Waxing is an excellent and inexpensive way to deal with most hair removal situations on the body or face. Waxing leaves the area smoother than shaving does because it pulls the hair out below the top layer of skin, which makes it grow back slower and less uniformly. You can do waxing at home by yourself, and beauty supply stores sell all the equipment you need, from the wax to spatulas, strips of cotton, and anti-inflammatory lotions. There are even hair-remover kits with strips of wax or waxlike ingredients that you just peel open, place on the skin, and then rip off. No heating or mixing. This is by far the most convenient and easiest way to peel off hair from large areas such as the legs, bikini line, and arms. For smaller areas such as the upper lip, a wax that is melted in the microwave (instead of on the stove) and applied with a small spatula offers the most control.
In hot waxing, a thin layer of heated wax is applied to the skin in the direction of the hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the wax as it cools and hardens. The wax is then pulled off quickly in the opposite direction of the hair growth, taking the uprooted hair with it. Cold waxes work similarly. Strips precoated with wax or a cool, sugar-based substance are pressed onto the skin in the direction of the hair growth and pulled off in the opposite direction.
Before you consider doing this yourself, visit an aesthetician with experience in this method of hair removal. It’s tricky to get the technique right, and getting it wrong can mean a sticky mess on your body, in your kitchen, and around your bathroom. It also smarts a bit when the hair is ripped off. You can’t wax again until the hair grows out to a noticeable length.