Tips for waxing at home with natural ingredients

Waxing at home is actually safer for your health. Why? Because if you wax at home, you have less chance of infection than at the salon. By doing this at home, you can control the cleanliness of your hands and the room where you wax. Of course you need to be comfortable with the product you are using for better results.

Ladan Shahabi M.D., a dermatologist and assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman department of dermatology, NYC, suggests washing your hands before starting waxing. Because waxing can cause small tears in the skin that allow you to get an infection. Don't forget to clean all utensils with alcohol to prevent bacterial growth. After that, discard all utensils that are intended for single use.

Various waxing products that can be used at home

Most waxing products sold in beauty stores are a combination of beeswax and paraffin. Usually they are packaged using microwavable containers or fast-heating containers on the stove. However, there are many other options. Pre-coated wax strips You can use it on small areas like your eyebrows, lips, or bikini line as they are easy to clean. Sugar wax Water-soluble products are made from sugar and water that are not as sticky as regular wax, so that any residue can be washed off with soapy water. Sugar waxes can also be used on sensitive skin.

Wax supplies all-in-one at home are usually quite affordable and cheaper than at the salon. Hair will grow back in two weeks. However, the more regularly you wax, the weaker the hair follicles will be, which can slow down hair production.

Tips for waxing at home

If you are using a wax kit sold at a salon or supermarket, you can do this by looking at the instructions on the product. However, if you want to wax with natural ingredients, here's a good way to do it:

1. Prepare the ingredients

• Sugar - 1 cup (250 gr)
• Honey - 1 cup (250 gr)
• Lemon juice - ½ cup (125 g)

2. Making wax

• Melt the sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir to taste until brown. Let it melt until it becomes caramelized. Keep the heat from getting too high, as too much heat will turn the sugar into charcoal.
• Take a spatula or wooden spoon and place the lemon juice and honey in the pot. Then, stir all the ingredients. The sugar will become very hot and foamy at this point.
• Keep stirring until the mixture reaches the right consistency. If it becomes too hard, mix in a tablespoon of water to thin it out.
• Leave it until the wax mixture cools a little.

3. Using wax

• Check first that your hair is between 3-6mm long. If your hair is shorter than that, the waxing process won't pull the hair out at the roots. If the hair is too long, you will suffer considerable discomfort when waxing.
• Prepare wax strips. You can use a piece of cloth.
• Sprinkle baby powder on the area to be waxed so that the hair sticks to the wax.
• Use a spatula or wooden spoon to spread the wax over your skin.
• Place a sheet of cloth over the waxed area, and press gently. Press it in the direction of hair growth.
• When the fabric is well adhered, pull on the bottom edgehis and pull it quickly in the opposite direction of the hair. If done on areas of skin that are wrinkled or folded, make sure to tighten / flatten your skin first to minimize discomfort.
• If the wax is still on your skin after waxing, rinse it off with lukewarm water. Alternatively, you can try adding a tablespoon of baking soda to boiling water. Then allow it to cool and rinse off any remaining wax with the mixture.

4. Save the remaining wax

• You can store any remaining wax in the refrigerator. The wax will last for 15 days.
• If you want the wax to last for several months, store it insidefreezer.

Do's and don'ts

1. Do not wax a week before and during menstruation

This is a time when you will be more sensitive to pain. We recommend that you do waxing two weeks after the first day of your period.

2. You can use painkillers

According to Shahabi, when you wax in the bikini area, eyebrows, or underarms, consider using anesthetics that can be purchased at drugstores, as this will help you reduce the pain. You can also take pain relievers such as iburophen or acetaminophen. After waxing, try using an aloe vera-based cream (which does not contain alcohol), and cool the affected area with ice to reduce the burning sensation.

3. Do not do strenuous activities such as sports after waxing

Sweating will increase the risk of spreading bacteria to your new skin. Wear loose clothing to minimize friction which can cause irritation.

4. Call a doctor if the pain lasts for 24 hours

If a day later you feel something strange in the waxed area, such as pain, swelling, pus, or a strange smell, make an appointment with your doctor for further tests.