Waxing is a popular hair removal method used all over the world. In addition to being longer-lasting than shaving, it can also be more affordable when done at home and can slow down hair growth in the long run.
However, it can be painful for some and may irritate others. If you have dry or sensitive skin, pre-epilation oil is sure to be a gamechanger in your waxing routine.
In addition to leading to a smoother finish, it can reduce irritation, pain and make the wax removal process much easier.
Since we’re always taught that moisture can be a detriment to waxing, this may seem like counterintuitive advice. You may be asking questions such as “What is pre-epilation oil for hard wax?
Will baby oil work for pre-epilation oil?” and how the oil works to improve the waxing process.
In this article, we’re going to delve into all these topics and more so that you can thoroughly understand the waxing process, hard wax, pre-epilation oil, how it works, substitutes for pre-epilation oil, preparation steps before waxing, and more.
What Is Pre-Epilation Oil for Hard Wax?
Traditionally, talc is used on skin after the pre-wax cleanse and before applying hard wax.
However, talc isn’t the only option for wax preparation. Many have used pre-epilation oil with great success.
At this point, you may be wondering, “What is pre-epilation oil for hard wax? Will baby oil work for pre-epilation oil?” and we’re here to answer these questions.
Pre-epilation oil is any oil you apply to your skin prior to epilating, i.e., removing hair from the root.
This includes methods like waxing, using an epilator, and tweezing. While many pre-epilation oils are available for purchase, oil specifically made for that purpose isn’t necessary.
Baby oil is a popular substitute for branded pre-epilation oil, as are oils like grapeseed oil, soybean oil, and jasmine oil.
However, it’s important to note that baby oil may be more emollient than other types of oil, and less of it may need to be used.
Grapeseed oil is preferred by many and is used in several formulations because of how lightweight it is.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-aging benefits, making it a great ingredient for reducing irritation, redness, and acne.
How Does Pre-Epilation Oil Help?
Traditionally, moisture (like perspiration) has been known to make the waxing process less effective.
From making the skin slide to preventing wax from latching onto the individual strands of hair, moisture has made waxing more difficult than it has to be. Many people use powder on their bodies before waxing to absorb any excess powder.
With this logic, you may think that applying oil to the skin before waxing sounds like a terrible idea.
However, you’ll be surprised to know that pre-epilation oil is something that can completely transform the comfort level of waxing.
In addition to making the experience less uncomfortable and reducing skin drag, it can also reduce pain and stinging felt upon wax removal.
The oil used creates a barrier between the wax and the skin, making sure wax adheres to the hair instead of both the hair and the skin.
Since the top layer of the skin isn’t affected, the pain usually associated with waxing is lessened significantly.
In addition to resulting in easy release of the hair, pre-epilation oil also protects and conditions the skin.
Since pre-epilation oil helps the wax adheres to the hair instead of the skin, there is much less redness and irritation.
This makes it great for users with sensitive skin and dry skin. That being said, all skin types can benefit from adding this to their preparation step before waxing.
It also prevents ingrown hair and ensures that even the shortest of hair is removed via the waxing process.
How to Use Pre-Epilation Oil
The most important thing to know when using pre-epilation oil is that you don’t need a lot of it.
In fact, applying too much pre-epilation oil before using hard wax can impact the waxing process negatively. Instead of lathering on the oil, do the following:
- Put a few drops of oil in your palm
- Rub your hands together so that they’re evenly coated
- Use your hands to apply oil to the area that’s about to be waxed
Alternatively, you can pour some pre-epilation oil onto a cotton ball and use this to apply it to the area you’re about to use hard wax on.
For continuous protection, keep applying the pre-epilation oil in between waxing applications.
If you apply too much oil, the wax can slide around instead of adhering to the hair. If this happens, there’s no need to worry.
Simply blot the area with a paper towel and apply the wax again. If you see dryness, you probably need a little more oil. Follow the same steps as before to apply the oil.
