One of the biggest questions Estheticians have is “Why Is My Wax Not Removing Hair?” Well, it could be a plethora of reasons. So, let’s break it down and find the reason or reasons! For additional info, check out our blog: hkwax.com/wax-not-removing-hair
1. The Wax
First of all, make sure you are purchasing a high quality hard wax (I ONLY recommend Mermaid Wax, but if you don't take my advice, just don't buy in a store -high quality hard wax is not available in stores). Hard wax without a lot of alcohol in it is best since this will ensure it doesn’t break upon removal. A premium hard wax will also stay elastic and tacky even after it is applied. Waxes from places like Walmart or Amazon are going to be very low in quality. You get what you pay for adage definitely applies to wax. Before you buy in bulk, we recommend purchasing a sample to test it out!
2. Skin Prep
Prepping the area in the right way will drastically change the way the wax adheres to the hair! Clean, clean, CLEAN! It is important to remove all make up, dirt, sweat, oil or lotion from the skin before applying the wax. After cleansing the skin, if needed, apply a thin layer of pre wax oil (we use sesame seed oil). Depending on the area, we will then use a little bit of baby powder to soak up any excess oil or sweat. Works like a charm!
3. Exfoliate!
We cannot stress how important exfoliating between waxing appointments is. After waxing, the hair gets softer, finer and thinner. This means it is harder for the hair to push through the skin which is why exfoliating is so important. Exfoliating will get rid of the layer of dead skin on the surface so the hair can easily push through the skin. If you don’t exfoliate, the hair can get trapped and will cause an ingrown hair. We recommend exfoliating once or twice a week (especially for our brazilian waxing and leg waxing clients) depending on the client’s hair.
4. Applying Wax
Using enough pressure when applying a wax strip is crucial to make sure the wax is getting as close to the root of the hair as possible. If you don’t use the proper pressure, the wax will cause the hair to snap instead of gripping the hair from the follicle. So push down and even, we promise you won’t hurt the client! The first wax strips should be applied in the direction of the hair growth. These strips will get rid of the bulk of the hair -about 90% of the initial amount will be removed. We will then apply “clean up strips” which are applied in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This will get rid of the rest of the hair -you know, those stubborn little guys!
5. Hair Length
No, not from Oaktown, too short as in length! The hair needs to be about the size of a grain of rice in order to be waxed. Depending on the customer, this means roughly 3-6 weeks of hair growth. If the hair is too short, the wax cannot suction cup the hair which will result in the hair breaking at the surface. Anything longer than that will make it harder for the wax to reach the skin and can cause more discomfort.
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Every hard wax performs differently. It’s important to practice with the hard wax that you are using so you can understand how long it takes to cool. Leaving the wax strip on for too long will cause the wax to break so the hair cannot be pulled from the root. We like to use a hard wax that can be left on after applying multiple strips so we can be more efficient with our time -elasticity is key. However, a variety of factors not related to wax can affect your timing AND these factors can vary throughout the day! Client’s skin temperature, air circulation, room temperature, and humidity level all come into play. Everything from the time of year or whether the hvac system is running can play a role. What exactly is the correct amount of time? The answer to this will just take practice and getting a “feel” for the hard wax you are using. Practice makes perfect!
The wax I use: mermaidwax.com?sca_ref=5420535.lFJfjjrUam
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