Do you dread heading to the salon every 4 to 6 weeks for a bikini waxing?
There’s no doubt about it, bikini waxes are expensive and time-consuming. Yet, a lot of people who like to keep their bikini zone hair-free view salon trips as necessary. After all, what other option is there?
Well, there actually is an alternative to those expensive trips to the salon. More and more women are opting for bikini waxing at home.
Yes, we realize the prospect of pulling strips of wax off your own skin sounds daunting. How are you even supposed to do it? And is it even safe? And most importantly, what happens if you mess up?
Bikini waxing at home certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is lying on a table spread eagle while some stranger gets up close and personal with some hot wax.
But, at home waxes are in fact safe and easier to pull off (pun intended) than you may think. That is, if you follow the right procedures.
Here’s a complete guideline about bikini waxing at home:
Types of Wax
The first thing you need to understand before you embark on your at-home waxing adventure is that there are several different types of waxing kits to choose from. Let’s look at the different options you have:
Hard Wax
Hard wax has an appearance and consistency that is similar to honey. Typically, hard wax first needs to be heated in the microwave. Once it’s heated, you apply it to your skin, let it cool down, then rip it off. In other words, the wax becomes the strip itself.
Many people opt for hard wax kits because they tend to cause less irritation to the skin. This is because they are specifically formulated to only adhere to the hair. However, some people find that hard waxing can be a little messy and a little more time-consuming than the other alternatives.
Soft Wax
With soft waxing, you melt the wax just as you would with hard waxing. Then, you apply a thin layer of it to the skin and place a thin fabric on top. When you rip the wax off, you’ll grab from the fabric.
While strips are easier, they tend to be a bit more painful, as you’ll be tugging at the skin as you rip up the hair.
Pre-loaded Strips
Pre-loaded strips are definitely the easiest ones to apply. You simply just take the strips out of the box, smooth them onto your skin, and then rip them off.
You don’t need to use a stove or microwave to heat up the wax. You just need to rub the strips between your hands for a minute. Pre-loaded strips usually work best on areas with thinner or finer hair.
The Procedure
Now, onto the fun part- the application and removal of the wax. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Clean and Exfoliate
First, 2-4 hours before you wax, you should take a warm shower and lightly exfoliate your skin.
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and ensures your skin is soft and clean for the waxing. There is no need to apply lotion, alcohol pads, or any other substance to your skin before you wax.
Step 2: Prepare the Wax
Once you’re all squeaky clean, it’s time to heat up the wax. It is best to heat the wax in the microwave at 1-minute intervals to ensure the wax does not overheat.
Your waxing kit should come with specific instructions detailing how long to heat the wax for. The wax should be lukewarm before applying.
Step 3: Position Yourself Appropriately
To apply the wax, sit in a butterfly position with the soles of your feet touching. Sit on a towel and face the mirror. Also, forget the mood lighting. You’re going to want bright light so you can see what you’re doing.
Step 4: Apply
Start applying the wax in the direction of hair growth using a wooden spatula, be sure to apply a thick layer if you are using Hard Wax (stripless wax).
If you are using a soft wax, you will need to apply a paper-thin layer and use a non-woven strip.
Step 5: Let It Rip
Now for the grand finale- ripping off the wax.
If you are using non-woven strips for soft wax, you will want to apply it immediately after the wax has been applied to the skin. If you are using hard wax, you will simply need to wait a few minutes for the wax to dry before you rip.
Take a deep breath, count to 3, hold your bestie’s hand- do whatever you got to do to calm your nerves. Then, pull the strip off. You’ll want to pull the strip off in the opposite direction of your hair growth.
Keep repeating the process for all remaining areas, making sure to hold the skin as taut as possible in areas that are more sensitive.
Clean Up
Use our post wax cleaning oil when you’re done to remove any remaining wax. In order to avoid irritation, avoid wearing cotton underwear, working out, and steam rooms for the next 24 hours. Also, if your skin appears red after, apply a cooling compress followed by some witch’s hazel.
Risks?
Ok, this process seems pretty simple. But is it safe?
Of course, with practically everything we do in life, there are some risks involved with bikini waxing at home. The biggest risk is overheating the wax.
Overheated wax can cause the skin to burn and leave lasting discoloration and scars. However, this can be easily avoided by testing the temperature with a small amount of wax on the inside of your wrist.
If you think you got the right temp, apply a small dab to your bikini line before going full steam ahead.
Also, note that it isn’t a good idea to wax when you’re on your period, after a night of heavy drinking, or if you have a severe skin condition like psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis.
Your period will make your skin extra sensitive and alcohol will dehydrate your skin. And those with severe skin conditions or those who are on skin-thinning medications (such as retinols) could potentially pull of layers of skin if they don’t know what they’re doing.
Bikini Waxing at Home: Wrap Up
Hopefully, reading this guideline helps the process seem less intimidating.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, be sure to check out our line of at-home wax kits.