| There are several effective methods for removing unwanted facial and body hair. Shaving and waxing are two of the most common and both have their good aspects and they're not so good aspects. In this article we will go over wax for hair removal, what it is, how it works, some words of caution and what you can expect from the process.
Waxing is a favorite for several reasons such as the fact it is cheap and it can last longer than shaving since you are getting the hair out by the root in most cases. Despite what some people may think, you don't need to go to an expensive salon, you can do it yourself right at home which makes it cheaper, and less embarrassing for those 'tricky' areas of the body.
The basic process of waxing goes something like this: you spread a thin layer of heated (which makes it possible to spread it) wax over the area you want to remove hair. Then before the wax cools, you apply a thin strip of cloth over the wax pressing it gently so it adheres to the wax. After a few seconds you rip off the piece of cloth which takes the hair (and dead skin) with it. The result is a smooth, hair free area.
Most people will find that waxing removes unwanted hair for much longer periods of time than shaving. After waxing an area you probably won't have to wax again for one or two months.
Since this action can create friction many people will experience redness and possibly even a little swelling at the location the wax was applied. These usually go away within a few hours after waxing. If you are new to waxing it's probably a good idea to try a small area of your skin to see how it reacts. You don't want to wax your body right before you plan on going somewhere since it will be red, this is especially true if you've never waxed before and you aren't sure how your skin will react.
Most people find that applying a little lotion after waxing will help soothe their skin and calm down the redness more quickly. Some have also applied pressure right after removing the cloth strip and some people have even reported lessening the sting by putting an ice cube on the area that has just been waxed.
If you have any skin conditions that make your skin highly sensitive, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor before using wax. People who use certain types of medications can also have overly sensitive skin, so again, speak to your doctor first.
Many of us remember the scene from the movie "The 40 Year Old Virgin" where the guy screams in pain when getting his chest waxed. While funny, that scene isn't totally accurate. Waxing does sting, no doubt about it, but unless you have extremely sensitive skin you'll find that the benefits of wax for hair removal will far outweigh a little stinging. |