Reading Time: 7 minutes The Best Way to Do Wax Hair Removal at Home
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If you get your face, bikini, or other body parts waxed you know beauty can be expensive. Now, people are staying at home and looking for how to do waxing at home.
I have been doing my own waxing at home to save money, and now it will come in handy since many salons are closed or have limited hours. This post is about the best wax for hair removal at home, and how to wax your bikini area, eyebrows, face, and underarms.
I have figured out what works for me and would like to share my knowledge with you to avoid as much discomfort as possible. Save money, wax at home.
Table of Contents
Wax Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is expensive and Brazilian waxes at reputable salons can cost as much as $100. The results last around 3-4 weeks. This can be quite an expensive monthly cost. If you buy your own products, home Brazilian waxes cost about $5 -$10 per use. That’s a huge savings!
Tips for Waxing at Home
- You can use this technique for most parts of the body. I have tried waxing under my arms, but my hair grows in different directions and I have a hard time figuring out which way to apply and remove the wax. My preference is just to shave. I have waxed my legs before. It is very time consuming and hard to do on my own. For me, it’s easier just to shave every few days.
- Your first wax may not be successful. It takes some time to learn and get all of the hairs. Don’t be discouraged. The more you wax, the easier it will be.
- When I wax my eyebrows I apply the wax using a Q-tip rather than the wooden stick supplied. I find a Q-tip is better for small areas.
- Have an area designated for used strips. This can be a nearby trash can or basin of the sink. I like to lay out a paper towel at the bottom of the sink and then pile all the used strips there.
- Don’t wax the same area more than twice. If you don’t get all of the hairs, either use tweezers or try to wax again in a few days. I have tried to wax the same area a few times and it takes a while for the skin to recover, especially in sensitive areas.
- Don’t wax creases. This can cause bruising. Try to wax on either side of a crease.
Remember, waxing at home will save you a lot of money, but be sure to follow these DIY tips so minimize the pain and discomfort.
Best Wax For Hair Removal
There are many different types of waxes you can buy and make. In my opinion, the best wax for at home hair removal is Sally Hansen Extra Strength Brazilian Bikini Wax Kit. I have tried several brands over the years and this my favorite. It heats up easily and is easy to spread and remove.
How to Make Sugar Wax at Home
As I stated before, I prefer buying my own wax, but if it is either out of stock or you prefer a natural waxing method, here is how to make sugar wax at home. In order to make your own wax, you’ll need white or brown sugar, water, lemon juice, and salt.
Depending on the resource, there are different ratios of sugar to liquid recommended. I suggest starting with a ratio of 4:1 – meaning 4 tablespoons of sugar to 1 tablespoon of liquid.
Add the liquid first to a pot and heat slowly. Then, add the sugar. Stir and reduce heat. Once the sugar is dissolved, transfer the mixture to a container. Then, follow the directions for waxing below.
If you would like to follow step-by-step instructions for making sugar wax, watch the video below.
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Step by Step Instructions for Waxing at Home
Items needed for face or body hair waxing at home
Here are items you need if you plan to do your own waxing at home.
- A good wax kit. I like the Sally Hansen Extra Strength Brazilian Bikini Wax Kit. Another popular brand of at-home wax is Gigi Brazilian Waxing Kits. I recommend reading the reviews on both to see which type you might prefer.
- little trimming scissors
- tweezers
- baby powder
- lotion or baby oil<(for removing wax)
- Q-tips
- Alcohol (both for drinking and cleaning!). No, but really, make sure you have some rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs or balls to apply it.
Waxing at Home Directions
- Trim – Make sure the hair is the right length. If it’s too long, it will hurt. If it’s too short, the hair will be harder to remove. You’ll have to figure out what works best for you. Aim for around 1/4 inch of growth. If the hair is longer than this, trim with either scissors or an electric trimmer.
- Clean the area. The best time to wax is after a bath or shower. Clean the area with soap and water and/or isopropyl alcohol.
- Cut strips to desired lengths if needed. When I do my eyebrows and chin, I use smaller strips. For the bikini area, I leave the strips as is.
- Warm the wax. Follow the directions on your wax kit and be sure not to overheat the wax. Test the temperature of the wax on the inside of your wrist.
- Begin the application of the wax. I put baby powder on my skin before applying the wax. This seems to help the wax stick better. Start in small sections about an inch wide and a few inches long. Spread the wax on your skin in the direction of the hair growth. If using strips, place the strips on top of the wax also in the direction of hair growth. Wait a few seconds. If you are using wax that hardens, wait about 30 seconds, when it has just hardened, and slightly pick at the strip at one end so you have something to grab when it comes time to remove.
- Remove the wax. For both the strips and the hardened wax, pull skin tightly on either side of strip, and and quickly remove the wax in the opposite direction of hair growth. When you pull the wax or the strips, try not to just pull up. Think of it more as going parallel over the skin that was covered, like turning pages of a book. Repeat in small sections until all hair is removed.
- Remove stray hairs with tweezers.
- Remove remaining wax. There will be some wax that was not removed with the strips. Remove the leftover wax with lotion or the wax remover oil that came with your kit. Lotion is also good for removing wax from your fingers or other unwanted areas.
- Prevent ingrown hairs by exfoliating the area when you shower.
How to Wax at Home
Equipment
- little trimming scissors
- tweezers
Ingredients
- 1 box A good wax kit like Sally Hansen Extra Strength Brazilian Bikini Wax Kit or Gigi Brazilian Waxing Kits. Or use your own homemade sugar wax.
- 1 Q-tips
- 1 baby powder
- lotion or baby oil
- 1 rubbing alcohol
Instructions
- Trim – Make sure the hair is the right length.
- Clean the area.
- Cut strips to desired lengths if needed.
- Warm the wax.
- Apply the wax.
- Remove the wax.
- Remove stray hairs with tweezers.
- Remove remaining wax.
- Prevent ingrown hairs by exfoliating the area when you shower.
How To Wax Specific Parts of Your Body
Now that you know the general step-by-step instructions for waxing at home, here is information on removing hair from different parts of your body.
At Home Biking Wax Tutorial
What is a Brazilian wax and how does it differ from a bikini wax?
In a bikini wax, hair that in typically seen around your bottom bikini is removed. In a Brazilian wax, all of the hair down there, or all except a strip, is removed. Ouch!
How to Give Yourself a Brazilian Wax at Home
Following the above skin prep steps as stated above. In addition, avoid waxing when you are on your period. You are more likely to have skin bleeding during this time.
Since I won’t be showing a tutorial on waxing my vag at home, I’m including a video from someone braver than myself.
How to Wax Eyebrows at Home
When I wax my own eyebrows, I follow steps 1-4 above. Then, when I apply the wax, I use a q-tip instead of the wooden stick for more precision.
Some people like to outline or draw on their eyebrows before waxing.
If you are worried about making a mistake or over-waxing, there are also pre-cut wax strips you can use called eyebrow shapers.
If you want to save more money, learn How to do a Boys Haircut At Home.
Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.