Waxing at home: legs, deep bikini, underarms, face

Epilation is a procedure for removing unwanted hair, with the help of which the skin can be made smooth and beautiful. You can get rid of excess vegetation with wax and at home, saving on trips to the beauty salon. The main thing is to know how to do it right.

What is wax depilation

Waxing (waxing) - hair removal for cosmetic purposes on any part of the body. The procedure is performed using various types of wax. A heated wax mass is applied to the skin, which, after it hardens, is removed along with the hairs adhering to it. The effect of the procedure is temporary.

New hairs appear instead of the removed ones usually within 6 weeks, sometimes their growth can be noticed within a week. Waxing at home will not permanently remove excess hair, but regular treatment will make your hair softer, thinner, and less noticeable.

Over time, the hair follicle weakens, which can even cause new hairs to stop growing. The effectiveness of waxing can be increased by using hair growth inhibitors - agents that slow down the division and maturation of hair follicle cells.

Usually they come in the form of creams or lotions, which contain plant extracts that have the desired effect. Applying such a product after epilation will significantly increase the break between treatments.

The advantage of home waxing is its affordability and convenience: wax depilatory products are often sold in sets with all the necessary accessories and are relatively inexpensive.

A large area of ​​the body can be treated in one session. However, there is a significant drawback: the method is rather painful. In addition, in some areas of the body it is difficult to independently carry out the procedure.

Types of wax, their pros and cons

The wax is available in jars, granules, cartridges, strips. The choice of form depends on personal preference and on the area of ​​the intended impact. Depilating your legs requires a lot of material, so you will need to print out a jar of wax. But to remove the "antennae" above the upper lip, a few wax granules are enough.

The composition of the wax mass usually includes natural wood resins, beeswax, vitamin and caring additives. There are waxes on the market that are designed for different skin types: normal, dry or sensitive. The components included in their composition during the procedure improve the condition of the skin, nourishing it, moisturizing and softening it.

Depending on the temperature of use, waxes are:

• hot,
• warm
• cold.

Each type of wax has its pros and cons; each is appropriate in a given situation. Hot wax is the most versatile. It makes it easy to remove coarse thick hair. Before applying to the body surface, the composition is heated to the temperature specified by the manufacturer (47-55 ° C).The wax mass steams the skin, thereby preparing it for hair removal.

Liquid wax, falling into each hair follicle, provides an easier hair removal. The procedure becomes less painful and traumatic, so hot waxing is applied to sensitive areas in the bikini and underarms. Hot wax is available in cans, granules, wafers and briquettes.

The procedure has a significant drawback: too much heated wax causes tissue burns. Warm wax has an average melting point of 35-40 ° C. It is used to remove vegetation on the abdomen, arms and legs. Most often they are produced in cartridges (cassettes) with a replaceable roller nozzle, sometimes in cans. The wax is heated in a container with hot water or in a wax heater.

The wax is plastic and usually contains vinyl and rubber. It cools down more slowly than hot wax, so the skin takes longer to steam. Removable with special strips. There are waxes that, when solidified on the skin, form a film. After the mass has cooled, it can be easily removed simply by hand, without using strips or other devices.

Such wax is often called film wax. Warm wax is often chosen for home depilation. It is safe: the working temperature is only 1-2 degrees higher than the body temperature, which is unlikely to cause a burn. In this case, the wax is quite effective. The roller applicator makes handling more comfortable.

In addition, warm formulations are more economical: due to the slow curing and plasticity, the solution can be applied in a thinner layer. Cold wax is suitable for areas with fine and sparse hairs, such as vellus hair on the face, fingers and toes. Produced in special waxed strips.

The wax does not require special heating devices: it can be heated by hand.

Wax strips are indispensable when it is not possible to carry out full hair removal. The finished strips come in different sizes for different areas of the body. However, this method is not suitable for sensitive skin areas, since without preliminary steaming of the skin, the trauma of the procedure increases.

By the method of removing the composition from the skin, two types of wax are distinguished:

• striped,
• stripless.

In the first case, wax is applied in a thin layer to the body; put a strip of fabric or paper on top, smoothing it with pressure for better adhesion of paper to wax, and wax to skin. Then, with a sharp movement, the strip is torn off in the direction opposite to hair growth. In order not to injure the skin, try to do it parallel to the skin surface.

In the second case, a highly heated wax mass is applied to the skin in liquid form. When the wax cools, it hardens. Strip-free wax along with encapsulated hairs is easy to remove simply by hand. This method is less painful and is suitable for people with sensitive skin.

How to choose wax and prepare it for the procedure

In order for the skin to look smooth and healthy as a result of the hair removal procedure, it is important to choose and prepare the wax correctly. Different types of wax are chosen for different parts of the body. So, for the sensitive skin of the bikini area with hard and thick hair, only hot wax is suitable.

