Waxing or using a special wax may be more painful than shaving, but it will keep your armpit hair free for 4-6 weeks. You can reduce pain and prevent ingrown armpit hairs by preparing your armpits and using the right type of wax or wax. Here's what you need to know.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Prepare Before Waxing
Step 1. Prepare your armpits
You can wax your armpits without doing much preparation beforehand, but if you follow these easy steps, the pain will be less and the waxing will be more effective:
- Clean armpits thoroughly. Wash with a good soap, and scrub lightly to exfoliate the skin. If you use hot water, the underarm hair and the surrounding skin will soften, making it easier to pull out the hair.
- Trim a little armpit hair. If your armpit hair is longer than 0.6 cm, you will need to trim it with scissors to a length of 0.6 cm. This will make the waxing process less painful.
Step 2. Use an old or not very good towel
The wax will likely splatter and fall apart if you attempt to wax yourself, so it's a good idea to remove all clothing or wrap yourself in a cloth or towel you don't like if the wax gets soiled and sticky.
Step 3. Powder underarms
Any powder can be used. Take a large sponge and spread the powder over the underarm area, making sure to remove any excess powder.
Step 4. Heat the candle
Make sure you use a wax intended for removing leg and body hair, not a wax intended for use on the face. Follow the directions on the package and heat the wax in a microwave or wax heater. The wax is ready to use when it is completely melted and runny.
- If this is your first time waxing, do a test on the back of your hand, which is the less sensitive skin, to make sure the wax isn't too hot.
- A set of body candles is usually available at drugstores or pharmacies and at beauty supply stores.
- You can make your own sugar-based body wax using the following recipe: mix 2 cups sugar with 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Heat the mixture over low heat over the stove until the sugar dissolves and becomes a sticky syrup. The mixture is now ready to use.
Method 2 of 3: Apply Wax
Step 1. Use a waxing spoon to apply the wax to your underarms
Take enough hot wax, then apply it to your armpits in the direction of hair growth. Continue to apply again, always in the same direction, until all the armpit hair is covered with wax.
- Some people have armpit hair that grows in more than one direction. If that's the case for you, you'll need to apply wax per section per waxing direction.
- Do not apply wax in the opposite direction. Your armpit hair will stand up and tangle, and won't be completely pulled out.
Step 2. Attach the waxing paper sheet
Take one sheet of waxing paper that comes with your waxing kit. Place the paper over the waxed armpit area and slide it once with your hand, in the direction of hair growth to position it, instead of placing it directly over the wax.
- If you're making your own "wax" out of sugar, use a piece of clean cotton cloth as waxing paper.
- Leave the edges of the waxing paper out of the way so that you can easily hold it to pull it out later.
- If you can't cover all the waxed areas with one piece of paper, do it gradually.
Step 3. Remove the waxing paper
Hold the paper by the unwaxed edge, and pull it quickly in the direction of the hair growth. Paper, wax, and armpit hair must be carried along. Repeat the process from the beginning for your other armpit.
- If the wax and armpit hair doesn't get carried away by the paper, you'll have to try again. Use new waxing paper.
- If this process is too painful, remove the wax with olive oil and warm water, and shave the armpit hair instead of waxing it.
Method 3 of 3: Solve
Step 1. Check your armpits in the mirror
If you see a piece of hair remaining, apply the wax again, stick the waxing paper on, and pull it off.
Step 2. Remove excess wax with oil
Use the oil that came with your waxing set or with a little olive or almond oil to scrub the waxed area. The oil will loosen the wax from your skin, making it easy to peel it off painlessly.
Step 3. Clean the armpits
After all the wax has been removed, wash your underarms using warm water and a mild soap. You can apply aloe vera if your armpits are still sore.
- If the waxing process causes the armpit to bleed, wear a small bandage until the bleeding subsides.
- Do not apply deodorant, moisturizer, or other creams and lotions for several hours after waxing.
Tips
- Have everything ready before you start waxing. That way you don't run to and fro picking up these things while your hands are held high.
- The best place to wax is in the bathroom so you can clean it all up once you're done.
- Baby oil is also great for softening underarm hair.
- If you're making your own candles, the thickness should be such that if you scoop them out with a spoon and pour them back into the container, the wax may flow as a small stream of viscous liquid.
- You can even wax using paper!
- The wax should have a honey-like consistency and should not be too hot.
