Around 73 percent of women remove their leg hair at least three times per week in warm weather, estimates “Women’s Health.” While shaving tends to be a popular choice, waxing can remove your hair and leave your skin smoother for longer. Because waxing pulls the hair from the follicle, it takes longer to grow back than when you cut it through shaving.
Hair Length
Waxing when your hair is the right length will have a lot to do with your waxing success. If you wax too soon, there won’t be enough hair to grab onto. Wax hair that is too long, and it will be unnecessarily painful. Instead, wax when your hair is around 1/4 inch long, recommends KidsHealth, a division of the Nemours Foundation. You may find that you have to allow your hair to grow past your comfort zone before you’re able to wax it.
Application
Carefully warm the wax in the microwave, if the manufacturer’s instructions say so. Some wax can be applied cold, but others will need to be warmed to make them more pliable and easy to smooth on the skin. When applying to the skin, make sure to always drag the application stick or spatula in the same direction of the hair growth. This will make the application process much less painful.
Hygiene
If you need to apply wax to your body several times, never use the same stick to apply the wax twice. Sticks should never be “double dipped,” as it could taint the wax. Bacteria from your skin is picked up by the stick and then transferred back into the tub of wax. Instead, use inexpensive wooden sticks and toss them each time you put a new layer of wax.
Removal
The removal of the hair is the hardest part of waxing. It is momentarily painful, and if done incorrectly, could result in ingrown hairs and painful bumps. When you smooth the cloth strip down over the wax on your body, press firmly three times in the direction of the hair growth to ensure good adherence. Count to three, take a deep breath and pull the strip swiftly in the direction opposite to the hair growth. This will give you a cleaner, quicker finish.
After Care
To ensure the best results after your wax, make sure that you wait a few hours before going swimming, into a hot tub or into a sauna, says All Women’s Talk. Your skin will be left tender and more open to infection, so it’s best to avoid public areas. Wear loose clothing that won’t irritate your delicate skin after the wax, and avoid touching the area. After 24 hours, exfoliate the area to reduce the risk of ingrown hairs.
