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How to Wax

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It wasn't that long ago that the realm of waxing was only inhabited by women and men who were into weightlifting, swimming or simply looking fabulous. Now, with the sudden rise in metrosexuality, more and more people are looking for waxing tips that they can use at home.

Before we start, there are a few ground rules that need to be set. There is no such thing as painless waxing. If it doesn't hurt, you aren't doing it right. Understand that waxing is an alternative to shaving and other even more painful methods of hair removal. If done properly, waxing leaves your legs (and other body parts) smoother and silkier than any other method of hair removal, so if you can't stand the pain, learn to love body hair or pick another method to your hair removal madness.

• Start by not wasting your time
• Planning is Key
• Prep your skin
• Follow Instructions
• A little at a time
• Bring the pain
• After Care Tips

Start by not wasting your time

Just like with the fancy new bar downtown, there are standards and requirements you have to meet before you can expect to get anywhere. You need to make sure that the hair you are looking to remove is at least a fourth of an inch long. Otherwise, the wax that you are using won't be able to form a strong enough bond to rip the hair out. If you need to have your legs silky smooth all of the time, try shaving or another form of hair removal that doesn't require a minimum length to work.

Planning is Key

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but waxing isn't very good for your skin. It is incredibly irritating and it takes some prep time to get the area that you want to wax ready. Ideally, you want to exfoliate approximately two days before each wax so that you remove dead skin in and around your hair follicles. The cleaner and better maintained your skin is, the better performance you can expect from waxing now and into the future.

Prep your skin

Since waxing is such an unpleasant experience, many people attempt to rush through it as quickly as possible. As understandable as this behaviour might be, it is actually doing more harm than good. You want to apply a thin layer of baby powder to the parts of your body you are planning on waxing. The baby powder acts like an oil sponge that lets the wax adhere to your hairs more completely. This process also makes waxing even messier, so you probably want to stand in the bathtub during this whole process.

Follow Instructions

Depending on the type of oil you buy, the instructions for heating it can be quite different. Some brands specifically ask you to microwave it, while others require a hot water bath. This is one area where you don't want to take a shortcut and simply do what is easiest. If the wax doesn't get up to the right temperature, it won't work nearly as well and you have wasted your time and money, and worst of all, you will still resemble Chewbacca.

A little at a time

Don't try to wax both of your legs at the same time and then expect everything to work like it says on the box. You want to work in small sections and then move on from there.

When you apply the wax, spread it on your body against the grain of the hair. Try holding the applicator at a 90-degree angle for the best results. When you finish applying the wax, place it back into the hot water bath to help keep it warm. You don't want to work so quickly that you are careless, but time is of the essence.

Bring the pain

The main reason why you only want to do small sections of your legs at a time is because you need to apply the strips while the wax is still warm. If you wait, the strips won't stick like they should and when you go to pull them off, the wax will stay put and the strip comes off in your hand. When pulling the wax off, try to angle your pull so that it is against the grain, and try to pull low. If you yank the wax straight up, you are not only making the process less effective, you are putting yourself through more suffering than you need to. However, if suffering is the point of this exercise, carry on.

After Care Tips

Make sure you apply a lotion as soon as you are done or after you shower. Try to find a particular lotion that has salycylic acid since it works wonders keeping ingrown hairs at bay. You can significantly reduce the trauma and pain of waxing if you remember that it is a process you need to follow throughout the week and not just something you do on the spur of the moment every few days.