Other types of wax will not cope with the task, and the procedure will be too painful. For eyebrows or vellus hair on the face, it is better to choose a warm cartridge wax with a narrow roller or wax in granules.

To remove the tendrils above the upper lip, cold wax strips are great.

Warm film wax, produced in granules, is convenient for depilation of uneven surfaces such as armpits.

It is flexible and easily takes the shape of the area to be treated.

Waxing your hands, feet or back with wax at home will be more comfortable if you use warm strip wax, which is usually available in cartridges.

So, the heating temperature is determined by which part of the body will be treated with it.

Hot and warm wax

Hot wax is a solid mass that needs to be melted before being applied to the skin. Typically, can wax becomes elastic at about 47 ° C. The wax in briquettes has a higher melting point.

The wax warmed up to the desired state is applied with a spatula to the skin, a bandage strip is applied on top, the material is waiting for solidification and is abruptly torn off. Specific figures: the temperature to which the mass must be brought and the solidification time are indicated by the manufacturer. Warm wax is heated to body temperature.

For example, wax in cartridges is applied to the skin after it reaches a temperature of 36–39 ° C. The granules are ready to use when heated to 38 ° C. A paper strip is applied to the wax, which is then torn off along with the hairs adhering to the composition. Film wax does not require applying stripes; it is removed with the hands.

A professional wax heater is used to heat up hot or warm wax. If not, the composition is heated in a water bath. It is enough to place the cartridge wax in a container with warm water. A thermometer is needed to control the temperature of the compound being heated.

Voskoplavs have a temperature sensor. Wax heated to a temperature lower than the recommended one has poor adhesive properties (does not adhere well to the skin) and is difficult to apply. Overheated wax will cause burns.

Cold wax

Epilation with wax is also done with the help of strips, on which the wax composition has already been applied in advance. This method is suitable for "field" conditions and does not require special preparations: the composition does not need to be heated. Ready-made strips are sold in the store. Before using them, you just need to rub them a little in your hands, then stick them on the right place and tear them off along with the hairs.

Cold wax is only suitable for gentle fluff on the face and areas of skin with sparse hair; he will not cope with denser vegetation. At home, when there is an opportunity and enough time, it is better to use warm wax for high-quality hair removal.

The advantage of waxed strips is that they cannot cause burns. However, as a rule, the strip has to be glued to the same place more than once, since all the hairs are not removed the first time. This causes skin irritation.

Contraindications to the procedure

Home waxing can lead to undesirable results if you do not take into account the existing contraindications. During waxing, the skin is exposed to temperature effects, its upper layer is cut off - in a number of diseases, these factors can provoke complications.

For example, with varicose veins and vascular networks on the face, heating of the skin tissues is prohibited, and with diabetes mellitus, poor healing can lead to septic lesions. The composition of the wax mass may contain substances that cause allergies in some people.

Reasons why the procedure should not be carried out:

• taking certain medications: anticoagulants, prednisolone and other steroid drugs;
• chronic skin diseases: psoriasis, eczema;
• oncological diseases;
• severe form of diabetes mellitus;
• phlebeurysm;
• rosacea (rosacea on the face) and rosacea (persistent vasodilation on the skin of the face, vascular network);
• moles and warts and on the treated areas of the skin;
• acne and other inflammatory skin diseases;
• increased skin sensitivity;
• a history of blisters that appear on the skin with an increase in body temperature (waxing can provoke a new outbreak);

• recent cosmetic or reconstructive surgery;
• a recent laser skin treatment or chemical peeling procedure.

Pregnancy is not a strict contraindication for the procedure, but the hormonal changes occurring in the woman's body and a possible decrease in the pain threshold should be taken into account.

What areas of the body can be waxed on?

With the help of wax, you can get rid of vegetation both on large and relatively flat surfaces: legs, arms, back and abdomen, as well as on such difficult areas as the perineum and armpits. Waxing is also appropriate when you need to correct the eyebrows, remove the dark fluff above the upper lip and even tidy the nostrils.

Waxed strips are easy to handle on fingers and toes. Hair removal at home is not convenient in all cases. When removing hair from the armpits and bikini area, it is very difficult to apply wax correctly, in one direction, and remove it in one stroke. It is better to entrust this event to an experienced master in the salon.

How to prepare for hair removal

The optimal length of the hairs at which the wax can firmly capture 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 trimmed first. Before the procedure, you must not sunbathe or visit the bathhouse. There are different opinions about the use of a scrub before waxing.

On the one hand, scrubbing causes minor damage to the skin, which is bad for 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 can 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 pill of any analgesic (Nurofen, Sedalgin, Ibuprofen) inside. For local anesthesia, anesthetic creams are used. Typically, the active ingredient in these creams is lidocaine and prilocaine: they provide surface 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 is used for the first time, it is necessary to test it in advance for allergies.

