Do not exfoliate the skin right after you have removed the hair, especially just after you have shaved or waxed. Shaving exfoliates the skin, so you don’t need to exfoliate again right away. [2] X Research source Exfoliating right after you wax can irritate the skin. Exfoliate your skin 24 to 48 hours before you wax. Exfoliating right before you wax can cause irritation. [3] X Expert Source Melissa JannesLicensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.
Coat the area in a shave gel or cream and let it set for a few minutes before you begin shaving. Never shave dry skin or without a lather. Keeping the skin moist helps reduce irritation by helping the razor glide along the skin instead of dragging, reducing irritation and ingrown hair. [4] X Research source Make sure to use a sharp razor; dull razors can cause irritation and cut your skin. Change the razor blades every 5-6 uses.
Home wax kits can be purchased online, at major retailers, and at beauty supply shops. They usually come with cloth strips and wooden applicators. Read the directions carefully. Let the hair grow to about a quarter of an inch before waxing. However, don’t let the hair get too long or thick. Apply the wax on the area in the direction that the hair grows. Place the strip on top. Hold the skin taut, and then quickly pull the strip off in the opposite direction that the hair grows. [7] X Research source Don’t overheat the wax. Wax must be heated to a hot temperature to melt, and can burn the skin when the hot wax is applied. Follow the directions of your kit carefully to avoid injury. Waxing can cause redness and irritation to the skin. In some instances, waxing can cause infection. [8] X Research source Waxing can also cause acne or darkening of the skin. [9] X Research source
Clean and moisturize the skin before applying the cream. Just like with shaving or tweezing, hairs that have been softened are more easily removed. Depilatory creams contain chemicals, and some people’s skin may have adverse reactions to them. Test a section of your skin before removing the hair to prevent rashes and breakouts. Read the instructions carefully. Don’t leave the cream on the skin longer than the directions state. Don’t try to leave on longer to get rid of stubborn hair. Make sure you buy a depilatory cream intended for the body. The formulas for the body have higher concentrations of the chemicals. [13] X Research source
Look for a system that is FDA approved. FDA approved systems are generally more expensive than ones offered through private companies whose products have not been FDA approved. These systems can run as expensive as $600. [14] X Research source Many of these systems result in 70% hair reduction after 3 months of use. When using a hair removal system for large areas, like the legs or back, you may have to buy an attachment or larger head for the machine that covers a wider area. These tools have limited numbers of flashes, so using them on large areas of the body may mean you’ll have to buy replacement cartridges.
Always hold the tweezers steady, and do your best to pluck the hair in a quick motion. [17] X Expert Source Melissa JannesLicensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.
Make sure you clean your face to remove dirt and oil. This helps prevent breakouts, and also helps prepare the hairs for shaving. Rinsing your face and neck in warm or hot water helps moisten the hairs and make them softer, making them easier to shave. A hot shower may be the most effective way of softening your hairs, especially if you want to shave or tweeze large portions of it. Another method for softening the hairs is wrapping a warm towel around your face. Barbers use this trick when they shave customers because it opens the pores, relaxes the face, and makes the hairs easier to shave. Leave the hot towel on the face and neck for a few minutes. You can either rinse the towel in warm or hot water, or you can heat a wet towel in the microwave for 30 seconds. Do not over heat the towel, because a microwave can heat the water in the towel to temperatures that will severely burn your face. Always test the towel before wrapping it around your face.
Choose an exfoliating scrub that contains sugar, oatmeal, or salt. If you don’t have an exfoliating scrub, use an exfoliating glove or a loofa.
Use a well-lit mirror to catch all the unwanted hairs, both light and dark. Use a good pair of tweezers that will grab onto the hairs. To properly remove the hairs, the tweezers must be able to yank it out without losing grip on the hair. Pull the hair quickly to ensure that the hair is removed and you minimize irritation. Do not use this method for large areas. It can cause ingrown hairs and scarring. [21] X Research source But this is a great method if you only want to pluck errant hairs on your lip, cheek, or chin, or to shape areas like the eyebrows.
Cover the area in shave gel or cream. Apply a liberal amount to the area and let it set for a few minutes before you begin shaving. Never shave dry skin or without a lather. Your bare skin needs a barrier between it and the sharp razor. Shaving without gel or cream can cause irritation and ingrown hairs. Shave the hairs in the direction that the hair grows. Reapply shaving cream as needed to keep the area lubricated. Make sure to use a sharp razor; dull razors can cause irritation and cut your skin.
When waxing at home, make sure not to burn your skin. Wax must be heated to a hot temperature to melt, so be careful when applying this hot wax to your skin. Also, make sure to pull the skin taut in the opposite direction than you are pulling the strip. This prevents bruising. Whether done by a professional or done at home, waxing can cause redness and irritation to the skin. In some instances, waxing can cause infection. [23] X Research source Waxing can also cause acne or darkening of the skin. [24] X Research source
Make sure the skin is clean and moisturized before applying the cream. Just like with shaving or tweezing, hairs that have been softened are more easily removed. Always test a section of your skin before removing the hair. Some people’s skin is sensitive to the chemicals, which causes a rash. Read the instructions carefully. There are many different kinds of depilatory creams on the market, and they have different directions. Only leave the cream on for as long as the directions state. Don’t try to leave on longer to get rid of stubborn hair. Make sure to buy hair removal cream designed just for the face.
Look for a system that is FDA approved. FDA approved systems are generally more expensive than ones offered through private companies whose products have not been FDA approved. These systems can run as expensive as $600. [28] X Research source Many of these systems result in 70% hair reduction after 3 months of use.
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure. Before getting the procedure, carefully select a doctor or technician who you trust. Do not pluck or wax hairs in the area that will undergo laser hair removal for a month or two before the procedure. Laser hair removal targets hair follicles, and the hair is pulled out by the root in both waxing and plucking. Laser hair removal takes up to 9 months to complete, and the procedure can be expensive. However, laser removal is a permanent solution for getting rid of hair. This can save you money on waxings, shaving cream, or depilatory creams in the long run.
Waxing specialists can shape hair, like the eyebrows and bikini area, and also treat your skin with moisturizers before and after to help reduce redness. Getting a professional wax may be the best option for your bikini area. The skin in that region is extremely sensitive and prone to irritation and infection. [31] X Expert Source Melissa JannesLicensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Interview. 30 August 2019. Plus, it’s difficult to see. Many salons offer bikini area waxes for both women and men.
Electrolysis can be used on most areas of the body. The number of treatments needed will vary from person to person. Most people have one treatment every week or two until the treatment period is complete. [33] X Research source
