The History of Waxing for Hair Removal
You may be surprised to learn that the method of waxing to remove unwanted body hair can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt. There, wives of Royalty and the well-to-do looked at hair removal as a way to remain young and forever beautiful. That concept was picked up and carried out into the world with the Greeks and Turks as well.
The dictionary defines waxing, at least for hair removal", as: "...a temporary method of hair removal which removes the hair at the root. New hairs do not grow back in the waxed area for three to eight weeks. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, bikini area, legs, arms, back, abdomen and feet".
No matter what you think you know, don't be fooled for a minute into thinking that waxing is for women only. Modern trends in fashion and personal appearance have many men waxing their bodies for cosmetic reasons. Before that, many athletes such as bodybuilders and swimmers have been waxing for years to improve appearance and performance.
Most hair removal waxes are comprised of some proportionate mixture of paraffin or beeswax, some natural oils or fats, and then a specially designed resin to help the wax adhere to the skin. Some brands of wax will also add Vitamin E or other supplements.
If you think that you might want to try waxing for hair removal, the first step in the process, whether you are a male or female, is to decide if you want to use a "hot wax" or "cold wax" hair removal technique.
As you might suspect, the hot wax method involves heating the wax to a comfortable temperature. Then, a very thin layer of this wax is spread onto the area to be treated following the direction of the hair growth. Once the wax has cooled, it is quickly torn off, in the direction opposite to the hair growth, and the hair is, somewhat painfully, removed with it.
With the cold wax process, rather than applying the wax directly, strips of cloth are pre-coated with wax. The strips are then applied to the area to be treated, rubbed in the direction of hair growth, and then pulled off quickly in the opposite direction as with the hot wax hair removal method.
Although hot waxing techniques are generally a bit more messy than cold wax ones, many people find that the hot wax gives better results.
Skin Treatment After Waxing
You can apply a non-perfumed moisturizer to the treated area if you want to. Moisturizers that are fortified with Vitamin B and/or Aloe vera are also good choices. However, you should avoid the following activities for at least 24 hours after any waxing hair removal process:
- Swimming
- Using a Spa or Hot Tub
- Sunbathing
- Applying perfume, aftershave or deodorant to the treated area
For safety, you should always check to make sure that hot wax is below scalding or burning temperature before applying. People with diabetes should consult a doctor before waxing. Never, ever, wax over sunburned skin or peeling skin, lesions or infections, moles, warts, skin abrasions, rashes, or varicose veins. Never wax the eyelashes, nose or ear hairs, nipple hair, or hair which is growing directly on the genitals (the bikini area is okay).
There is a condition known as hidradenitis suppurativa. If you have this, you should avoid waxing. Click Here to learn more about hidradenitis suppurativa and waxing.
Overall, I would say that waxing is a great solution for the temporary removal of unwanted hair if you're tough enough to stand a little pain.
