Waxing is the one of the best, oldest and most popular hair removal methods. Its popularity is based on several factors including it’s effectiveness and relatively low cost. But the practice is as much an art as it is a science. Done improperly waxing can lift the skin and cause permanent scarring. For safety reasons and to achieve best results, waxing – especially in hard to reach and sensitive areas – is best left to professionals. If you are determined to do it yourself it is highly recommended that you visit a waxing professional at least once so that you can see how it is done properly before trying it yourself.

Whether you are a professional or a home user it is important to follow some basic guidelines to achieve safe and effective waxing results. This article describes key concepts in how depilatory waxes are formulated and the basic techniques and best practices for safe and effective waxing with soft wax. A later article will describe techniques and best practices for hard wax.

First, we must define the difference between soft wax and hard wax. It is important to note at the outset that the difference in quality from one brand of wax to the next can be significant. Cheap waxes typically use inferior raw materials resulting in finished products with inferior performance and safety characteristics.

Both soft and hard depilatory waxes are designed to be melted and applied to the skin. How the products “cure” or dry on the skin and how they are removed are the essential difference. Soft wax cures slowly and remains tacky. Once applied it must be removed using a waxing strip (a piece of fabric designed for the purpose). Hard wax, often called no-strip wax, cures firmly so that it may be lifted without a strip.

Hard or no-strip waxes tend to be more gentle than soft waxes and are often the esthetician’s choice for waxing sensitive areas such as the lip, bikini and underarm. In general, soft waxes bind and pull hairs more forcefully than hard waxes. However, depending on how the wax is formulated and which secondary ingredients are included, there is considerable variation from one soft wax to the next.

For example, Bombshell Wax sells two types of soft wax, Bombshell Wax Lavender Tea Tree Wax and Bombshell Wax Rose Petal Crème Wax. Bombshell Wax Lavender Tea Tree wax is a translucent wax that goes on in a very thin layer, almost like cellophane. It is ideal for speed waxing larger body areas such as full legs or arms, backs and chests. The Bombshell Wax Rose Petal Crème Wax formula includes titanium dioxide to create a slightly thicker, opaque, cream style wax that goes on a bit thicker to surround and lift even coarse, curly or stubborn hairs. The Bombshell Wax Rose Petal Crème wax is gentler than the Bombshell Wax Lavender Tea Tree wax and is therefore better suited for the face and sensitive areas. The point is that subtle variations in product formulation can make an appreciable difference in how a particular wax performs.

To wax with soft wax, begin by choosing a high quality soft wax such as Bombshell Wax or Cirepil.

Melt the wax in a professional wax warmer on low heat until just liquefied. Alternatively, if you use Bombshell Wax or another wax packaged in a polypropylene container, heat the wax in the microwave in 1-2 minute increments until just liquefied. Do not overheat. Keep in mind that waxes vary in how fast they heat.

Clean the skin with an antiseptic, antibacterial, mild exfoliating liquid such as Tonic 86™ or Tend Skin. Apply the liquid to a cotton ball or cotton round and apply a very thin layer to the area(s) you intend to wax. Do not use Tonic 86™ or Tend Skin on previously exfoliated skin, especially the face.

Pat the skin dry and powder lightly.

Test the temperature of the wax on the wrist using an applicator or spatula. If it’s too hot, allow the wax to cool.

Dip a wooden applicator or spatula (think tongue depressor) into the wax. Scrape the underside of the spatula on the edge of the wax jar so that wax is on only one side of the spatula. Twirl the spatula over the jar until you have control of the wax and you have an ounce or two on the spatula. Spread a thin, even layer of wax in the same direction as hair growth. Repeat: spread the wax in same direction as hair growth (if the follicle is the start and the tip of the hair is the end, spread from the follicle towards the tip).

Do not allow the wax to harden.

Cover the wax with a high quality waxing strip such as Bombshell Las Vegas Strips™ and press firmly in downward strokes in the same direction as hair growth.

Hold the skin firmly with one hand. With the other hand, quickly whisk the strip in the opposite direction of hair growth staying close and parallel to the skin. Warning: it is extremely important to remove the strip low and parallel to the skin. If you lift straight up you risk lifting the skin, causing bruising.

Using your hand, immediately apply pressure to the just-waxed skin to soothe tingling nerve endings.

