Waxing at home - say no to vegetation

Wise nature has endowed man with thicker hair to protect especially important parts of his body from the effects of sweat, cold, dust, and insects. However, ideas about the beauty of the human body and its grooming, which have been formed over more than one millennium, have made it necessary to remove hair in certain places.

Today, for this they resort to the procedure of hair removal and depilation.
It can be carried out both in special institutions, salons, and at home. In this material we will tell you how to do waxing at home. Translated from Latin, epilation means: e(x) - from + pilus - hair. Depilation (from Latin depilatio) is translated as destruction of hair.

What is waxing?

Waxing is a depilation method based on the use of wax. Suitable for both women and men and designed to combat hair on almost any part of the body - legs, arms, armpits, back, lower abdomen, chest.

Using soft wax, you can remove hair from delicate skin on the face and intimate area (bikini). Wax helps to correct the shape of the eyebrows, remove hair above the lip and in the cheek area.

A woman can do gentle waxing for herself. Regular use of the procedure makes the hairs less rigid and lighter, that is, they become less noticeable on the body. The effect lasts for an average of 3 weeks.

Immediately after waxing, irritation and red dots may appear on the body in the affected area, but such reactions quickly pass.

Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure

To achieve a positive result, a woman will have to show restraint and patience, since there is nothing pleasant in carrying out this procedure. However, it is worth it , as it has a lot of positive aspects:

• Thanks to the use of wax, the skin feels completely smooth. This is due to the fact that not only excess hairs are removed, but also dead skin cells. Wax is best for quickly and effectively exfoliating the skin and making it smooth.
• This material does not cause redness, irritation or itching of delicate skin.
• A long-lasting effect is achieved. Waxing the bikini area allows you to forget about hair in the intimate area for at least four weeks. In addition, with systematic use of wax, the hairs become softer and less thick.
• Wax has excellent hypoallergenic properties, which minimizes the likelihood of allergic reactions.
• The hair removal procedure can be easily carried out at home. Wax is freely available, and bikini hair removal does not require any special skills or knowledge.
• Wax is a safe product. The maximum that can be done if it is used incorrectly is to get burned.
• In one wax depilation procedure, you can get rid of all unwanted vegetation in the intimate area.

This procedure should be carried out no more than twice a month. If it is done in a salon, the specialist will definitely administer anesthesia, which will minimize discomfort.

Deep bikini hair removal has fewer disadvantages than advantages. But before starting the process, it is necessary to study the negative aspects of this procedure:

• If you do not comply with the mandatory condition regarding sterility during depilation, the risk of infection increases.
• Hairs are not always completely removed from the skin. Especially if there is a sharp tearing off of the wax plate. Some hairs may break at the very base, which can lead to them growing into the skin. The removal of wax also needs to be done correctly, namely: against their growth, and not in the direction. Otherwise, the hair follicle may change its direction, after which it will begin to grow under the skin. Surgery may be required to resolve this problem.
• If you carry out the procedure yourself, the woman may experience unprecedented pain. It is especially dangerous for those representatives of the fair sex who have a strong pain threshold. To reduce pain, you often have to resort to taking painkillers.
• With insufficient experience, a poor-quality result may be obtained, which leads to repetition of the hair removal procedure.

The difference between depilation and hair removal

Waxing is one of several methods of depilation, but another method can also be used to remove hairs - epilation. The differences between these two types of procedures are that depilation is the removal of unnecessary hairs, with or without the root, but the hair follicle is not damaged.

Epilation is aimed primarily at destroying the follicle, which over time leads to their complete death and, as a result, vegetation ceases to appear in the treated areas.

Depilation is carried out with a razor, wax, caramel. During hair removal, special devices are used that emit light rays or electric current, under the influence of which the follicle is destroyed.

How to prepare for hair removal

The optimal length of hairs at which wax can firmly grasp them is 5-6 mm. In this case, the hair will be easily removed along with the root. Hair longer than 1 cm should be cut first. Before the procedure, you should not sunbathe or visit the bathhouse. There are different opinions about using a scrub before waxing.

On the one hand, scrubbing causes minor damage to the skin, which has a bad effect on its condition after the procedure. On the other hand, the scrub will free the surface of the skin from dead cells, and the wax mass will be able to capture the hairs at the very base.

