The most annoying part of the summer months is having to deal with unwanted hair. The summer months are usually filled with activities that bare a little more skin, so having to deal with the unwanted hairs can be a burden. If you are a person who is especially bothered by how often you have to shave and the irritation you get from it, then it might be time to consider other options of hair removal. Waxing, sugaring and threading are some of these options.  These methods of hair removal can slow down hair growth and keep skin looking and feeling smooth. If you have decided to do waxing, sugaring or threading, it is important to learn about, as well as find an esthetician that knows the proper use of each method. The 4 different ways an esthetician can remove hair from the body are by using soft wax, hard wax, a sugar paste or thread. All have advantages and drawbacks. Estheticians should use each one according to the area that hair is going to be removed from.  It is important to know about each hair removal method and how each should and should not be used during each service.  Here is a brief overview of each method of hair removal

 

Soft Wax

Soft wax is usually used for hair that is fine in texture. It is applied to the skin first and then removed with a cloth strip. Typically large areas of the body such as the legs and arms are waxed with soft wax. Soft wax can be uses on the face as long as the client does not have a sunburn or is not on retinal.

 

Pros

• Faster than sugaring or hard wax on some parts of the body such as legs or arms
• It picks up fine hairs

Cons

• Higher pain factor. Soft wax sticks to the skin more and causes more sensitivity. FYI soft wax Should not be used for a full Brazilian
• Soft wax Is sticky and must be removed with an oil such as grapeseed or coconut

 

Hard Wax

Hard wax is a warm wax that is applied to the direction of the hair growth and removed quickly after it hardens. It is used for course hairs and delicate areas. Hard wax tends to be the quickest and least painful way to get a Brazilian, but only if it is used correctly.

 

 

Pros

• It adheres to the hairs and not to the skin so it is less painful than soft wax
• It can be used for sensitive skin
• Doesn’t leave your skin sticky
• Removes course hair better than soft

 

Cons

• It doesn’t remove fine hairs as well as soft wax so it isn’t as effective when used on the legs to remove hair

 

Sugaring

Sugaring is a method originating from accent Egypt that uses all natural ingredients to remove unwanted hair anywhere on the body. While there has been an array of other methods to remove hairs throughout the years, sugaring has gained its popularity becoming one of the most popular forms of hair removal techniques today.

 

Here’s how it works:

After prepping the skin, a sugar past is first applied to the skin and pressed down slowly the opposite direction of the hair growth. The sugar is then quickly removed the direction of the hair growth leaving the skin smooth and hair free. This specific technique allows the hair to come out with less resistance.

Pros

• Sugaring is all natural. While some sugaring recipes may be more effective than others, the main ingredients usually consist of combination of sugar, lemon, glycerin and salt
• Sugaring does not leave you sticky. It leaves your skin super smooth. It is water soluble, so if there is any sugar past left on your skin, it can be easily washed off with water
• Great for sensitive skin and course hairs. Sugaring is similar to hard wax and adheres to the hair only and not the skin. Both sugaring and hard wax are what professionals in waxing should use for an underarm, bikini or Brazilian

 

Cons

• It takes more time. When applying the sugar paste your esthetician will go over the hair slow so you will not feel the hair being tugged and then remove the hair in one quick motion
• First time getting a Brazilian sugaring may be more painful then hard wax because of the hair being course and long. If you are new to sugaring or waxing, it is recommended to trim your hair down or do a combination of hard wax and sugaring for your first visit

 

Threading

Threading is an ancient method commonly practiced in eastern countries that uses a twisting motion to remove hair from follicle. It is done mostly on the face and neck.

 

 

Pros

• Can be used on the most sensitive skin. Nothing but thread touches the skin so it is great for people who have allergies or using products such as retinal
• It is very precise. It is often a popular service because it can give your brows a clean and sharp look
• Can remove very short stubby hairs

 

 

Cons

• Makes your eyes water. The discomfort is similar to tweezing but faster. However it the level of pain can have a lot to do with the skill of the esthetician
• It’s hard to find someone who can thread properly