DIY Waxing

At home waxing usually calls to mind images of boxed Sally Hansen waxing kits, sticky wax all over the bathroom and quite a bit of pain. Switch it up by trying this DIY wax recipe that utilizes items you already have in your kitchen. The wax itself is made of sugar which easily dissolves with a little soap and water. We can’t guarantee that it’ll be painless but at least there won’t be an aesthetician and room full of clients to hear you scream.

Prep Work:

Examine the area you’ll be waxing. Is the hair at least a ¼ inch long? If not wait a couple of days so that the wax can get a good grip on your hair and ensure a cleaner wax. The area should be clean, dry and not moisturized. If you’ve applied lotion recently the wax will have a hard time pulling the hair out. Skin that is a little greasy will benefit from a quick dusting of cornstarch or baby powder. You can, and should, moisturize when you’re done. Before you start making the wax its a good idea to take two ibuprofen so they have time to kick in before you start the waxing process.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 Tbsps Lemon Juice
• 2 Tbsps Water

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients in a saucepan over high heat. At this point you cannot let this pan out of your sight! Stir constantly and monitor the color change of the mixture. If you happen to have a sugar candy thermometer then bring the mixture up to 240 degrees. If you don’t then remove the mixture from the stove when it becomes a light amber color.If you wait too long then the wax will burn but if you remove it from the flame too quickly the mixture will be too runny. Always err on the side of caution because you can always return it to the stove to cook it a bit longer. If you burn the sugar you’ll have to start from scratch.It’s important to remember that what you have in front of you right now is cooked sugar that is about as hot as a branding iron. Wait for the mixture to cool before you apply it to the area. The wax should be warm and a little tougher than consistency of silly putty.

Pull the skin taut in the area you’d like to wax. This will allow the wax to get a better grip of the hair and increase the chance of removing the entire follicle. With your other hand firmly spread the wax in the direction of the hair growth. You will not be using a cloth so get a good grip on the end of the wax strip. Finally pull quickly and let the expletives, screams and groans fly. Repeat until you are done, or want to pass out.