People with a low pain threshold should take care of pain relief.

Shortly before the procedure, you can take a tablet of any analgesic (Nurofen, Sedalgin, Ibuprofen) orally. Anesthetic creams are used for local anesthesia. Typically, the active ingredients of such creams are lidocaine and prilocaine: they provide superficial anesthesia of the skin.

To avoid skin irritation, cosmetologists recommend using special pre-depilation cosmetics to prepare the skin for the procedure. If the wax composition is used for the first time, it is necessary to test it for allergies in advance.

Types of wax used

When waxing, several types of wax resins are used. Each of them can also be used for depilation outside the salon.

Hot wax

In its usual form it is a dense and solid mass. Often available in granules. After heating, the consistency becomes comparable to liquid honey. The wax is melted in special heaters.

Waxing with heated wax is considered the most effective, since under the influence of high temperature the pores open and, along with the keratinized scales of the epidermis, unnecessary hairs are removed. The skin after the session remains soft and velvety for a long time.

Hot wax mass is especially good for treating delicate areas with particularly sensitive skin, since high temperature somewhat reduces sensitivity.

The melted wax resin is applied to the body in a dense layer with a spatula, and after cooling, it is removed with fabric or thin paper strips.

Cold

Ready-made liquid wax mixtures or wax-impregnated patches and strips are used. Before the procedure, the base must be warmed to normal body temperature, after which it can be used for its intended purpose.

Waxing with cold wax is optimal for depilation in conditions of limited time and efficiently removes vellus hairs from the face, from the area in the perineum, and under the arms.

The only thing that needs to be taken into account is the need to choose cold wax depending on the sensitivity and type of skin.

Warm

The base is solid wax resins, enriched with softeners - oils of plant origin. You can buy them in liquid form or in special cartridge cassettes.

Before application, the mass is heated in a wax melter or even under running hot water. Suitable for home depilation, regardless of the location where unnecessary hair is removed.

At home, it is safest to use cold wax and warmed up to a comfortable (warm) temperature. Applying too hot means following safety precautions, otherwise burns may occur on the body. Therefore, it is better to entrust depilation with heated wax mixtures to a professional.

Review of the best wax hair removal products, prices

A good wax provides maximum effect and does not cause discomfort. In addition to its direct purpose - hair removal - the wax mass must have skin-caring properties. In addition to beauty salons, it is convenient to purchase such products in specialized online stores that sell hair cosmetics.

There you can also read detailed product characteristics and recommendations for using a particular composition. Some of the most popular brands for several years have been Depiflax, Italwax and Depileve. The table allows you to compare the characteristics and prices of some of the most popular waxes.

A beginner in hair removal can purchase a kit that includes everything you need. For example, the cartridge set for wax depilation from the Italwax brand includes two types of wax: Azulene and White Chocolate, a wax melter and strips for removing compounds. The cost of the set is about 900 rubles.

Waxing is done by millions of girls and women who want to have smooth skin and look flawless.

It is not at all difficult to master the necessary skills to cope with this procedure on your own and do it at home, forgetting about trips to expensive beauty salons.

Article design: Anna Vinnitskaya

Waxing methods

In cosmetology, two methods of skin depilation with wax are used.

First

Apply liquid hot or warm wax with a wide spatula directly to the treated area. Then you need to wait for the hardening to begin; the mass should begin to thicken, but still remain plastic. At this point, strips of paper or fabric need to be applied to it.

They are applied in the direction of hair growth; the strips should be glued evenly, without bubbles or creases.

After complete hardening, they are removed from the body with a sharp movement against hair growth.

An alternative option is polymer wax, which hardens on the body in the form of a film and therefore does not require applying strips on top.

Second

Gluing ready-made wax strips. The exposure time is on average 5-15 minutes, but you must definitely look at the instructions, since the duration of depilation depends on the manufacturer. The strips are also removed sharply but carefully against hair growth.

If you see that not all vegetation has completely disappeared, then you can repeat waxing. However, it should be taken into account that the likelihood of swelling and irritation increases.

Does it hurt or not?

Waxing is a safe procedure with few side effects, but many people rate it as painful.

Naturally, there is no pain at the moment of applying and hardening the mass on the body; it appears only when tearing off the strips. But it only lasts a few seconds, so it’s quite possible to be patient.

