If there’s one positive to take from working at home and self-isolation, it’s the extra hour or so we save from commuting. And how better to use that time then a bit of self-care? Now, if you’re a regular waxer and prefer to be hair free (and of course it's a choice, we think both are fabulous), waxing at home could be the current solution to smoother sailing. In your own time, and your own house, you can easily remove any unwanted fuzz. We spoke to Lainey Everett, the pro waxer based at The House of Charles Worthington, to get her top tips.
What should be in our at-home waxing kit?
‘You need wax warmer (or a microwave), paper strips, spatulas, tweezers, oil for aftercare (I like almond, olive or coconut) talc for pre-care and couch roll/towels to protect just about a metre circumference of the floor - you will spill somewhere!’
What prep should you do before waxing?
‘Before you wax, exfoliate your skin gently so that you remove the dead skin cells - it will give you a better chance of grabbing more hair. Exfoliating also helps keep the ingrown hairs at bay.’
‘First time waxers, make sure your hair is at least half a centimetre long. Regular waxers – just under half a centimetre. You don’t need to trim your hair if you’re regularly waxing at home.’
Step by step, how should you wax at home?
First up, temperature: ‘Strip wax works best at around 37 degrees – this is also our natural body temp. Be sure to test the wax before you apply it on the inner side of your arm. If you don’t feel a heat reaction immediately then it’s the right temperature.’
Next, section size: ‘With upper thighs and bikini area, use smaller patches of wax and apply cautiously.’
Removing the wax: ‘Using strip wax, pull the strip away from the direction of the hair growth – so for legs and bikini this is normally an upwards direction. With hot wax, you pull the wax off in the direction of the hair growth – for this, I would recommend going to a professional as the wax dries completely hard and can be tricky to remove if you panic.’
Repeat waxing: ‘If you find the hair hasn’t lifted with the wax, it could be that the hairs are too short. But, if you’re sure they’re not, you can go over the area again – just don’t do this more than twice as you’ll take a little skin with you and irritate it. Remember, it is rare that all the hairs come out after just two rounds (especially legs and bikini area), so to get the more stubborn and sparse ones, tweezers work best.’
What aftercare should you do post-wax?
Straight after you’ve waxed avoid hot showers, baths, exercise and fake tan as these can all irritate the skin. ‘Keep the waxed area clean and apply a soothing cream or oil to the area.’ To prevent ingrown hairs, start to exfoliate the area after a few days using a mitt. The recommended time to wax is every 4-6 weeks, and do not shave in-between.
Shop your at home waxing kit here:
At home waxing kit
1 of 3Mylee Waxing Kit with Honey Soft Wax, £35
For just £35, this kit comes complete with everything you need to remove unwanted hairs. There's a wax heater to maintain the ideal wax temperature, honey crème wax, disposable waxing spatulas, pre care gel and after care lotion.
2 of 3Nair Wax Strips, £6.99
Nair's selection of face and body waxing strips are a great easy choice if you don't want the added faff of heating up wax. They're ready to use straight from the box.
3 of 3Veet EasyWax, £5.90
A heated roll-on wax system that quickly and effectively removes hairs.