At Home Wax Hair Removal For DIYers

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At home hair removal using wax is becoming more and more popular as the years go on.  There are many ways to remove hair, but waxing can sometimes be the most efficient and effective.  Home waxing can save you money by cutting your cost of hair removal products and professional salon waxing.  It can also be much more convenient over the salons.

There are precautions that need to be taking while doing at home waxing whether it be your first time or you’re experienced.  These precautions will help to avoid ingrown hairs, burns, and potential bruising.  So before you jump into waxing, check out the list of do’s and don’ts.

Do’s of Waxing

Prevent Ingrown Hairs

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Before you begin to wax, exfoliate the skin gently with a body scrub, washcloth, or bath pouf.  Exfoliate the skin again after waxing also.

Baby Powder

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Apply baby powder to the skin after exfoliating the skin and before waxing.  The baby powder can absorb excess moisture on the skin and allow the wax and wash cloth to stick better.  It can also reduce pain because the wax sticks more to the hair than the skin.

Test the Temperature

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To ensure the wax is a comfortable temperature and won’t burn you apply a small amount of the wax to either your fingers or wrist.  If you cannot hold the wax for more than a few seconds the wax is too hot.  If the wax is too cold the wax will not spread correctly, but too warm it will burn you.

Apply Wax in a Certain Direction

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When you are about to apply the wax, don’t just smear it on the hair any direction.  Always apply the wax in the direction of hair growth.  The wax will adhere correctly to the hair and same goes for the cloth strip.  So when placing the strip on the wax apply pressure in the direction of hair growth.  When it is time to remove the strip pull it in the opposite direction of the hair growth parallel to the skin.  Do not pull it straight up into the air.

Use Tweezers

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Waxing in the same place more than twice can cause damage to the skin.  If there are stray hairs that the wax missed then use tweezers to get rid of them.

Moisturize After Waxing

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Apply something to the skin that will hydrate the skin.  Such as baby oil, lotion, or moisturizer.  It is best to apply it after you finish waxing and exfoliate your skin for the second time.  It can also help to clean up any leftover wax on the skin.

Try a Hair Growth Inhibitor

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Waxing may be efficient, but it can also hurt the skin.  So to minimize the strain on your skin  try using a hair growth inhibitor.  It’s hard to determine the results of long term use, but it can help to make coarse hair softer.  The softer means that the next time you wax easier and less painful.

Don’ts of Waxing

Cut Hair Too Short or Leave It Too Long

The ideal length for hair before waxing is somewhere between 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch long.  If the hair is too short it can prevent the wax from sticking to the hair well.  If the hair is too long though trim it down a little.  It can help to make waxing less painful and ensure better results.

Pick at Ingrown Hairs

If you have ingrown hairs, leave them be.  Picking and opening the ingrown hair can cause infection.

If you need to get rid of the ingrown hairs here is how.  Soak the area where the ingrown hairs are in warm water so the skin softens.  Gently exfoliate the area of the ingrown hair and around it.  If you need a bit more help with exfoliating the skin then apply some salicylic acid treatment.

If this method doesn’t work then you may need to remove the ingrown hairs yourself.  Get a pair of tweezers and sterilized them to remove the ingrown hair.  Only do this to hairs that are right at the surface of the skin.  Ingrown hairs any deeper seek a professional to help remove them.

At Home Brazilian Wax

Brazilian waxes can be painful and lengthy if you’re trying to do it yourself.  It can also be difficult because of the hard to reach places.  The skin in this area is more sensitive so it increases your chance of hurting yourself by either burning yourself, waxing off skin, or bruising.  So this form of waxing is best left to professionals.

Wax Sensitive Skin

Strong acne medications, sunburn, circulation issues, and immune system issues can make waxing much more painful and dangerous.  Under any of these conditions waxing should be avoided.  If you choose to wax your bikini area don’t do it before your period.  Waxing soon before your period the skin is more sensitive and can make waxing more painful.

Waxing Removal Kits

Below are a list of at home kits for waxing that are complete and allow the best results and easy use.

BodyHonee Extra Strength Hair Removal Waxing Kit for Men and Women, $18.99

Includes

• 10 ounces of Extra Strength Spa Wax
• 8 Non-woven BodyHonee Strips
• 2 Wooden Spatulas
• Finishing Oil

Bliss Poetic, $36.00

Includes

• 5.3 ounce Wax Filled Cup
• Cleanser Oil
• Pre and Post Wax Oil
• 3 Large Spatulas
• 3 Small Spatulas
• Ingrown Eliminating Pad

Gigi Student Starter Kit, $49.99

Includes

• 14 ounce Wax Warmer with Cover
• 14 ounces of Gigi All-purpose Honee Wax
• Pre-epilation powder
• Wax-off
• Slow Grow
• 10 Petite Applicators
• 10 Small Accu Edge Applicators
• 20 Small Natural Muslin Strips
• 20 Large Natural Muslin Strips

Other Waxing Products

Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Roll-On

Veet Ready-to-Use Wax Strip Kit

Parissa Wax Strips, 3 Assorted Sizes

Parissa Wax Strips, Mini Eyebrow Design

Homemade Wax for Hair Removal

Sugar and Lemon Juice Wax

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Ingredients

• A cup of sugar
• Four tablespoons of lemon juice
• Four tablespoons of water
• Medium-to-big sized pot

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients together into a separate bowl.
2. Pour the mixture into the pot.
3. Place the pot on the stove on medium to high heat.  When the mixture begins to bubble or froth begin mixing with a wooden or metal spoon.  If you use a plastic spoon it may melt.
4. Keep mixing the mixture occasionally for 5-8 minutes then take the pot off of the stove.  Wait for the bubbles to disappear.  The color and consistency should be sappy or syrupy in consistency and dark auburn or dark brownish in color.  If it is not then put the pot back on the stove and cook some more.
5. Pour the wax directly into a jar.  This ensures you will not damage your pot and avoid a major cleanup later.
6. Let the wax cool for five to twenty minutes.  At that point the wax will be nearly solid, but still malleable.  Liquid wax can burn you so check the temperature on your fingers.  If you can’t hold it for more than a few seconds then allow it to cool more.
7. Apply wax with a popsicle stick and use your fingers to spread the wax.
8. If you want get paper sheets and place them on top of the wax and smooth it out.
9. Pull the strips off.
10. Repeat waxing process as needed and if needed make more wax.

Sugar and Honey Wax

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar / regular white sugar
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon water
• Microwave safe bowl
• Spatula
• Thin cloth strips

Instructions

1. Pour and mix all ingredients into the microwave safe bowl.
2. Cook the mixture in the microwave at 30-35 second intervals until it starts to bubble and turn brown in color.
3. Remove the bowl from heat and let it cool.  Be sure to test the temperature before applying it to your skin.
4. Scoop some of the homemade wax up with the spatula and apply it to the hair.
5. Take a cloth strip and apply it over the wax.
6. Pull the strip off in one quick, sharp motion.
7. Repeat applying the wax and cloth strip until all hair is gone.  Make more wax as needed.