The degree of pain also depends on the pain threshold and the location of depilation. The intimate area is endowed with greater sensitivity. Many note that over time, waxing becomes addictive, that is, sensitivity decreases and there are no strong discomfort sensations.

When performing wax depilation in salons, the intensity of pain depends on the professionalism of the specialist. Therefore, it is better to trust the procedure to those cosmetologists who have been working for several years and fully comply with the technique of performing the procedure.

Contraindications

Waxing is not performed in just a few cases:

• If there are warts, neoplasms, fresh abrasions and cuts at the site of exposure.
• In the acute period of infectious diseases and in the presence of dermatitis.
• If you have a history of diabetes, since waxing there is a possibility of skin irritation, and with diabetes, restoration of the epidermis may be delayed.
• In case of hypersensitivity to wax and other components of the chosen waxing product.
• For varicose veins and in the stage of exacerbation of herpes.
• Use caution if you have moles.

A temporary contraindication for waxing in the intimate area is the period of menstruation, which is primarily related to hygiene.

It is not recommended for pregnant women to do depilation with wax mixtures, as pain can negatively affect the course of pregnancy.

After the procedure it is not recommended:

• During the first 12-24 hours, sunbathe and play sports, exposing areas of the body subject to depilation to the sun's rays.
• use desiderants and apply cosmetics to the skin.
• visit the bathhouse and sauna.

Skin care after waxing

After depilation, the skin needs to be treated with a product that will remove wax residues, disinfect, moisturize and soothe it. This can be a special spray, lotion, cosmetic cream or milk. To slow down the growth of new hair, immediately after the procedure, special products are applied to the skin, which are available in the form of sprays, creams and mousses.

They often have a complex effect: in addition to affecting the hair follicle and hair shaft, the products protect the skin from irritation and hyperemia. To avoid ingrown hairs, you should use abrasives or products that exfoliate dead skin.

Through uncleaned skin, it will be difficult for new hairs to break through to the surface.

The skin will become covered with bumps because the hairs curl underneath it, and it will become rough. Regular scrubbing will solve the problem of ingrown hairs. After the procedure, you should not sunbathe or visit the sauna or bathhouse for several days.

Don’t miss the most popular article in the section: Plasmolifting of the face - what it is, how it is carried out, results, photos before and after the procedure.

What is required for wiping at home

Wax is the main thing you will need when performing the procedure at home. It can be in granules, liquid form or in strips.

But in addition to the main equipment, additional consumables will be required:

1. Skin scrub. It is used for a procedure to remove dead skin flakes and better open pores.
2. Strips of thick fabric or paper.
3. A wooden or metal spatula for applying the molten mass.
4. Talc.
5. Paper napkins.
6. The gloves are disposable.
7. Cosmetic or vegetable oil to wash away wax residue.
8. Antiseptic (Chlorhexidine or Miramistin) for treating irritations and wounds.
9. Cream for caring for treated skin after the procedure.

The set of consumables, depending on the chosen method of wax depilation and the wax itself, may vary greatly. For example, when using film wax, strips are not needed, since after hardening it can be easily removed without additional help. But in this case, a wax melter is necessary.

There are also ready-made wax depilation kits on sale. That is, they include everything that may be required for waxing. But you need to keep in mind that the kit’s contents may vary depending on the manufacturer.

Brazilian hair removal

To remove hair in the deep bikini area, they most often resort to hair removal with Brazilian wax. It has been the most popular for almost 4 decades.

The peculiarity of this procedure is that hair from the pubis, labia and between the buttocks is completely removed. At the client's request, sometimes only a narrow vertical strip of hair remains untouched. It takes a specialist about a quarter of an hour to do this.

Performing Brazilian hair removal at home is difficult, but possible. To acquire the skill of doing this difficult work yourself, it is advisable to visit a specialist at least once in a beauty salon.

For the procedure to be successful, you should prepare for it.

• By the time you visit a cosmetologist, the hair in the deep bikini area should have grown by at least half a centimeter. Otherwise, the application will not be able to completely capture them.
• A few days before treatment, peeling should be carried out. This will significantly reduce the possibility of ingrown hairs forming.

