Having smooth, hairless underarms is nothing short of a dream come true. Imagine getting to wear your cute sleeveless tops and dresses without fretting about hairy underarms.
Well, unless you get laser hair removal, getting rid of underarm hair is not that easy. While laser therapy is extremely expensive, there is another alternative way to slow underarm hair growth. If you haven’t already guessed it, we are talking about waxing, of course!
Waxing is the age-old proven method of removing unwanted hair from any part of your body, including sensitive areas like your underarms.
While many people prefer shaving over waxing to avoid the pain, waxing offers far better results in the longer run.
Why Choose Wax Strips?
When it comes to removing underarm hair, there are multiple options available. However, using wax strips is probably one of the best options when it comes to underarms.
Using wax strips for underarm hair removal brings in a lot of benefits. Let’s take a look at what they are:
Number 1 – Wax Strips Are Easy to Use
If you do a head-to-head comparison between using wax strips and a conventional hot wax method, using wax strips is more convenient.
You do not need to heat up the wax in a wax machine and cut strips separately. This is already done for you, saving you a lot of time, hassle, and energy.
Number 2 – Wax Strips Are Gentle on Your Skin
Wax strips contain light and even layers of wax on them. Unlike regular wax, you do not need to apply melted wax directly on your skin if you’re using pre-made wax strips.
With wax strips, you can avoid getting any waxing burns and enjoy a less painful waxing experience.
Number 3 – Wax Strips Are Easy on the Pocket
The cost of going to a salon for an underarm wax is much higher than doing it at home with wax strips.
You can save hundreds of dollars in the bank by just buying a box of wax strips that will last you for at least 4 to 5 months.
Number 4 – Wax Strips Are Mess-Free
Waxing your underarms can become a sticky affair quite quickly. You have to clean the spatula, get rid of the cloth strips, clean your hands, clean your underarms, and so on.
Using wax strips instead is so much cleaner. You only need to peel off the strip, wax your underarms and discard it right away—no more stressing about wax getting on your hands or hair.
Cleaning the underarms afterward is also a breeze as you just need some oil and cotton pads for it.
How to Wax Underarms with Wax Strips – A Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1 – Start with Pre-Wax Prep
Before you begin your underarm waxing, you need to take care of a few things. First of all, start by deep cleaning your underarms.
Your skin needs to be completely clean and smooth for effective waxing. So, make sure you wash your armpits to remove sweat, bacteria, and deodorant residue to prep your skin for waxing.
Make sure that you use lukewarm water to wash your underarms and a gentle exfoliator. This will leave your underarm hair soft, making it easier to wax them.
Use a microfiber cloth to dry your skin. Experts recommend not using a harsh or rough fabric on a sensitive area like this.
Make sure you wear a comfortable and loose tank top for waxing. You can also go rogue and wrap an old towel around yourself. Underarm waxing is bound to get messy, so make sure that you dress accordingly.
Step 2 – Warm Up the Wax Strips
Once you have prepped your skin and are all set to wax your underarms, the next step is to prepare your wax strips.
Don’t worry; you do not have to deal with the mess and hassle of warming up wax separately. Wax strips are far more convenient and less messy in this regard.
There are two ways you can warm up your wax strips.
One is unbelievably easy and can get the job done, especially in the summer season. You have to take a wax strip and place it between your palms.
Now, rub your palms against each other to warm up the wax. This helps melt the wax inside the strips and makes it easier to use them.
The second method is using the good ol’ iron. Just make sure you place another layer of clothing on top of your wax strips.
Since they are made of plastic, direct contact with an iron will melt the whole strip away. And it will also ruin your iron.
Place a thick cotton shirt on top of your wax strip, use the iron on a medium setting and press it right on top of the strips. You can also flip the sides of the wax strip to make sure that the wax is evenly warm.
Using an iron to warm up the wax strip is a fool-proof method that works like a charm every time. Some people tend to skip out this step and still manage to get their underarms waxed.
But this method adds a layer of finesse to the process and gets you smoother and cleaner waxing results.
Step 3 – It’s Time to Wax!
Pat dry your underarms and sprinkle some baby powder on it before you get down to business.
The powder helps absorb all unwanted moisture and creates a smoother waxing surface.
Now peel the warmed-up wax strips and use one at a time. Apply the wax strip in the direction your hair grows and press it tightly using your hands. Make sure that the strip is sticking properly and covering all of the underarm areas.
Now hold the wax strip from the lower end and wipe it off in the opposite direction.
Keep repeating this until you get smooth and hair-free underarms.
Some people have hair growing in different directions, so wax your underarms in sections if that’s the case with you.
If you see tiny hair propping out from a few places, you can use a tweezer to pull them out.
Step 4 – Clean It Up
A typical wax strip kit always comes with an oil sachet or wet wipe. Use this oil or wipe to remove the remnants of wax from your skin.
The oil helps dissolve the wax and makes it come off easily.
Do NOT try to wipe off the wax using water or soap. The wax will get stickier, making it more painful and difficult to clean it off.
