PROFESSIONAL waxing is off-limits at the moment, so you'll have to try and wax your body at home by yourself. Here's how to give yourself a bikini wax, according to an expert.
07:21, Mon, Feb 15, 2021
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Salons are unlikely to open any time soon, so you’ll need to get good at grooming yourself. Founder of hair removal brand Sugar Coated, Rosie Khandwala, has revealed everything you need to know about waxing at home, from preparing the skin to giving yourself a bikini wax.
Waxing is much more painful than shaving or using hair removal cream, but it does give the best results.
Shaving often causes ingrown hairs and causes hair to grow back quicker and thicker.
Rosie said: “Ingrown hairs occur when the hair gets caught under the skin when shaving frequently.
“The top layer of the skin is removed along with the hair - resulting in hairs getting trapped.”
Waxing removes hair from the roots which results in hair growing back “finer and slower”.
Rosie explained: “Shaving can cause hair to grow thicker and stronger and give a stubble feeling as hair regrows.
“Using a warm wax means the product is sticky and adheres to the hair. The warmth of the product will also open up the pores and loosen the hair resulting in hair being pulled from the root.”
How to prep the skin for waxing
Youthe skin
Instead, exfoliate a couple of days before waxing in order to remove the dry skin and free the hair to be pulled out.
Rosie said: “Exfoliate with a loofa, rubbing in the opposite direction of the hair growth to free hair from the skin.
“Make your own at-home exfoliant by mixing sugar, olive oil and turmeric powder.
“Sugar is a soft exfoliant, olive oil softens the skin, and turmeric will help with healing. Apply this at least once a week.”
You won’t need to wax very often because hair that has been removed from the root will take around two weeks to be visible on the skin.
Generally, you’ll need to let your hair grow for about four to five weeks before waxing it again.
However, Rosie noted: “This does depend on individual hair growth and different areas of the body.
“Facial hair and underarms tend to have shorter regrowth periods, as these areas have more moisture.”
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they wax their body is showering straight before.
Rosie said: “Skin should be dry for waxing, so do not shower right before.”
If you do shower before you wax, apply some baby powder to the areas to dry off.
Rosie said: “Applying talc to the skin, will absorb any moisture and will help the wax product adhere to the hair and remove them effectively.”
How to wax
Generally, the waxing technique is the same across the whole body.
Rosie said: “Applying the wax in small patches will be easier and less painful.”
Put the strip on the area and stroke it away from you before pulling the strip away.
When you do remove the strip, Rosie advises: “Master a swift flick action to pull the wax strip.”
Don’t hesitate, make sure you do it quickly and remove the whole strip at once.
The easiest areas to wax are the legs and underarms, so try to perfect the technique here before moving onto more sensitive areas.
Rosie said: “Do not attempt doing bikini wax unless you are confident and have perfected areas like your legs and underarms.
“Position is very important to make sure the skin is taut.
“Place a raised leg on the toilet seat to open up the area and position yourself in front of a mirror to help with the application.”
Again, swift action is vital! Pulling the strip slowly will definitely not work and you’ll be left with sticky wax on your skin.
Pain is one of the only downsides to waxing, but there are ways to calm down the stinging.
Rosie said: “Using a cold compress with a few drops of lavender oil.
“This is the best way to ease any pain or irritation one might get from waxing, immediately.”