• Since the procedure is associated with pain, people with a high sensitivity threshold should take a painkiller an hour before hair removal or apply local anesthetics to the intimate parts of the body 45 minutes before treatment.
• It is recommended to remove hair in the first week after the end of menstruation or no later than the middle of the cycle. During this period, the skin is least susceptible to pain.

Hair removal in Brazilian style is carried out as follows:

1. Having put on disposable underwear, the woman lies down on the couch.
2. The technician sprinkles the epilation area with talcum powder, and then applies strokes of warm wax using a spatula.
3. A strip of fabric is pressed onto the lubricated area. When the application has cooled, it is torn off in the direction opposite to hair growth. The procedure starts from the pubis and ends in the buttocks area.

4. After completion of the session, the treated area is lubricated with cosmetics that relieve irritation. In addition, it is proposed to design the remaining hair path (special haircut, coloring or tattooing with permanent ink).

Brazilian hair removal is performed every 3-4 weeks, depending on the speed of hair regrowth.

To perform Brazilian hair removal at home, you will need:

• soft wax;
• fabric strips;
• wooden spatula;
• tweezers;
• small mirror.

Let's look at the process of carrying out this procedure step by step.

1. Before epilation, intimate areas should be thoroughly washed and dried. In this case, the hair on them must be the same length that is necessary for the salon operation.
2. The wax is heated until it reaches a temperature that is comfortable for the skin.
3. Wax is spread on a small area of ​​the body with a spatula, and then a strip of cloth is placed on top of it, pressing it with your hand and smoothing out the wrinkled areas.
4. Without stretching the skin under the area with the application, remove the strip with one jerk in the direction of hair growth. To reduce pain, after surgery, apply finger pressure to the epilation site. As in the salon, the treatment is carried out starting from the pubis.
5. When cleaning is complete, use a mirror to inspect the skin and remove any remaining hairs with tweezers. Then rinse off any remaining wax with warm water.
6. To maintain the results for a long time, you can use a hair growth inhibitor. And to eliminate irritation - a herbal decoction or cream that eliminates irritation.

Step-by-step instructions for waxing at home

After purchasing all consumables for waxing, you need to conduct an allergy test. To do this, apply melted wax to the wrist and watch the reaction for 1-2 hours. If there is no redness, itching, swelling, or rashes, then you can safely begin the procedure.

But one more condition must be taken into account - the length of the hairs in the depilation area should be approximately 5 mm. If they are longer, then you need to cut them with a trimmer, otherwise the hair will become tangled and the quality of waxing will deteriorate.

If the hairs are too small, shorter than 4 mm, the wax mass does not always catch them well, so some of the hair may remain on the body.

Depilatory wax recipes

You can prepare depilation wax at home using readily available and inexpensive ingredients. They can be purchased at beekeeping stores or pharmacies.

Recipe No. 1

The mixture is prepared from 130 grams of beeswax and 360 grams of carnauba wax and 7 ml of pharmaceutical glycerin.

When preparing, you must observe the following rules:

• Both types of wax are transferred to a saucepan and placed in a water bath.
• The ingredients are melted until smooth.
• After it has cooled to about 40 degrees, add glycerin and mix everything thoroughly.

The mixture can be used immediately or as needed after preheating.

If you want a pleasant aroma to accompany you during depilation, then you can add 2-3 drops of any essential oil you like to the mass - mint, rosemary, lavender.

Recipe No. 2

The recipe is based on honey and lemon; a mixture with this composition is well suited for depilation of the bikini area. The ingredients you will need are 300 grams of bee honey, half of one medium-sized lemon.

Step-by-step preparation:

• Add squeezed or lemon juice to honey.
• Add 100 ml of water, stir the mixture and place the saucepan in a water bath.
• After about 10 minutes, add another 100 ml of water.
• Boil the syrup until thick.

After cooling to 30-40 degrees, the honey-lemon mass can be used for depilation.

Recipe No. 3

Sugar wax is prepared from:

• 50 grams of paraffin.
• 500 grams of sugar.
• 2 lemons.
• 1.5 teaspoons glycerin.

The juice is squeezed out of the lemons, sugar and paraffin are poured into it. Melt the mixture until smooth in a water bath. After this, glycerin is poured in and the mixture is kept until thickened.

The saucepan is removed from the heat; after cooling to an acceptable temperature, sugar wax can be used for depilation.

