Unwanted hair growth on the body is troublesome and annoying, not just for ladies, but also, nowadays also for men.
In fact, the New York Times has reported the increasing popularity of hairlessness among men.
It may sound unconventional, but the practice of trimming and shaving body hair is gaining ground, even among the more conservative in our society.
Men might appreciate a bit of hair on their chest, but back hair raises serious concerns.
Apart from shaving, anyone would enjoy an alternative and more efficient method of removing unnecessary hair from the body.
In this article, I have delved into the process of waxing and particularly the use of homemade wax for hair removal.
Waxing, or, the semi-permanent removal of hair is an increasingly popular method used by those who want to remove hair on various parts of their bodies.
Now, if you are looking about how to wax, check out an article written here (to wax the pubic region) or here (to wax your back).
Table of Contents
What Is Wax?
It is essential to understand what wax is and its significance in the waxing process.
Wax is a term used to refer to various similar substances, consisting of a group of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters, usually solid at room temperature.
It is a product with many uses and can get produced naturally or artificially. Insects or even some plants can produce it, but it can also be made locally at home.
Therefore, let me take you through the process of making wax at home, which would then let you be able to remove excess hair, especially back hair.
This wax gets made from different products, which often include simple and readily available products like honey or sugar.
The Pros & Cons of Wax Made at Home
If you have questions galore related to the process of making wax, rest assured. It’s quite easy. In the next part, I will discuss the pros and cons to shed a bit of light on this increasingly popular topic.
Pro. Wives often appreciate it when men look cleaned up. That’s just a fact.
Waxing will often achieve this much-needed look in a more efficient way than shaving.
Pro. What’s more, waxing will save you time, since it will save you the trouble of shaving now and then. Wax made at home makes this even more convenient since you can do it from the comfort of your home.
Pro. Wax is also highly affordable since you can make it from readily available ingredients. It also gives you the opportunity to perform the procedure at home, at your comfort and convenience, thus adding to its cheapness.
While wax is advantageous, it can be disadvantageous in some ways.
Con. The preparation procedure requires keen attention, especially during the heating stage. If you overheat or remove the mixture from the heat too early, it fails to achieve the expected results.
Con. It can also be expensive when you engage the services of a professional aesthetician. An aesthetician can be required since you may not be able to apply the wax to some areas of the body, which necessitates the need to engage the services of someone who can help in the process.
How to Make Wax at Home
Let’s start with an incredibly easy, but highly effective homemade wax. It’s called a “strip wax” and is a great place to start.
Strip wax is common and can be made at home using water, honey, and sugar. You can also use lemon in your recipe.
These ingredients are readily available hence making the production easy to perform.
The procedure is quite straightforward.
Gather the ingredients.
All you need is a teaspoonful of brown sugar, some honey and some water. The exact proportion isn’t particularly important.
What is important is the consistency after you stir everything. So, don’t worry about how much honey and water you need, right now.
Mix Ingredients
First, combine the ingredients in a container that is suitable to place in a microwave. You want a consistency that holds together but isn’t too thick. Something that is a little less thick than a cake mix is generally fine.
Cook the Mixture
The next step involves cooking the mixture in a microwave or a stove until it bubbles and turns brown.
Make sure you let it cook just long enough to avoid it being too sticky and not being candy. It may be challenging, but with enough precautions, it is simple to achieve.
Let Cool
After cooking the mixture, you should let it cool for some time. You are free to dilute the mix if it is too thick. At this point, you can continue with the waxing procedure.
How to Apply Homemade Wax
We’re going to start by introducing an incredibly easy, basic method to start out with.
It’s called “strip waxing”, and yes, it involves you getting rid of your clothes, but not in front of anyone.
At least not, yet….
You start by spreading the wax thinly on the skin. Don’t worry if you mess up, because rest assured, you will.
It’s going to take a few tries to get the hang of this, so don’t worry if you put too little wax on, or too much. You’ll get it after a few tries.
Once you have done this, you should then take a piece of cloth or a strip of paper (cloth works better) and press it on the wax layer.
Then remove the fabric or paper in a quick movement following the direction opposite of the hair growth.
Waxing can also be done using hot wax, in which the wax gets applied in a thick layer. This method is especially suitable for those who have sensitive skin.
Once the wax gets applied, and it has cooled down on the skin area, it is then removed in the usual way, using a strip of paper or cloth.
Safety Considerations
As a safety precaution, I would recommend you engage the services of a professional esthetician if you simply aren’t up to it.
It will prevent some mistakes that may often occur in the process, but more importantly, you’ll get a feel for what to do.
Waxing may also come with specific complications, especially for those with oversensitive skin.
It is therefore advisable to take medical attention when you notice rashes or any irritation on your skin after the waxing.
However, when this occurs it is likely to last a few hours and therefore seeking medical advice should only be taken as a safety precaution after it persists.
While applying the wax, it is vital to make sure that you correctly use the wax to avoid it getting messy. It is often hard to remove wax from surfaces and materials.
During the process of wax preparation, make sure you follow the procedure carefully, noting to avoid overcooking the mixture.
I also recommended that you have all the necessary instruments you need for the process, including a spatula with which to apply the wax once the process is over.
Follow this process, don’t be silly, use some common sense and your waxing session (first or fifteenth) should be relatively pain-free. Well, there will be a little bit of pain, but it’s all about the results!