‘Tis the season to get your summer jam on.
Are you ready to pack your fuzzy sweaters and step right into your summer dresses to flaunt that perfectly tanned skin?
Take your summer fashion game up a notch this season, and hey, don’t worry about body hair getting in the way.
This is where body waxing comes to the rescue. Yes, you heard it right. It’s high time to ditch the shaving life and switch to body waxing right away.
Don’t scratch your head wondering, ‘What is body waxing?’ Today, we will answer your queries and concerns regarding body waxing and why you should make it a part of your lifestyle. Let’s get started.
What Is Body Waxing?
Body waxing is the method of removing unwanted hair from different parts of your body. This includes your full arms, full legs, underarms, bikini line, face, stomach, back, chest, etc.
Even though there are other methods of removing hair from your body, such as shaving, hair removing creams, epilators, etc., body waxing is still considered one of the best. Waxing gives you the silky smooth skin you need to flaunt your summer tan.
When Is The Right Time For Body Waxing?
The right time to get your body waxing done is every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on your hair length. Your hair length needs to be a specific size, at least a quarter to half an inch.
If your hair growth is slow, you can wait up to a month to get your body waxing done. If your hair overgrows or if you have dark or coarse hair, you should get body waxing done every 2 to 3 weeks.
The key is to get your body waxing done on the regular and not skipping any sessions in between to make your hair growth slow down over time.
Waxing regularly also changes your hair texture, making it lighter and softer, and making it easier for you to achieve a smooth and flawless look.
Body Waxing Options – How to Get Body Waxing Done?
Waxing options are primarily divided into three broad categories, including soft, hard, and sugar waxing.
Soft Waxing
This is the most common waxing method, where you use a strip to remove wax from the skin. You can make soft wax at home, or you can buy a commercial one, readily available everywhere.
In the soft waxing method, you warm up the wax and apply a thin and even layer on your skin.
Make sure you apply the wax in the same direction as your hair growth. Next, you have to place a cotton strip, muslin of brown paper on the required areas. Pull the strip in the opposite direction for a smooth finish.
Soft wax also comes in pre-prepared strips form that is super convenient to use. These strips already have wax on them, and you can use them as if without going through the hassle of warming wax separately. Soft waxing is ideal for large surface areas, including your legs, arms, back, etc.
Hard Waxing
Hard wax is more on the pricier side and is not as readily available as soft wax, but it offers excellent results.
Hard wax comes in solid form as beans or blocks you need to melt down to use. Hard wax is mild on your skin and ideal for sensitive areas like your chin, cheeks, bikini line, etc.
Hard wax works differently as compared to soft wax. You do not need paper or cloth strips to remove the wax layer.
The wax can come off on its own quite easily. Hence, hard wax is considered a lesser painful and more convenient waxing option by many.
Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing, also known as sugaring, is an ancient technique that Egyptians used to remove body hair.
This method uses an all-natural sugar concoction used similarly to hard. Sugar wax is typically made of sugar, water, and lemon, which you can easily make at home.
To remove hair using sugaring, you apply a thick and even layer of sugar wax on your body area and wait for it to harden and dry out.
Then you peel it off in the opposite direction of your hair growth to get that soft and smooth skin. The wax is made with natural ingredients only; hence it is gentle to your skin.
You can also use strips to remove sugar wax from the body for a better and smoother finish. This method is ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Ideal Waxing Method For Different Parts Of The Body
Soft Waxing for Hair Removal
This method is ideal for removing body hair from larger parts of your body with thick and coarse hair.
Your hair length needs to be at least a quarter of an inch to get a perfectly even and smooth wax.
Preferred areas where you should use soft wax include:
- Legs
- Arms
- Back
- Hands
- Feet
Hard Waxing for Hair Removal
Using hard waxing for removing body hair is most suitable for the sensitive areas of your body where your skin is soft and more prone to get allergies or undergrowth.
Hard wax is milder than soft wax, reducing the chances of skin damage or any allergic reactions.