Recipe No. 4

The product for home hair removal according to this recipe is prepared from 100 grams of honey, 50 grams of cosmetic paraffin, 150-200 grams of rosin.

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and place on low heat until completely dissolved. You can also dissolve them in a bowl of wax melt.

After cooling to 35-45 degrees, you can immediately use it for depilation. This mixture is optimally suited for removing coarse hairs from arms and legs.

Recipe No. 5

You will need 100 grams of beeswax, 200 grams of colophon resin, 50 grams of paraffin.

All ingredients are placed in a saucepan and heated in a water bath until smooth. You can use it for depilation after cooling to 40-45 degrees.

How to melt wax in granules

Wax in granules or otherwise polymer wax is very convenient for depilation at home. It melts at a temperature of 40-50 degrees, which eliminates skin burns.

The polymer mass does not stick to the skin, that is, it only captures hairs, so there is no irritation on the body.

The procedure takes a minimum of time, since there is no need to apply additional strips, which has a positive effect on the quality of depilation.

The only thing that can cause difficulty at first is the correct heating of the granular product. You can melt it in several ways - in a wax melter, in a microwave oven or in a water bath.

In a wax melter

The easiest way is to melt granular or lump wax in a wax melter. It is placed in the heater bowl, the temperature specified in the instructions is set, and after 20-30 minutes the mass can be used for depilation.

It is better to install the wax melter where you will carry out the procedure. After complete melting, you need to lower the temperature, but do not turn off the device, this will keep the mass warm throughout the entire time.

Important! Many people put already used wax back into the wax melting bowl. Experienced cosmetologists do not recommend doing this. Firstly, it is not hygienic, and secondly, the quality of depilation when reusing the mass will significantly deteriorate.

How to heat wax in a cartridge without a wax melter

What to do if there is no heating device at home? Without a wax melter, you can melt wax in jars, granules, cartridges or pieces in two ways - in a water bath and in a microwave oven.

When choosing a microwave oven, remove the packaging film and foil from the cartridge and jars, and place the granular or lumpy product in a heat-resistant container.

The holding time depends on the power of the microwave oven; at 850 W the wax melts in 45 seconds, and at 1000 W it takes 40 seconds.

To melt a solid mass in a water bath you need:

• Place a large saucepan on the fire and pour 1-2 cups of water into it.
• Place a mug with crushed or granulated wax on top.
• Turn on the stove, bring the water to a boil and melt the mixture, stirring continuously.

The wax is heated in a water bath for 5-10 minutes. You can use it for depilation when the temperature drops to 35-45 degrees.

Rules for choosing wax

The result of removing excess hair is largely determined by the quality of the main consumable material - wax. There are dozens of companies producing similar products, and choosing the right product the first time is not so easy.

If you prefer ready-made strips, then it is more profitable for your legs to buy sets in which these patches are wide and long enough.

Small strips are more suitable for removing hairs on the upper lip and eyebrow area.

If you choose warm or hot wax for home hair removal, then you should pay attention to the products.

ARAVIA companies. This brand’s line includes three types of film wax – Natural, Lavender, Vanilla. The composition contains a hypoallergenic polymer and anti-inflammatory components, so the brand's products can be used on the most sensitive skin. Vanilla is more suitable for depilation of the intimate area.

Veet. The brand produces ready-made strips for cold waxing and warm wax. The latter can be heated in the microwave. The kit includes strips for multiple use.

Depilflax. Hot wax is well suited for intimate depilation and copes with even the coarsest hairs. Contains coconut oil to prevent skin irritation.

Depile. Does not require the use of strips, as it forms a film on the body. Can be heated in a steam bath. It hardens on the skin instantly, so depilation occurs quickly.

Perron RigotCirepil. Film wax. Works at low temperatures, adheres well to hairs and is removed without tearing. The downside is the high price.

White Line Natura Azulene. Granular product. Suitable for depilation of arms, legs, bikini area. It is used economically and has a calming effect on the skin.

Planet nails. The granules are packaged in 500 ml jars. Melts at low temperatures and does not spread on the skin. Suitable for sensitive areas of the body.

Starpil. Product for wax depilation in a cartridge. Melts at a temperature of 50-60 degrees. Shows good results when removing coarse hair.

