Beauty / Body Waxing: Tips To Make You A Pro (Almost)
Beauty Mar 02, 2016
Pro tips on how to get the most of your wax on and wax off time.
For many South Asian women, body hair care is a part of everyday life: pluck, thread, tweeze, wax, repeat. Going to the salon is like going to school. It’s not just recommended, it’s a must. With the summer season rapidly approaching, women and men are scrambling to get rid of unwanted hair, not just from their face, but from the rest of their body as well. Waxing, a ritual passed down through our cultural grapevine, is a common but painful ritual. I light candles, put on soothing music and shut all the windows so nobody can hear me scream. For others, the solution is much simpler: a visit to their local spa or esthetician. I chatted with Alaa Abbassi, owner of the award-winning Toronto spa Allure Body Bar, and got some great insights and tips about body waxing.
Allure Body Bar
Photo Credit: Allure Body Bar
According to Abbassi, about 40 per cent of clients who visit for eyebrow or facial waxing have taken interest in the other body waxing services the salon provides. Sure, there are different hair removal routes like bleaching (colour treating hair), shaving (cutting hair from the surface), and epilating (a machine that plucks hair), but if you want long lasting results, waxing is the best option. South Asians tend to have thick, coarse and stubborn hair which results in having to choose a more effective or radical method of hair removal.
For women or men who are tragically blessed with excessive body hair, Abbassi reassures her clients that waxing is the only solution because hair will grow back thinner and softer versus thicker and more noticeable since waxing removes hair from the root. “The maintenance is not bad," she says. "A full body wax can be done every four to six weeks, and the more committed one is to the routine, the less hair grows back each time.”
Photo Credit: www.ubeautybykate.co.uk
Abbassi is also proof of the misconception that only women seek hair removal treatments by sharing that over 40 per cent of her clients are men. With the trend of manscaping and showing off hairless beach or gym bods rapidly increasing, Abbassi also recommends that men always seek professional waxing services. The pain or mild stinging can be quite a shock for first-time male waxers. Men tend to have much coarser hair than women, making it that much harder to wax at home. It is important to pay attention to each body part and provide the proper post waxing care to prevent ingrown hairs or irritation.
Understanding that not everyone has the budget for a salon visit, Abbassi has some important tips to follow if you absolutely cannot make it in to see a professional.
- The first wax session should be done by a professional since it can be a rough experience.
- Buy an electric roll on wax heater with refill wax cartridges. It’s hygienic and can be used easily since there won’t be any dripping or sticky mess.
- Try not to wax within the week before your menstrual cycle starts. Your body is more sensitive that week.
- To lessen pain, try a painkiller 30 minutes before your wax session and avoid caffeine.
- Apply wax in the same direction the hair is growing and pull wax off in the opposite direction. Pull quickly and close to the skin.
- Always apply a soothing lotion afterwards to the waxed skin. Post waxing care should be oil free as that can irritate freshly waxed skin.
Photo Credit: Allure Body Bar
Now that you understand this seemingly torture like tactic and its benefits a little better, you can be more confident when making an appointment or grabbing that wax strip yourself. Again, the best way to get rid of unwanted hair is to have it removed by a professional while you put on your headphones and listen to your favourite music.
Main Image Photo Credit: Allure Body Bar