Hard waxing is ideal for the following body parts:
- Face
- Stomach
- Underarms
- Bikini Line
Sugar Waxing for Hair Removal
Just like hard wax, sugaring works perfectly on delicate skin and sensitive areas. You can also use it for larger body parts to avoid ingrown or red bumps.
Sugar waxing is ideal for the following body parts:
- Underarms
- Bikini Line
- Legs
- Arms
- Stomach
Also don’t forget to checkout pros and cons of waxing at home vs salon.
Body Waxing – Prep, Tips, and Aftercare
While waxing is an excellent method of hair removal, it comes with its own set of drawbacks.
Waxing is a process that can be excruciating on your body and has specific adverse effects. It is pretty common to experience redness and soreness on your skin after waxing.
Some people also get ingrown hair if they have dry or sensitive skin. If you take a few precautions and prep your skin correctly before your body wax, you can avoid getting ingrown and other allergic reactions.
Cleanse and Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is necessary to prep your skin pre-waxing and reduces the chances of getting stubborn ingrown hair.
Use a mild scrub, like homemade sugar-coconut scrub, and gently exfoliate your body before your waxing appointment to kill dead cells, cleanse your pores and pull out ingrown hair from the follicles.
Regular exfoliation will help you permanently get rid of ingrown hair and also give you silky-smooth waxing results.
Pro tip: For best results, massage the scrub gently in circular motions until the sugar dissolves in your skin.
Pat Dry Skin
If your skin is oily or sweaty, the wax will not stick properly on your body, and you will end up a sticky mess with hair patches hair and there.
To avoid this catastrophe, make sure you wash and pat dry your skin with a towel before your body waxing appointment.
Pro tip: Apply talcum powder on areas with extra moisture like underarms and a bikini line to ensure that your skin is dry enough for a smooth wax application.
Small Patch Test
Before applying wax to a larger surface area, it is always safe to do a small patch test to check the wax temperature and see if your body reacts to it differently.
Direction Matters
A common thing that beginners usually make is neglecting the direction of hair growth. The right way to go about this is ensuring that wax is applied in the same direction your hair grows and pulled off in the opposite one.
This way, you will not only get a smoother wax but also reduce the chances of ingrown.
Pain Remedy
‘Waxing is a pleasant experience.’ – said no one ever. If you have sensitive skin or low pain tolerance, waxing can be excruciatingly painful.
A great way to deal with this is to use a numbing cream or numbing spray on your skin before your waxing session. But be cautious about quantity and try not to go overboard with it.
Keep in mind that your hair growth will lessen once you make waxing a regular habit, and your pain tolerance will also improve.
Post-Wax Precautions
Avoid exposing your skin to harsh sun rays for the next 24 hours after your waxing. The heat from the sun’s rays tends to react with your freshly waxed skin, which becomes extra sensitive after waxing.
Moreover, you should also avoid doing activities that make you sweat or get you worked up. This includes intense physical activities like exercising, swimming, etc. Even wearing tight-fitted clothes is not advisable to post your waxing session.
Soothing Your Skin
It is common to experience burning and redness on the skin after waxing. To soothe your skin, apply aloe vera gel or ice pack on it. If you skip this step, you might get tiny red bumps on your skin or increased inflammation.
This tip works ideally for waxing your sensitive areas like upper lips, eyebrows, etc.
Wrapping Up
With our detailed guide on ‘body waxing,’ we hope that the question ‘What is body waxing?’ won’t ever pop in your mind again. Instead, you will be left wondering, ‘Why haven’t I done this before!’.
There’s a reason why waxing has continued to be a popular hair removal technique for centuries, and it is still relevant in the 21st century.
Consistency is key to success, and the same ideology is manifested when it comes to waxing.
Once you become regular and consistent with your waxing sessions, body hair will become the least of your concerns. Just remember that skipping is not an option. Good luck!
For more valuable waxing tips and guidelines, stay tuned to our blogs section.