Buzz
It’s great to treat yourself to a professional waxing service at a salon now and then, but there are times when you can’t wait for your next appointment. If you’d rather skip the salon and try making hair removal wax at home, this simple recipe is just for you.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250ml) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (250ml) honey
- 1/2 cup (125ml) lemon juice
Steps
Hair Removal Waxing
Melt the sugar. Place the sugar in a medium-sized pan and heat it on a slightly high setting until the sugar starts to turn into caramel. Remember, don’t stir the sugar—just occasionally tilt the pan. It will begin to smell quite delicious!
Add honey and lemon juice to the melted sugar, and mix with a wooden spoon. Be careful: the mixture will bubble and will be very hot.
- Continue stirring until the mixture melts completely and thickens. If it becomes too thick, add a spoonful of water and stir until the consistency is perfect.
Let the wax cool slightly before use. If you want to use it right away, place the wax in the refrigerator to cool it faster.
Using the Wax for Hair Removal
Check the length of the hair you want to remove. The ideal length is about 3-6 mm.
- If the hair is too short, the wax mixture won’t be able to remove the hair from the roots.
- If the hair is too long, you may feel uncomfortable during the waxing process, but it shouldn't be unbearable.
Prepare some cloth strips. If you don’t have ready-made strips, you can cut or tear fabric from an old linen or cotton shirt.
- To reinforce the edges of the fabric, sew around the strip with a sewing machine.
Sprinkle baby powder on the area where you want to remove hair before applying the wax. Baby powder or cornstarch will absorb moisture and oils from your skin, allowing the wax to stick to the hair (not the skin), which helps reduce the pain when waxing.
Apply the wax. Use a medical tongue depressor or a kitchen tool to spread the wax onto the area you want to treat. Be sure to apply the wax in the direction of hair growth.
Press the fabric onto the waxed area. Take a fabric strip, place it over the wax, and smooth it down in the direction of hair growth.
Let the wax cool completely. Gently pull the fabric from the edge to check if it has the necessary adhesion.
Pull the fabric off. Keep your skin taut and pull the fabric in the opposite direction of hair growth. Do this quickly and decisively. Avoid pulling at a 90° angle; instead, use a smaller angle.
Store any remaining wax in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that wax should only be stored in the fridge for a few weeks. If you plan to store it for months, place it in the freezer.
Advice
- If you’re waxing areas of your body that are visible, such as your face, you can apply a cooling gel after waxing to reduce redness. If you tend to get redness, consider waxing on a day when you won’t be going outside.
- Wax residue might remain on your skin, so rinse it off with warm water. If that doesn’t work, boil some water with a tablespoon of baking soda. Let the water cool down and rinse your skin again.
- If the wax hardens before you can use it, warm it up using a double boiler method to melt it.
- Two days before waxing, exfoliate your skin using a scrub or loofah.
Warning
- Avoid microwaving the wax. Microwaves can heat the wax unevenly, potentially creating hot spots. Instead, warm the wax by placing it in a bowl of hot water.
- Always double-check the temperature of the wax before applying it to your skin.