Using oil or wax removing lotion is the best way to wipe off the wax from your underarms afterward.
It is normal to feel slight soreness and itchiness after your wax. Apply a cooling agent like aloe vera or cucumber gel to help relieve the pain and redness.
Voila! You can now enjoy the feeling of having smooth and clean underarms.
Also don’t forget to checkout how to remove wax after waxing?
Tips for Effectively Waxing Your Underarms
Tip 1 – Exfoliate Regularly
Some hair roots are a tough cookie to crack – you can’t pull them out even with something as strong as waxing. As a result, you get tiny bumps and ingrown hair, which could be really painful to wax.
Exfoliating prior to your waxing session will help get rid of ingrowns and the dead skin on your underarms. Regular exfoliation helps get rid of ingrown hair and gives you smooth waxing results.
Exfoliation also helps clean off dirt and oil that piles up in your armpits because of excessive sweating.
There are numerous over-the-counter scrubs available that you can use before waxing. Just make sure you use a scrub that’s mild on your skin as the underarm area is highly sensitive. You can also make an easy DIY scrub at home by mixing two parts sugar in one part oil.
Tip 2 – Aloe Vera Gel to The Rescue
When it comes to keeping your skin healthy, hydration is of utmost importance. Aloe Vera is one magic ingredient that helps lock moisture on your skin and keeps it nourished and protected.
That’s why Aloe Vera gel is often used as a post-waxing skincare regime that soothes rashes and soreness caused by waxing.
Tip 3 – Keep Away from Deodorants
Waxing can cause skin sensitivity, especially in the underarm area. It is strongly recommended to avoid using talcum powder, deodorants, or any form of perfume spray post waxing.
The chemical reaction from such products may cause a burning sensation or rashes in the freshly waxed area. Instead, try using talcum powder before waxing, as it helps prep the skin better.
Tip 4 – Keep it Loose
Clothes that cling to the skin can irritate, especially when it comes to freshly waxed underarms.
It is highly recommended to wear cotton clothing that hangs loosely on the body and would allow your underarms to breathe.
Tip 5 – Enjoy the Ice Effect
Waxing takes a toll on your skin, especially when it comes to a sensitive area like your underarms.
It is common to feel a burning sensation, soreness, or redness around your armpits, right after waxing.
Using a block of ice cubes immediately after waxing will help relieve the pain and allow your skin to cool down. Make sure you use it immediately after waxing to maximize the impact.
Tip 6 – Double Waxing No More
The skin around our underarms is more sensitive than the skin around our arms. Applying a double layer of wax may damage the skin and make it rough.
If you feel that your underarm waving was not up to the mark, wait for all the hair follicles to grow back before going for a second waxing round.
Tip 7 – Hair Length Matters
How often or how painful your underarm waxing is going to rely heavily on the length of your hair.
For a painless waxing experience, ensure your underarm hair is no longer than a quarter of an inch (or 0.6 cm).
If you skip a session in between, use a trimmer or small scissors to clip the hair and maintain the optimum hair length required for waxing to perfection.
Tip 8 – Try to Relieve the Pain
Waxing is one of the hair removal methods that can be painful.
Pop a painkiller tablet but an hour or so before your waxing appointment. Be mindful of staying away from alcohol or caffeine as they can make the skin extra sensitive.
Tip 9 – Powder is Power
Sweat may build up on your underarms, making the skin oilier and the waxing unnecessarily harder.
Applying a layer of talcum powder or corn starch can help absorb these oils from your armpits. This will result in your skin feeling dry and smooth and prepped to be plucked on pain-free!
Tip 10 – Cleanliness is Key
As mentioned earlier, dirt, sweat, deodorant, and natural bodily oils form a layer on the skin that may make waxing tougher. They reduce the elasticity of the wax, making it difficult to work effectively on your skin.
This is why before you start waxing your underarms, you need to wash the area with soap and water properly. This is an essential step that helps get rid of the extra layer that acts as a barrier in between.
For best results, try washing with hot water because the heat allows the hair to soften and loosen the grip.
When Should You Avoid Waxing Your Underarms?
- You should avoid waxing your underarms during pregnancy or while menstruating. The hormones make the skin extra sensitive, which may lead to a painful waxing experience.
- You should avoid waxing your underarms if you have too many ingrown hairs or cuts on the skin. Waxing, in this case, can severely damage the sensitive area or cause an infection.
- You should avoid waxing your underarms if you are on medication. This includes birth control pills, antibiotics, or topical retinoids. Consult with your doctor to avoid any side effects.
Wrapping Up
After reading this guide on ‘how to wax your underarms using wax strips,’ we hope that you will now be adamant about choosing wax strips as your go-to hair removal option.
The best part about using wax strips for underarm hair removal is that anyone can do it. If you’re still sweating over the idea of using wax strips at home, simply follow our tips shared earlier, and you will be good to go.
Keep watching this space for more waxing and skincare guides.
Happy waxing to you!