If you’re a good candidate for facial waxing, you may want to have the supplies for do-it-yourself waxing at home.  After all, you may not always have enough time to visit a salon when an opportunity arises that you want to look your best for.  Women with problematic facial hair in particular often feel they’re fighting an uphill battle in removing unwanted hair growth.

Waxing doesn’t have to be difficult.  As long as you’re thoroughly familiar with the process, have all of the right supplies, and don’t overly heat your wax, you can remove hair with no problem.

Supplies for DIY Waxing

• Facial wax warmer
• Wax
• Pre-wax facial cleanser
• Baby powder
• Cloth strips of muslin or cotton
• Applicators
• Oil-based wax remover or petroleum jelly
• Aloe-based gel or after-wax facial lotion
• Tweezers

Step-by-Step Facial Waxing

The hair you want to remove needs to be at least a quarter of an inch long for the waxing to be effective.  Heat the wax, which could take a long while, depending on the type of wax warmer you have.  If you have sensitive skin, cream wax is best; it’s effective yet less sticky than honey waxes.

Give yourself about 20 minutes for a facial wax.

Preparing to wax, besides getting the wax warmer heated up:

• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Pull your hair back away from your face.  Otherwise, it could be yanked out as you’re waxing your face.
• Wash your face with a make-up remover, which should also remove oils from your face.
• Cleanse your face with a pre-wax cleanser.
• Pat your face dry.
• Apply a light layer of baby powder on your face.

Waxing

• Make sure that the wax is the appropriate temperature, according to the directions with your wax and wax warmer.
• When the wax is ready, apply wax to a small section in the direction that your hair grows, using the applicator.  There should be enough wax to cover the hair; don’t put too much wax or the process doesn’t work as well because the wax is too thick to remove.
• Apply the cloth strip in the direction of hair growth, and be careful to leave a strip of cloth at the end that’s not attached to hairs. Firmly smooth the hand over the strip a few times, in the direction of hair growth.
• Hold the unattached end of the strip.  Pull skin taut with one hand and quickly pull the strip off in the direction that’s opposite to hair growth.  If some hairs were missed, put the strip back and pull it off again.
• Repeat above steps until all unwanted facial hair is removed.  Be careful that you don’t apply wax on the same spot twice, since it can cause an injury or irritation on your skin.
• Tweeze any unwanted hairs that remain.
• Use wax remover, petroleum jelly, or wax remover to remove any remaining wax residue.
• Soothe your skin by applying gel or after-wax lotion.

By Stevie McHugh