While pre-epilation oil is meant for use before applying wax, it should be noted that it can also be used post-wax to remove any sticky wax residue.
Massaging the oil into the skin helps release the sticky residue from the skin, which can then be cleansed.
Overall, using pre-epilation oil pre- and post-wax, makes the process less painful, more comfortable, and helps with clean up.
Preparation Before Using Hard Wax
Waxing involves removing unwanted hair from the root and damaging the hair follicle in the progress.
Clearly, this causes trauma to the skin and can result in side effects such as redness, irritation, burns, and more. To make waxing as safe as possible, it’s essential to prepare for the process beforehand.
While pre-epilation oil is an important part of this, it’s not the only trick you can use to get perfectly smooth results without any of the side effects.
There are many other tips that can greatly improve results. We have compiled the best ones below for your convenience. Follow them if you’re interested in silky-smooth skin without irritation and bumps.
Exfoliate Beforehand
Gently exfoliating before waxing can lead to more effective results by removing dead skin and preventing the growth of ingrown hair. You can do this with a loofah, a gentle physical scrub, or a washcloth.
Just make sure not to do this right before waxing and ensure that this isn’t a harsh exfoliation.
Thoroughly Cleanse Skin
Thoroughly cleaning skin may be the most important pre-waxing step required. The skin about to be waxed must be completely clean, free from dirt, grime, build-up, sunscreen, and makeup.
The cleaner the skin, the easier the wax will be to apply and remove. Use a gentle cleanser without any harsh ingredients, chemical exfoliants, or fragrance to remove surface oils, sweat, and more.
Cleansing is also essential to protect the skin from infection. Waxing removes hair from the root and leaves the skin vulnerable.
If it’s not completely clean and hasn’t been protected adequately, bacteria and grime can take hold and wreak havoc upon your sensitive skin.
Waxing Aftercare
Post-wax aftercare and treatments are also important since they allow you to optimize conditions for the healing process and encourages the best results. Most of this is focused on soothing and calming the skin and recovery itself.
Moisturize and Rehydrate
Waxing exfoliates the skin, removes hair, and often feels the skin leaving dry. Moisturizing and rehydrating is of the utmost importance.
Make sure to use special creams like corticosteroid creams to reduce inflammation or moisturizers with calming and soothing ingredients such as panthenol, aloe, allantoin, centella asiatica, and more.
Gel moisturizers are post-waxing favorites because they’re cooling and glide onto the skin. They’re also lightweight and great for sensitive or irritation-prone skin.
Another way you can do this is by using pre-epilation oils. While these are designed for the preparation stage, they can also be used post-wax. Lightweight oils can leave the skin moisturized and soothed.
Also don’t forget to checkout What Happens if You Wax After Laser Hair Removal?
Avoid Touching Freshly Waxed Skin
Freshly waxed skin can be extremely smooth, and you may be tempted to keep touching it. However, you should avoid doing this because the transfer of bacteria to the skin may lead to an infection.
If, for any reason, you see ingrown hair, do not pick at them. This introduces bacteria under the skin, making infections even more likely. Gentle exfoliation is the solution to this.
Final Thoughts
Despite waxing being effective, long-lasting, and affordable when done at home, one of the major disadvantages of the method is the pain associated with it.
This, alongside redness and irritation, put many people off; some refuse to even try it. Pre-epilation oil may just be the solution to this.
However, since it’s not mainstream information, many wonder “What is pre-epilation oil for hard wax? Will baby oil work for pre-epilation oil?” and how the oil can prevent the side effects that come along with waxing. That’s what we have aimed to answer in this article.
Most pre-epilation oils can also be used post-epilation to remove sticky wax residue and to moisturize the skin after waxing.
In fact, these dual-purpose oils can be applied all over the body if one wants to benefit from moisturization and soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Therefore, pre-epilation oils are the best of both worlds and can serve as post-wax relief in addition to their intended use.