Using a waxing strip, press over and lift and wax residue left on the skin.

To prevent ingrown hairs and break outs, immediately after waxing apply an antiseptic antibacterial, mild exfoliating liquid such as Tonic 86™ or Tend Skin. Apply the liquid to a cotton ball or cotton round and apply a very thin layer to the area(s) that was waxed. Apply regularly between treatments (3-5 times per week) to clear and prevent ingrown hairs.

To decrease redness or irritation, apply a soothing cream such as Cream 100™ Calming Balm to instantly reduce redness, calm inflammation, soothe the skin, and promote healing.

Ben Johnson is the president of Amphora Worldwide, parent company of Bombshell Wax, premium depilatory waxes and waxing accessories, Cream 100 Calming Balm, and Tonic 86, the cure for ingrown hairs.

More information is available at http://www.bombshellwax.com or http://www.amphoraworldwide.com

Whether you are a professional or a home user it is important to follow some basic guidelines to achieve safe and effective waxing results. This article describes key concepts in how hard depilatory waxes are formulated and the basic techniques and best practices for safe and effective waxing with hard wax. This is a follow-up to an earlier article outlining techniques and best practices for soft wax.

It is important to note at the outset that the difference in quality from one brand of wax to the next can be significant. Cheap waxes typically use inferior raw materials resulting in finished products with inferior performance and safety characteristics.

Both soft and hard depilatory waxes are designed to be melted and applied to the skin. How the products “cure” or dry on the skin and how they are removed are the essential difference. Soft wax cures slowly and remains tacky. Once applied it must be removed using a waxing strip (a specialized fabric designed for the purpose such as Bombshell Wax nonwoven Las Vegas Strips). Hard wax, often called no-strip wax, cures firmly so that it may be lifted without a strip. Hard or no-strip waxes tend to be gentler than soft waxes and are often the esthetician’s choice for waxing sensitive areas such as eyebrows, faces, navels, bikinis and underarms.

High quality hard or no-strip waxes are primarily formulated with natural resins and copolymers with secondary ingredients rounding out the profile of the product. The quality of the resin and the precise percentage of copolymers determine how the wax “performs.” The trick is to blend enough copolymers or buffering agents so that the wax stays pliable as it dries while still curing hard enough to grab and remove hairs. Two hard waxes that strike this balance perfectly are Bombshell Wax Rose Garden Ultra-Sensitive No-Strip Wax and Bombshell Wax Ipanema Aquamarine Ultra-Sensitive No-Strip Wax. Inferior hard wax products either dry too brittle and break apart during lifting or don’t cure firmly enough and leave hairs behind.

To wax with hard wax, begin by choosing a high quality product such as Bombshell Wax or Cirepil.

Melt the wax in a professional wax warmer on low heat until just liquefied.

Clean the skin with an antiseptic, antibacterial, mild exfoliating liquid such as Tonic 86™ or Tend Skin. Apply the liquid to a cotton ball or cotton round and apply a very thin layer to the area(s) you intend to wax. Do not use Tonic 86™ or Tend Skin on previously exfoliated skin, especially the face, and don’t use either product on the eye area.

Pat the skin dry and, if desired, powder lightly.

Test the temperature of the wax on the wrist using an applicator or spatula. If it’s too hot, allow the wax to cool.

Dip an orangewood stick, wooden applicator or spatula into the wax. Scrape the underside of the applicator on the edge of the wax container so that wax is on only one side of the spatula. Twirl the spatula over the jar until you have control of the wax. Spread a thin, even layer of wax in the same direction as hair growth (if the follicle is the start and the tip of the hair is the end, spread wax from the follicle towards the end). Finish spreading with a slight upturn to create a “tab” at the end of the wax you’ve spread.

Allow the wax to cool and set.

Hold the skin firmly with one hand. Using the tip or side of your finger, flip the wax up at the edge. Grabbing the edge of the wax, quickly whisk the wax in the opposite direction of hair growth staying close and parallel to the skin.

Using your hand, immediately apply pressure to the just-waxed skin to soothe tingling nerve endings.

Because hard wax is more gentle than soft wax it may be necessary to go over a waxed area more than once to remove every last hair.

