Wax Your Legs

Ever experienced razor burns? Coarse hair? Ingrown hair? Afraid of razors? Waxing is one of the best methods for removing hair on your body, particularly your legs. It will take off more hair than a razor and for longer. As long as you can stand some minor pain it’s a great option for hair removal.

Steps

Preparing to Wax Your Legs

  1. Buy a waxing kit. You can find waxing kits on Amazon for anywhere between $10-$20. Compare kits and decide which one you want to buy. Generally they are all pretty similar but some offer more strips and some are advertised for men or women. [1] Some beauty sites recommend using the Nair Moroccan Argan Oil Wax for Legs and Body.
  2. Prep your skin. It is important to exfoliate before you wax in order to achieve the best results. Also make sure your hair isn’t too long or too short. You want your hair to be at least a quarter of an inch long but no longer than half an inch. [1] If your hair is longer than half an inch you should trim it with scissors first, then use the wax.
    • Consonant Skin Body Scrub is a great product that can help with exfoliation. Lather it on everywhere you plan to shave at least 24 hours before. Leave it on for a few minutes and then gently clean it off with soap and water.
  3. Reserve time to wax your legs. This will take about an hour, maybe two. Don’t try to wax your legs in the ten minutes before you head out the door for work or class.
  4. Prepare mentally. The waxing process might be a little painful, so try to recognize that as you make the decision to wax your legs. It's not excruciating but you you should prepare yourself to feel some mild discomfort. As long as you're okay with that you should be good to go.

Waxing Your Legs With a Waxing Kit

  1. Apply wax evenly in the direction of hair growth. Use the wooden stick that comes inside your waxing kit to apply the wax. You also should read the specific directions that your waxing kit offers. Apply enough wax to cover your hair but not too much. [1]
  2. Press the waxing strip down on top of the wax. Make sure you press down firmly. You should put the strip on in the direction of your hair growth. Leave a leftover bit of strip hanging off at the end not touching any of your hair. This will serve as your handle and make it much easier to pull off. [2]
  3. Pull the strip off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Do this fast and use your leftover piece as a grip. Make sure you are holding the skin taut with your other hand while you pull the strip off. Try to relax, the more you tense up the more painful it’s going to be. If it hurts after you pull off the strip push your palm down on your leg and apply some pressure. This will quickly relieve the pain.
  4. Repeat the process over the rest of your leg. You’ll have to do this anywhere you want waxed. Once you get the hang of it the whole process should become faster and easier.
  5. Apply Aloe Vera or moisturizer. If you’re in pain Aloe Vera is probably your best choice, if not you can just stick to moisturizer. This will help to soothe your legs in the immediate aftermath of the waxing and make your legs feel smoother the next day. Apply everywhere you waxed.

Waxing Your Legs With Sugar Wax

  1. Make the sugar wax. Combine sugar, lemon juice, and water into a saucepan and heat on low. Make sure it doesn't boil over. You’ll need to use a food thermometer to measure the temperature of the mix. It is done when the thermometer reads 250 F. [3]
  2. Remove pot from heat and leave to cool. You should leave it for at least half an hour before you do anything else with it. Definitely do not apply the mixture to your legs yet! That will hurt.
  3. Transfer the wax into the jar or container. If you aren’t going to use it immediately that’s okay, but when you do want to use it make sure you put in microwave without the lid for 30-40 seconds or until the wax resembles a honey like state. If it becomes solid it’s much harder to spread out over your legs. [3]
  4. Test a small amount of the wax on your skin to see if you have an allergic reaction or sensitivity. Apply a little cooled wax to your body to test for a rash or redness. If there is none then you can continue
  5. Wash your legs in warm water to relax the hairs. Pat off the water and apply baby powder. This isn’t necessary but it could help with the process and make your legs less sensitive. [4]
  6. Check your legs to see in which direction your hair is growing. See if the hair is growing all in one direction or in different patches. You are going to have to apply the wax and waxing strip in the direction of your hair growth.
  7. Test the temperature of the wax by applying a little to your hand. If it feels warm, let it cool a bit more. An easy way to test when to use it is to stir it - if its too runny then chances are you must wait more.
  8. Apply a thin layer to your legs with the spatula in the direction of your hair growth. Only do this after it is sufficiently cooled.[4] When you spread the wax in the direction of hair growth the hair should lay flat and smooth with no hairs poking up.
  9. Apply the strip of cloth and rub/massage the strip on to the wax covered part of your leg. Rubbing it up and down is the best way. Now wait for wax to set or until you feel resistance when you try pulling the strip up.
  10. Grab the strip by the end piece and then pull the strip away in the opposite direction of hair growth. Pull the skin taut by holding down on any loose skin with your hands before you do this. Do it as quickly as possible and in one clean piece. When pulled away properly, there should be little to moderate discomfort.
  11. Repeat until your entire leg is hair free. Hopefully the process doesn’t take too long, but make sure that you are being thorough. There’s nothing worse than checking to see you missed a spot a few days later. Pull the skin taut by holding down on any loose skin with your hands.
  12. Wash your legs with cold water, never with hot or warm water. Pat dry and apply generous amounts of moisturizer to relax your skin. Good job, you’ve waxed your legs using sugar wax!

Getting a Professional Wax

  1. Search for leg wax services in your area. You can use an Internet search or the yellow pages to find what you’re looking for. Most areas have spa waxing treatments available for reasonable prices. If you’re hoping for a professional grade waxing you might as well hire a professional!
  2. Call to make an appointment. Try not to miss your appointment. Depending on if you want your legs waxed fully or just the bottom portion the treatment could cost you anywhere from $ 30 - $80 dollars. It’s slightly more expensive than waxing at home but you won’t have to lift a finger.
  3. Show up for your appointment. That’s it! When you enter the spa tell whoever is working at the front desk your name and that you have an appointment. The whole process shouldn’t take longer then two hours but the spa will let you know when you book your appointment.



Tips

  • Make sure you pull in opposite direction of hair growth or the hair won't be pulled out as cleanly.
  • Make sure to tighten skin for best results and decrease pain.
  • Divide your leg into upper and lower sections and completely wax each section before moving on.
  • Pulling the strip too slowly can be painful. Also, repeatedly waxing the same area can result in a rash which can be itchy or painful.
  • Don't wax or apply wax to areas with cuts, infections or any type of injury.
  • Skin remains quite sensitive at least up to 12 hours after waxing. Apply cooling moisturizer.
  • Washing the skin with cold water and applying cooling moisturizer immediately after waxing can also help avoid the appearance of an itchy rash.
  • Don't let foreign material get into the wax
  • Do not let the wax be too cold, or too viscous. If it is too thick in consistency, then application of a thin layer won't be possible and pulling the strip will be painful with little removal of hair.
  • The mixture should be viscous enough to be applied in a thin layer on the skin without causing any discomfort.
  • Sugar wax can be hot right after you microwave it, so be cautious.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://hairremoval.about.com/od/waxing/ht/howto-legwax.htm
  2. ↑ http://beautyeditor.ca/2014/06/23/how-to-wax-your-legs
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.diynatural.com/sugar-wax-recipe-how-to-make/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.diynatural.com/sugar-wax-recipe-how-to-make/
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