Waxing at home can be an option when it is impossible to leave the house. How to wax yourself at home needs to pay attention to the right way to avoid irritation, such as pulling wax in the opposite direction of hair growth.
Waxing is becoming increasingly popular as an effective hair removal method compared to using a razor. Moreover, this method can also be done alone at home without going out. There is a risk of irritation to allergies that might still occur. For this reason, you need to know the right way to wax yourself at home through the following article.
How to wax yourself at home
Waxing is a method of removing hair or hair from the roots through repeated pulling. It is different from shaving, which only trims the fur or hair on the skin’s surface.
Waxing can be done in various areas, such as removing armpit hair, Brazilian wax, leg or hand hair.
Waxing is claimed to have more advantages than shaving, such as removing dead skin cells, brightening, and avoiding cuts caused by razors.
In addition, according to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, waxing can reduce armpit odour more effectively than using a razor.
You don’t need to go to a salon to get the benefit. You can do waxing yourself at home by paying attention to the following steps.
1. Preparation before waxing
The preparation stage consists of preparing tools and materials and the area of the body to be waxed.
Waxing tools and materials require wax gel, a spatula, and paper strips to lift the hair down to the root. Make sure the devices you use are clean and sterile.
It would help if you also prepared the body area that will be waxed by cleaning and drying. It is so that the wax gel can stick perfectly and make the waxing process easier.
Also, the day before waxing, avoid things that can make your skin more dry or sensitive, such as swimming, exfoliating, and avoiding drinking alcohol or caffeine.
2. Waxing process
After the preparation stage is complete, the waxing process can be carried out with the following steps:
Apply a soft wax gel with a spatula on the area of the body that you want to wax, applying in the direction of hair growth
Stick the paper strip on it
Wait a while, usually until the wax gel feels cooler
Quickly remove the paper strip in the opposite direction
In addition to soft wax gel, the waxing process can also be done with complex wax. Using hard wax is simpler because it doesn’t require paper strips.
3. Care about waxing
The waxing process may be painful for some people, susceptible ski. Not infrequently, the skin will turn red afterwards.
There is a treatment after waxing that also needs to be done. You can apply aloe vera gel, lotion or serum to soothe the area and prevent ingrown hairs.
In addition, keeping the area moist after waxing with lotion can also prevent itching and irritation.
You can exfoliate the skin in the waxing area after 24 hours.
How to make natural waxing at home
In addition to using ready-made waxing products, you can save even more by making your own, aka DIY (do it yourself), with natural ingredients. Consider the following steps to make soft wax or sugar wax at home.
DIY waxing materials:
- 1 cup sugar
- One teaspoon lemon juice
- cup honey
How to make wax:
- Melt the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat while continuously stirring
- After the sugar changes the texture to a thicker brown (caramelized), add the lemon juice and honey little by a little while stirring.
- Make sure the texture is not too runny or too thick. Add a little water if it’s too thick.
- Pour the mixture into a glass container and cool to room temperature before using it on the skin.
Those are some steps to do your waxing at home that you can try. In addition to getting the benefits, waxing can prevent excessive pain and irritation.
In addition to providing ready-made waxing products on the market, you can also try to make your waxing with natural ingredients that are more affordable.
You still have to be careful when waxing because it can cause side effects, such as inflammation of the hair follicles, redness, ingrown hairs, skin irritation, or the risk of infection from heat—bacterial contamination from unsterilized tools and materials.