To prevent ingrown hairs and break outs, immediately after waxing apply an antiseptic antibacterial, mild exfoliating liquid such as Tonic 86™ or Tend Skin. Apply the liquid to a cotton ball or cotton round and apply a very thin layer to the area(s) that was waxed. Apply regularly between treatments (3-5 times per week) to clear and prevent ingrown hairs. Avoid the eye area with these products

To decrease redness or irritation especially around the bikini or face, apply a soothing cream such as Cream 100™ Calming Balm which instantly reduces redness, calms inflammation, soothes the skin, and promotes healing.

Ben Johnson is the president of Amphora Worldwide, parent company of Bombshell Wax, premium depilatory waxes and waxing accessories, Cream 100 Calming Balm, and Tonic 86, the cure for ingrown hairs. More information is available at http://www.bombshellwax.com or http://www.amphoraworldwide.com

So, you have made the decision, You are going to get a brazilian bikini wax. This experience could be quite painful and unpleasant if you do not prepare for it properly. Take a look at the following tips before getting your first brazilian bikini wax.

1. Think again which kind of a pubic hair removal you wish to get. Check out the standard bikini wax and full bikini before making the final decision. Brazilian bikini wax is the most extreme one.

2. Find a professional salon that it’s expertise is on brazilian bikini wax. You could find at least one in any big US city.

3. Make sure that the salon has experienced waxers. You don’t want to get your first brazilian bikini wax from an armature.

4. Talk to women that got a brazilian bikini wax from this salon. Ask them how was their first time? how long does the treatment take etc.

5. Find out what is the price of a brazilian wax in the salon. Do not pay too much for it. A price of 70 bucks is reasonable. More will be a theft.

6. Check if there is enough privacy for you in the salon. Some salons may give you the brazilian bikini wax in a small hole with only a small curtain to separate you from the out side world. Shouting with pain in this hole could be embarrassing.

7. Schedule a treatment for a time you know you will be calm and tranquil (preferable not after a long work day).

8. Take a long warm shower before going to the salon. Clean thoroughly your pubic area.

9. You may trim your pubic hair yourself to a length of about ¼ inch. If you will not do it the waxer in the salon will do it.

911 Corp. executed an independent research to find the best method for removing pubic hair. The results were clear. Find out more methods for removing pubic hair and more about brazilian wax on Brazilian bikini wax and more.

The dictionary defines waxing as: ‘a temporary method of hair removal which removes the hair at the root. New hairs do not grow back in the waxed area for three to eight weeks. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, bikini area, legs, arms, back, abdomen and feet’. But don’t be fooled into thinking that waxing is for women only. Today’s fashion trends have men waxing their bodies for cosmetic reasons, and many athletes such as bodybuilders and swimmers have been waxing for years.

Most waxes are comprised of some proportional mixture of paraffin or beeswax, natural oils or fats, and a specially designed resin to help the wax adhere to the skin. Some brands of wax add Vitamin E or other supplements. If you think that you might want to try waxing, the first step, whether you are a male or female, is to decide if you want to use the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ wax technique.

The hot wax method involves heating the wax to a comfortable temperature. A thin layer of wax is spread onto the area to be treated in the direction of the hair growth. Once the wax is cooled it is quickly torn off, in the opposite direction of the hair growth, and the hair is removed with it. With the cold wax process, strips of cloth are pre-coated with wax. You apply the strips to the area to be treated, rub the strips in the direction of hair growth, and then pull the strips off quickly in the opposite direction. Although hot waxing techniques are a bit more messy than cold wax ones, many people find that the hot wax gives better results.

You can apply a non-perfumed moisturizer to the treated area if you want to. Moisturizers that are fortified with Vitamin B and/or Aloe Vera are also good.

Always check to make sure that the hot wax is below scalding or burning temperature before applying.

Waxing is a great solution for the temporary removal of unwanted hair if you’re tough enough to stand a little pain.

Andrea Strachan has been in the beauty business for 25 Years. For more information about permanent hair removal including electrolysis, thermolysis, laser treatments and more, visit http://www.permanent-hair-removal-tips.com. For info about the latest Sedu hair styles click here.

How sweet it is! Sugaring is a process that is similar to waxing, but the ingredients are different. Sugaring gets it name from the fact that wax is replaced with a mixture of sugar and honey. The resulting goo sticks to the hairs and not to the skin. In the end, you still end up ripping out you hair by the roots, so pain levels run about the same as waxing.

