Waxing is a form of temporary hair removal that uses heated wax to trap and pull hair out of the follicle. It comes in many different forms. The most familiar form for most is at-home kits and strips that one can apply to themselves to remove hair. While effective, they often leave patchy results and have to be performed more frequently. Additionally, certain areas such as the back, Brazilian, and back of the legs can be exceptionally hard to do yourself.
Professional waxing usually involves the application of wax and then the removal with either strips or by hand. Waxes available in these settings are of better quality and more effective at removing hair. Clients usually experience longer lasting, smoother results from professional techniques versus at home methods.
Since wax pulls the hair from the follicle, it takes longer to grow back. Additionally, it is finer and the tip less coarse. This prevents the stubble felt after shaving. So, even when the hair grows back, it is less noticeable and still remains fairly smooth.
History Of Temporary Hair Removal
Hair removal, especially for women, became a beauty standard or religious tenant as early as Ancient Egypt and India. Early forms included copper razors, tweezers, and pumice stones. Early forms of waxing used a sugar mixture that hardened and pulled the hair from the follicles. This is similar to modern sugaring.
While hair removal trends were common among the elite, such as the Elizabethan trend to pluck out their eyebrows. However, hair removal was not as common among everyday people until the 19th and 20th centuries. Due to various literature and magazines, smooth skin became highly associated with femininity and beauty. This leads women to find ways to regularly remove their body hair.
Benefits
Beyond total, temporary hair removal, waxing does come with many benefits for people to consider when choosing the right hair removal technique. Some of the benefits and advantages include:
- Smooth, hairless skin that can last four to six weeks
- Quick and efficient hair removal
- Reduces ingrown hairs
- Removes dead surface skin, providing basic exfoliation
- Warm wax application often soothing
- Eliminates the risk of razor burn
- Cuts or abrasions less likely
- Better for treating sensitive areas
- Performed by an experienced master esthetician