Home waxing techniques, step by step instructions

The general rules are as follows:

• Since the wax hardens quickly, it should be applied to small areas.
• Try to make the layer as thin as possible. Thick layers are difficult to remove.
• The wax is applied in the direction of hair growth (except for film wax).
• They are removed in the direction opposite to hair growth.
• When tearing off the wax, you need to pull it at an acute angle, almost parallel to the skin surface. This should be done quickly, but smoothly.

Remember: skill comes with practice.

Before the procedure itself, the skin must be treated with an antiseptic. To do this, it is enough to wipe it with an alcohol solution or cologne. This will avoid complications and improve the adhesion of the wax to the skin, as some of the sebum will be removed.

Cosmetologists recommend using special pre-depilatory gels Aravia or Depiflax - they degrease and disinfect the skin, which makes the depilation process easier. Further, the depilated area must be treated with powder or baby powder. As a result, the wax will stick to the hairs and not to the skin.

Depilation with canned wax

You will need a spatula to apply the wax. To remove it - cloth or paper strips. It is better to purchase special depilatory strips: they are made of materials that do not tear or stretch.

Actions are as follows:

1. Heat the wax to the melting point.
2. Having determined in which direction the hair grows on the depilated area, apply the composition with a spatula in this direction. To distribute the wax evenly, it should be carried out with a spatula several times.
3. Apply a strip. Press it firmly against the surface. For better adhesion, smooth with movements as the hair grows.
4. Tear off the strip by pulling it against the hair growth. To make the procedure less painful, the skin is kept below the depilation zone.
5. Remove the rest of the mass with a cloth soaked in oil.

Cartridge procedure

The wax is applied using a roll-on applicator. Removable in strips.

Further:

1. Place the cartridge in a wax melter and heat to the melting point. This usually takes up to half an hour.
2. Distribute the composition with a roller, adhering to the course of hair growth. The area to be treated should not be made too long. On the lower leg it is 10-12 cm, on an uneven surface, such as the knee - 2-3 cm.
3. Apply paper. The edges of the strip must not protrude beyond the applied wax.
4. Remove the wax with a sharp motion, holding the skin behind the strip with the fingers of your free hand.
5. Repeat the steps for the remaining sections.
6. Remove residual wax with a cloth soaked in oil.

When processing the legs, it is better to start from the lower leg area, then go higher. Depilation of hands begins from the area below the elbow. The principle is as follows: you need to start the treatment from areas with thicker and thicker hair. One cartridge is usually sufficient for several procedures to remove hair from hands and feet.

Film wax technique

The wax is removed by hand, without the help of strips. A spatula is required for application.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Melt the wax in a wax melter or in a water bath. Check the temperature of the finished mass with your hand to avoid scalding.
2. Apply the mass to the desired area. In this case, hair growth is not taken into account, but the composition is applied towards you. To increase adhesion, press with a spatula on the skin intensively. When distributing the wax mass, you need to form a small protrusion so that the film on it lags slightly behind the skin surface. Material is pulled over it to remove it.
3. Wait for the mass to harden (usually 5-12 seconds). Wax is like dough: when the wax is "ready" it does not stick to your fingers.
4. Grabbing the film with your hand, remove the mass with a sharp movement away from you. At the same time, pull the skin towards you.
5. Repeat the procedure in another area.

Armpit hair is removed with one application.

Depilation with cold wax

The procedure is as follows:

1. Rinse the site of the proposed depilation with cool water, dry it with a towel.
2. Place a wax strip between your palms and knead it slightly. This will make the wax layer elastic.
3. Divide the strip into two halves. Each of them has its own sticky layer.
4. Apply a strip of sticky surface to the skin, smooth in the direction of hair growth.
5. After a few seconds, tear off the strip while holding the skin at the point of removal.

Very often, after treatment with cold wax, hairs remain on the skin. In such cases, you have to repeat the procedure.

Skin care after waxing

After depilation, the skin needs treatment with a product that removes wax residues, disinfects, moisturizes and soothes 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 an abrasive or exfoliating product for dead skin.

It will be difficult for new hairs to break through unrefined skin to the surface.

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

Don't miss the most popular column article: Plasmolifting of the face - what it is, how it is performed, results, photos before and after the procedure.

Review of the best products for waxing, prices

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

There you can also read the detailed characteristics of the product and recommendations for the use of a particular composition. Depiflax, Italwax and Depileve have remained some of the most popular brands for several years. The table provides an opportunity to compare the characteristics and prices of some of the most popular waxes.

A newcomer to hair removal can purchase a kit that includes everything you need. For example, a cartridge set for wax depilation from the Italwax brand includes two types of wax: Azulene and White Chocolate, wax melt and strips for removing formulations. 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 difficult at all to master the necessary skills to cope with this procedure on your own and do it at home, forgetting about going to expensive beauty salons.

Article design: Anna Vinnitskaya

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