DIY waxing

 Hello hello...

I'm still busy with my craft after moving to the new place. Plus, there's a new baby at home (not mine) so... basically, it's a bit hectic lately.

Anyways. I want to add an entry, which actually not really related with craft, but when I made this blog, I was going to write home-related things too. Well, especially DIYs. So, our current topic is waxing, and to be specific, brazillian waxing.

I am using the instant waxing strips from Body Shop. Why did I buy it? My consideration was because it is very practical, which means that I don't have to heat the wax prior the process. Most of the time, I will cut the strips to the size that I need. But, I think my method can be applied to most of the waxing product.

What we need:
- Instant waxing strips
- talcum powder, I prefer the ones with menthol to 'calm' my skin
- hand held mirror, but if you have small standing mirror, it would be better
- tweezers, use different tweezers if you also pluck your eyebrow. But, if you're okay, just wash the tweezers after each use.
- common scissors, to cut the strips
- small comb
- soap, water
- towel or a very good tissue


Let's do it!
1. first, I usually wash the area I want to wax with warm soapy water. It would be better if you use non-sodium liquid soap so that your skin will not be dry. But, if your daily bath soap does not dry-out your skin, then just use it. I personally use Johnson's pH 5.5 liquid soap.
2. Dry the area with a towel or tissue. It is important that you don't leave any fiber on the area, so careful with your choice of towel/tissue. If you feel you need too, comb the hairs downward. If you don't have comb, just use your fingers.
3. Cut the strips. I usually cut them without changing the original width of the strips (the narrowest side), so the size will be about 8 cm (width) x 2 (length) cm.
4. Peel the instant waxing strips. Since both sides are usable, remember to put the unused strip safely away from you. You don't want to have them stick to your hands or any other place when you accidentally touch them. Put the sticky side up. Hold the peeled strip on your hand. I'm not a lefty, so I hold it on my right hand by using two fingers only.
5. Stretch the area that you want to wax by pulling the skin upward using your other hand (I'm using my left).
6. Stick the strips downward carefully. Downward here means that they are following the direction of the hair growth. Do not let go of your stretching hands (here... my left).
7. At this stage, the original width of the strip (8 cm) will be sticking downward. (... please use your imagination). Or... the 8 cm will be the vertical length.
8. Still using the other hand to stretch, use your hand to improve and distribute the stickiness by gently press and rub (once or twice is sufficient) in downward direction. Body Shop suggest that you can warm the strips by rubbing them prior to use, but I prefer to just put my hands (so... don't be cold handed) for about 15 seconds on the sticking strip.
9. Get ready, and pull the strip upward.
10. Repeat the process from 2 to 9, with combing the hairs if necessary. Repeat until the area that you need to wax are mostly stripped, and the majority of the hairs are gone. Once you reached areas that are difficult too see, use the mirror.
11. In my experience, the wax from the strips will usually sticks hard to the hairs. The first pull usually have weakened the hair roots. So if you have hairs that are so difficult to remove, even after you use the strips multiple times, handle this problem by gently pull them using your fingers. They supposed to be pulled off easily.
12. Using tweezers, pluck the hairs that are hidden or grow at a difficult area. Tweezers can also be used to shape the area if you have any pattern in mind.
13. Apply the talcum powder to remove stickiness and to find hairs that haven't been removed.
14. Once you are satisfied, wash the waxed area with warm soapy water, rinse, and apply the talcum powder again.

It usually takes 20-30 minutes of my time, depends on how much hair I want to remove.

.... that's all for now. :D