Most people find that sugaring works best on hair that grows on the upper lip and the bikini line. It’s a relatively messy process, so do it in the bathroom or some other area where clean-up will not be a problem. Regardless of where you do it, the results last for two to six weeks. Actually, fine hair will start to show around two weeks after the procedure is done, and the thicker, darker hair growth becomes apparent about four weeks later or so.

Homemade formulas work fine. You can easily make your own sugaring solution right at home. You need 1 cup of white sugar, juice from 1/2 of a lemon, 1/4 cup of honey. Mix the lemon juice, sugar and honey in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture just begins to bubble and turns smooth. Turn off the microwave and leave the bowl alone until the mixture has had time to cool down to a safe handling temperature. This could be 5 minutes or more. Besides the actual sugaring formula, you’ll need some wooden tongue depressors to apply the mixture, some corn starch to help prepare the skin, and some strips of white cotton cloth. An old undershirt works fine.

Ready, set go!

Make sure that the area to be treated is clean and dry. There should be no residue from soap or body lotions. Apply a dusting of cornstarch to the area to be treated. This will help remove excess oils from your skin. Using the tongue depressor, or another suitable applicator, spread a thin layer of the mixture over the area to be treated. Now cover the treated area with a strip of the cotton fabric and rub your hand a few times over the strip the opposite way that your hair grows. Use a moderate pressure. Grab the end of the fabric strip and quickly rip it off in the opposite direction of your hair growth. Wash the treated area with warm water to remove any sticky residue and apply an unscented skin cream or lotion if you want to.

That’s all there is to sugaring!

Andrea Strachan has been in the beauty business for 25 Years. For more information about permanent hair removal including electrolysis, thermolysis, laser treatments and more, visit http://www.permanent-hair-removal-tips.com. For info about the latest Sedu hair styles click here.

Sugaring hair removal is similar to waxing but unlike waxing, does not involve heating the substance that is applied to your skin.

Like waxing, sugaring hair removal can be painful and it tends to offer similar results to waxing in terms of the degree of time that you might be free of the hair.

Generally, unwanted hair might start growing back within several weeks time so like waxing, sugaring is something that you’ll have to do regularly to continue to have hair-free skin.

Some people choose to create their own sugar product at home from a recipe rather than buying it from a store but there are commercially available products available if you’re not into creating one yourself.

Basically, you take a suitable amount of the sugar and press it against the skin to be treated and then cover the sugar with a cloth or paper strip similar to what you’d use for waxing.

You then quickly remove the strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth in a similar fashion to a wax strip to remove the hair. You repeat the process until the unwanted hair is removed.

As with other hair removal options the results and side effects from sugaring hair removal will vary by person. Certain body parts shouldn’t be treated and some body parts are best treated by a professional.

Temporary and permanent hair removal technology is evolving constantly and is relevant to both men and women who want to remove unwanted hair.

For more information on hair removal options, visit http://www.PermanentHairRemovalTips.com

Bikini waxing is a form of depilation that temporarily removes unwanted hair in the pubic region.

It gets its name because it removes hair that would otherwise be visible while wearing a bikini.

While a bikini wax can be done at home with a home waxing kit, given the sensitive nature of the area being treated, you might opt to have a professional do the waxing for you in a clinic, spa, etc.

Also, like other forms of waxing it can be painful and since waxing is not a permanent form of hair removal, the hair will grow back again.

What about a Brazilian wax? What does it entail?

A Brazilian wax involves removing most (if not all) pubic hair rather than just the hair that would be visible while wearing a bikini. Brazilian waxing services are usually offered at salons and other businesses that offer professional waxing services.

As with other waxing services, you obviously want to ensure you use a professional who has significant experience and who knows what they are doing.

Now, being a guy I obviously have not experienced this form of waxing so I don’t feel like I should be commenting on what you should expect to feel if you choose to go down this route. Having said that, given the sensitive area being treated, many women don’t find it comfortable and it can be painful.

If you know someone who has had bikini waxing or Brazilian waxing done, you might ask them about their experience to get a better sense of what it entails.

Temporary and permanent hair removal technology is evolving constantly and is relevant to both men and women who want to remove unwanted hair.

For more information on hair removal options, visit http://www.PermanentHairRemovalTips.com