Getting waxed at the beauty salon costs a fortune! But with the right products, and a bit of practice, you can do it yourself at home for a fraction of the cost!

First of all, buy some ‘Hard Wax’, it is the easiest to use by far for eyebrows, chin and bikini line. You can pick up Hard Wax from most chemists or on-line. The advantage of this wax is that you don’t need ‘strips’, you just apply, wait a few seconds for it to dry, then rip it off (carefully!!!!). An average tub will cost about $10 – $15 but it will last you for months and that equals BIG savings.

Waxing big areas like your legs will require strips and ‘standard’ wax.

Basic Tips

Remember wax gets very hot if you heat it in the microwave so please be careful, protect your clothes and surfaces from the heat.
Follow the directions on the pack carefully for heating the wax in the microwave. Make sure you blow on it to cool it down before applying!
Ensure your skin is completely dry and clean. Perspiration or oiliness can prevent the wax from gripping the hair properly. Keep the area to be waxed oil free by not using creams or moisturisers for at least 1 day prior to hair removal.
Do not use liquid wax immediately after a bath and do not use a deodorant for 24 hours after underarm hair removal.
Never reapply wax on the same area within a 24 hour period.

Some areas of the body may collect moisture more readily than others, in these areas a light dusting of talcum powder to absorb the excess moisture is recommended. We recommend that you apply talcum powder to all areas being treated before using strip wax.

It is a good idea to practice waxing on your legs first so that you perfect the technique. You don’t want to wax your eyebrows off, so be careful!

Removal:

To achieve the best results, once the wax strip has been applied in the direction of hair growth, you must:

Hold skin taut
Immediately grip the strip and briskly pull it back against the direction of hair growth
Remove the strip close to the skin rather than upwards so that the skin is not being ‘lifted up’

After Wax Care:

It is normal to experience a slight redness of the skin and a tingling sensation. To reduce the tingling or stinging you may either apply pressure to the skin or an icepack or ice cube wrapped in a handkerchief which will reduce the temporary redness. To keep skin smooth and to prevent ingrown hairs, use an exfoliant in the shower regularly. This helps to remove dead skin cells which can build up and prevent the hairs from breaking through.

Do you do your own waxing or get a professional to do it?