If you’ve committed to eliminating some body hair, you already know that waxing is a safe choice. Compared to professional laser hair removal, this is one of the safest methods for long-lasting hair removal. So while waxing may still result in some ingrown (which there are a lot of ways to deal with) you won’t have to worry about inadvertently nicking your skin, or having razor burns, as you would if you used a razor on a regular basis.
But waxing can still be painful — and costly, particularly in warmer weather, where the cost can quickly add up if you do it more frequently.
Fortunately, there are a lot of items you can use to wax at home, which may not be less painful for your body, but should relieve the pressure on your wallet (which counts for something, isn’t it?).
How to prepare your skin for waxing Waxing separates your hair from the follicle — aka, takes your body’s hair out of the root — giving germs an invitation to open hair follicles. In certain cases, waxing also eliminates the top layer of dried, dead skin cells, rendering the skin smoother — but still more vulnerable to irritation. Heated wax has the ability to burn.
Possible mishaps:
- illness
- burns
- abrasion
How to avoid an infection after skin waxing
Avoiding infection begins with the proper preparation of the skin described above, but you should also take care to clean your skin and use clean equipment. It can involve the first use of a disinfectant spray or wiper and sterilizing equipment.
Don’t stack the waxing heater in the bathroom counter where the germs can be gathered from the air. If it’s rainy, give it a rinse or clean it off with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol.
In order to find the best ingredients and techniques for waxing at home, we talked to the aesthetician, beauty director, head of research and development for the women’s and men’s hair removal line, and five other experts. Read on for their choices:
Nad’s Natural Sugar Wax
Crafted to be used on your neck, back, legs and bikini areas, the formula uses your own body heat to warm up, reduce the risk of burns, and leaves your skin silky for as long as eight weeks. The kit contains Nad’s natural sugar wax, 100% cotton washable and reusable sheets, wooden applicators and pre-wax argan oil soap for skin preparation.
Nair Ultimate Roll-On Wax
The screw-on roll-on applicator allows it a cinch, allowing you to hit rough spots more precisely. After through use, the applicator can be quickly washed with soap and water. The formula contains 100% organic virgin argan oil from Morocco to nourish the skin.
Wakse Mini Cosmic Candy Hard Wax Beans
Aptly called, you’re going to love the smell of cotton candy. After you’ve melted down the pink and blue iridescent beads — a microwave does a trick — it turns into a hard wax and you get the job done.
Nair Hair Remover Wax Ready-Strips for Face & Bikini
These Nair wax strips are just as simple as the removal of your home hair. Just take it apart, submit, and pull it off. No heating up — not even rubbing — is needed, which makes them perfect on a last-minute beach day, or stabbing in your suitcase for longer trips, too.
Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit for Body
Such Sally Hansen wax strips are filled with coconut and marl oils for a more nourishing, less intrusive waxing experience. They’re big enough to cover a decent deal of soil — like armpits and legs — and they can leave you hairless for up to eight weeks.
Parissa Strip Free Hot Wax
This Parissa wax kit — recommended for thin, stubborn hair that wide stripes can often miss — includes wax, a metal brush, and three applicators. Only heat up, apply, and peel off in the direction your hair grows to get rid of the fuzz.