Freshly waxed skin, while deliciously smooth,
can be sensitive to products and sunlight
so avoid potential irritants like lotions
and rough fabrics in the days immediately
following your wax.
Exfoliating regularly can help to avoid
ingrown hairs and keep skin smooth.
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