Having fine hair on the face, arms, legs, or other body parts sometimes makes people insecure. To make the skin look smoother, many people do waxing, which is removing fine hair using heated wax. For those of you who want to try waxing yourself at home, let's check out the tips!

What is Waxing?

Waxing is a technique of removing hair from its follicle using liquid wax applied on the skin. After the liquid wax is applied to the skin and then covered with waxing paper, the paper is then pulled out in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

Unlike removing hair with a razor, waxing is claimed to give smoother results. Although the skin also becomes more prone to irritation, the hot wax also has the potential to cause cuts. However, as long as the preparation and aftercare are done well, there will usually be no problems due to waxing.

This process is also more popular because it is considered to delay hair growth longer due to the entire hair root being removed. The results of shaving will usually grow back after 3-7 days while waxing can last longer for several weeks.

Waxing is relatively safe to do on all areas of the body that have fine hair such as arms, legs, and intimate areas. Some people also wax their faces, but experts do not recommend this method because the facial skin is relatively thinner and prone to irritation compared to other areas of the body.

Safe Waxing Tips

To wax, you can do it at a beauty clinic or home. If it's your first time waxing, it's best to do it at a beauty clinic with professionals.

For those of you who want to wax, you should pay attention to your skin condition first. Some of the following conditions are not recommended. Avoid waxing if you:

• Have a sunburn
• Have an open wound
• Have recently undergone a skin procedure
• Currently using bleaching, acid or peeling products, and retinol products either taken orally or applied topically
• Take acne medication by mouth
• Take antibiotics taken by mouth or applied topically

But for those of you who want to try waxing yourself at home, here's how to do safe waxing according to recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology:

Ensure optimal hair length

Before waxing, make sure the length of the hair to be removed has reached about a quarter to three-quarters of an inch. If the hair is longer, clip it shorter to make waxing less messy and painful.

Avoid retinol and retinoid products before waxing

Before waxing your face, avoid using skincare products that contain retinol for about 2-5 days. Retinol can make facial skin sensitive so it is prone to irritation if waxed. 

Clean the area to be waxed

Before waxing, gently clean the area you will be waxing to remove dirt, dead skin cells, and skin care products. Apply a cold compress on the area to help ease the pain before waxing. Afterward, dry the skin thoroughly to allow the wax to stick properly. 

Warm the wax

Follow the instructions on the packaging. Before applying the wax, always test the temperature of the wax by applying a small amount to the inside of the wrist. The wax should be warm but not too hot to cause pain or burning on the skin. 

Apply the wax

Before applying the wax on a larger area of skin, you can apply the wax on a small section of skin for a test run. Once the wax is applied, place a strip of cloth over the wax and press firmly. Leave the fabric on the skin for two to three seconds.

Remove the fabric strip

To remove the cloth strip, tighten your skin with one hand and use the other hand to pull the cloth quickly in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

Apply a cold compress

After waxing, you can apply a cold compress on the waxed area to soothe the skin. Avoid bathing in hot water and apply a moisturizer that does not clog pores.

Waxing is safe if you follow the instructions on the packaging. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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