Whether you're trying to save money by skipping the salon appointments, nervous about committing to IPL hair removal or an epilator, or simply want to take things into your own hands (quite literally), waxing at home is totally doable: as long as you follow a certain set of guidelines and are armed with the right waxing kit.
To help make the mission as simple as possible, we spoke to Sapna Wadhwa, therapist at Lucie, and skincare expert Charlotte Connoley to get the pro tips and tricks for perfecting your at-home wax, minus the mess, pain and patchiness.
Read on for the expert way to successfully wax every part of your body...
How long should your hair be before you wax?
The key question. Too short and your wax won't have anything to hold on to, too long and you'll need to trim first.
'Ideally, the hair should be the length of a grain of rice,' advises wax therapist Sapna Wadhwa, (who, should you decide to let a professional take the reins, is bookable for home treatments via the Lucie app). So, you're aiming for around half a centimetre. You need this length in order to allow the wax to 'shrink-wrap' itself around the hair entirely, ensuring it can be pulled cleanly from its follicle. If your hair is too long, the wax may become stuck to your skin itself, which is how irritation arises.
If you have let your hair grow too long, there's no need to worry: simply trim it back down before going in with your wax to ensure a clean result and no damage to your delicate skin.
How To Wax At Home
1.Prep Your Skin
It might be tempting to skip the skin prep, but put the time in and your wax results will speak for themselves. When using any waxing product, it’s important to clean the area thoroughly first, removing perspiration, bacteria and body products to allow your wax to adhere to its best ability.
Don't forget the exfoliation as well. '︎It's best to exfoliate the skin using gloves, instead of products, in the shower,' says Wadhwa. 'This will bring any ingrown hair out and prepare the skin for good waxing results. Exfoliation can be done every day in the shower, the week before you wax. After you've waxed, don't exfoliate for at-least two weeks to avoid irritating your skin. '
2. Choose Your Wax
When it comes to which wax method to use, it's entirely up to you: wax strips, hot pots and sugaring products all come with pros and cons. So, which is right for you? Over to the pros...
Wax Strips
Flamingo Head to Toe Wax Kit
Pros: Using waxing strips can be a lot quicker, less messy and dangerous and you don't need much technique. At home wax strips are better for larger areas as they're quicker to apply and remove.
Cons: Wax strips can adhere to the skin, which might lead to damage – so they're not ideal for super-sensitive people.
ELLE Tip: Waxing in the wrong direction is a common mistake. Always take off the strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth while holding the skin taught. Remove the strip in one swift movement parallel to the skin. The quicker the strip is removed the better the results.
Wax Pots
Mylee Wax Kit
Mylee Tea Tree Soft Creme Wax
Pros: Wax in a wax pot will be heated up (generally hard wax is around 55 degrees and soft wax 70-80 degrees). This warms the epidermis, enabling the hair follicle to open and leading to an easier removal of the hair.
Cons: These products can be messier to apply than a wax strip as they involve spreading the wax evenly on the skin's surface.
ELLE Tip: Check the wax temperature on your wrist prior to applying a large amount to the skin to ensure it’s not too hot.
Sugar Wax
'︎Sugar wax is a chemical-free natural wax,' says Wadhwa. It's usually made using lemon water and sugar, and has been used for centuries to remove hair.
Pros: There are no sticks or strips involved, making this procedure more environmentally friendly. The ball of putty-like sugar is manoeuvred and rolled around the area, taking with it hair from the root. It's great for sensitive skin and finer hairs.
Cons: Wadhwa generally recommends traditional wax over sugar wax, as with less-adhesive sugar products it can be harder to get a clean, thorough result.
3. Choose your body part
How to wax your... armpits
'Underarm hair can grow in all directions, meaning you will need to shave it in a crosshatch pattern to ensure all of the hairs are removed. This can leave the sensitive underarm area irritated and sore if the blade is not sharp enough and the correct shaving product is not used,' says Connoley.
Waxing the underarms is a much better way to ensure all hairs are removed in one quick movement without disrupting the epidermis.
'Use a barrier product such as a small amount of talcum powder to protect the skin while you wax. Hard wax is better to use under the arms as the hair is coarser and it only sticks to the hair and not the skin,' Connoley adds.
Elle Tip - Keep your arm stretched up to tighten the skin before removal.
How to wax your... legs
'Waxing will leave you hair free for four weeks if done well and is safe and effective at removing leg hair,' advises Connoley.
'Using at home strips is quicker and less messy. 'Make sure you have exfoliated your legs and knees 24 hours beforehand to ensure the skin is free from any dead skin cells and that the hairs aren't ingrown or stuck. Use a talc to protect the skin before you start waxing,' she adds. 'When removing the waxing strip, always go against the hair growth. Start at the ankle and work upwards.
ELLE Tip - Don't take a hot shower or bath before waxing as this will heighten the pain.
How to wax your.. bikini line
Hard wax is recommended on pubic hair as it penetrates deeper into the dermis and can be sensitive to remove. Keep the patches small as the hair is coarse, apply in the direction of hair removal and remove against.
ELLE Tip - Technique is key when waxing the bikini line. Using a fast and upwards motion instead of a slow outwards motion will give you a far better result without damaging or bruising the skin.
How to wax your... lips/face
'Before waxing any part of the face or lip you need to make sure you haven't been using any retinols, Vitamin C and salicylic acids for a few days prior as this will make your skin more sensitive,' advises Connoley.
'Make sure you treat the skin where you want to wax beforehand with micellar water to get rid of any excess oils in the skin which can interfere with the wax. Apply the wax to clean dry skin and don't apply any lotions or creams beforehand. Apply some calming facial toner, spritz or aloe to calm the skin straight after.'
ELLE Tip - Some hairs may be too fine to be removed with a hard wax, so tweezing can complete the treatment.
4. After-Care
As important as it is to take the time to prep your skin, it's just as essential to commit the minutes to giving your skin some love post-wax.
Apply an antibacterial lotion to close and clean the pores followed by an aftercare product like aloe vera. Avoid any further heat treatments for 24 hours and exfoliate after four days to help free any ingrowing hairs.
'Avoid sunbathing or any heat treatments such as saunas, steam rooms, hot baths and swimming as they can irritate the skin. Applying deodorant, self-tan or make-up should be avoided for 24 hours,' advises Connoley.
Fur Ingrown Concentrate
Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel
Ameliorate Smoothing Body Exfoliant
Understandably when it comes to hair removal and hot wax within the vicinity of your own living room, things can go wrong. Here's what to avoid:
- Don't drink alcohol thinking it will numb the pain. It wont! It will likely leave you with a less-than-ideal result and can cause heightened sensitivity.
- Don't wax around the time of your period, as your sensitivity to pain is higher during these days.
- Don't rush! Make sure you have enough time to wax. Waxing should never be done in a hurry.
- Don't wax over the area more than twice for soft wax and three times for hard wax, as this can cause part of the epidermis to be removed alongside the hair.
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George Driver was the former Senior Beauty Editor - Digital at ELLE UK.