The wax depilation products listed above can be ordered from many online stores. But there are a huge variety of similar products, so in order not to make a mistake with your choice, it is advisable to read the reviews before ordering and first purchase products in packages with a minimum volume, this will allow you to choose the product specifically for your skin.

How to choose a wax melter for your home

Wax melter is a convenient device that greatly facilitates the procedure of waxing hair at home. It not only heats the composition to the desired, comfortable temperature of 50-60 degrees, but also maintains it in this state during the entire session.

Since the wax melter always has a thermostat, it will help avoid overheating of the wax, which often results in burns and bruises on the girl’s body.

There are three main types of wax melters:

• Canned. The device is a small deep container that connects to an outlet and allows you to immediately heat up to 800 ml of wax. Buying a canned wax melter is justified if the procedure is carried out frequently and over large areas, otherwise you will have to constantly wash the container from the remnants of the previous wax and heat too much of it;
• Cartridge. Most commonly used at home, they heat up a small amount of wax to work with. They work on wax cassettes. The device has several attachments that allow you to apply a thin layer of the composition to the skin;
• Combined. A device that can be used both for small local depilations and for large-scale procedures when you need to simultaneously heat a large amount of wax at once. It has a fairly high price, which is justified only when purchased for a salon.

When purchasing a cartridge wax melter, pay attention to brands and brands with which it does not conflict.

Devices - types and features of application

You can heat the wax, as already mentioned, in a steam bath or in the microwave. But it’s much easier, more convenient and safer to do this in a wax melter.

Depending on the design, such devices are divided into several types: cans, cassettes, combined and garland.

Canning

They differ in the volume of the bowl. Most devices have a thermostat that allows you to set the desired temperature. You can melt wax from jars or granules in a bowl.

The TNL Professional Wax 100 is a can-type wax melter. The power of this device is 100 W, the bowl volume is 400 ml, and there is a temperature regulator. The cost is about 800 rubles.

Cassette

Designed for heating wax mass sold in cartridges. They can be with or without a base (a stand into which the cassette is inserted). The second option is directly connected to the power supply using a cord. When applying the mixture, the cord must be unplugged.

Cassette wax melters are especially convenient for removing hair from legs and armpits.

Kapous Professional 617 is a cassette wax heater designed for 100 ml cartridges. Heats up in 10-15 minutes. Price from 500 rubles.

Combined

The devices have a container for heating granulated or jarred wax and a separate stand for cassettes. There is a mode that allows you to set the temperature for each block separately.

Such devices are convenient when different types of wax mixtures are used, but they are quite expensive.

For example, the combined wax heater SD-2070 has a container for heating granules and two places for cartridges. Price from 5500 rubles.

Garland

Designed for simultaneous heating of 2 or more cassettes. Allows you not to interrupt depilation to warm up the wax after it has cooled. The TNL wax melter is designed for two cassettes. Cost from 1200 rubles.

Wax warmers are sold separately and are often included in hair removal kits.

How to replace ready-made strips

Using regular (non-film) hot or warm wax involves using strips of paper or fabric. Very often they are not enough and then the question naturally arises - what can replace them.

The following have similar properties:

• Tracing paper.
• Parchment paper for baking.
• Natural fabrics - cotton or linen.

It is important that the material does not stretch and adheres tightly to the wax. The selected analogue is cut into strips of appropriate length and width and used as finished products.

How to wash away wax remaining on the skin

After completing epilation, you can see wax particles on the skin. There are ready-made lotions and creams to remove them.

If they are not available, you can soak the tampon in vegetable or olive oil. Also, a thick cream is often used to remove remaining wax.

The most difficult part to remove remaining wax is soap and water, as it requires high temperatures to melt the wax. If you wash the epilated area with too hot water, there is a high risk of irritation and dry skin.

The difference between waxing and sugaring

Waxing is somewhat similar to sugaring or otherwise hair removal using sugar paste.

But there are also differences between these procedures.

Many people consider sugaring a less painful procedure. But as practice shows, in the first sessions there is pain with any of these methods. The pain decreases as the skin gets used to the effects.

Both sugaring and waxing lead to thinning hair over time, which reduces the amount of hair on the body. Both of these methods are quite suitable for home use, and the use of polymer wax is considered more convenient.

Therefore, the choice between sugaring and waxing should be made depending on contraindications and your own preferences.