One of the biggest questions Estheticians have is “Why Is My Wax Not Removing Hair?” Well, it could be a plethora of reasons. So, let’s break it down and find the reason or reasons! If you aren’t looking for pro-level advice and just need waxing in Austin click here.
Quality of the Wax
First of all, make sure you are purchasing a high quality hard wax. Hard wax without a lot of alcohol in it is best since this will ensure it doesn’t break upon removal. A premium hard wax will also stay elastic and tacky even after it is applied. We use A Premium Hard Wax which is not cheap, but the best wax isn’t cheap and a cheap wax isn’t the best. Waxes from places like Walmart, Sally Beauty Supply, or Amazon (for the most part) are going to be very low in quality. You get what you pay for adage definitely applies to wax. Before you buy in bulk, we recommend purchasing a sample to test it out!
Prepping the Area Correctly
Prepping the area in the right way will drastically change the way the wax adheres to the hair! Clean, clean, CLEAN! It is important to remove all make up, dirt, sweat, oil or lotion from the skin before applying the wax. After cleansing the skin, if needed, apply a thin layer of pre wax oil (we use sesame seed oil). Depending on the area, we will then use a little bit of baby powder to soak up any excess oil or sweat. Works like a charm!
Exfoliate!
We cannot stress how important exfoliating between waxing appointments is. After waxing, the hair gets softer, finer and thinner. This means it is harder for the hair to push through the skin which is why exfoliating is so important. Exfoliating will get rid of the layer of dead skin on the surface so the hair can easily push through the skin. If you don’t exfoliate, the hair can get trapped and will cause an ingrown hair. We recommend exfoliating once or twice a week (especially for our brazilian waxing and leg waxing clients) depending on the client’s hair.
Pressure When Laying the Wax Strip
Using enough pressure when applying a wax strip is crucial to make sure the wax is getting as close to the root of the hair as possible. If you don’t use the proper pressure, the wax will cause the hair to snap instead of gripping the hair from the follicle. So push down and even, we promise you won’t hurt the client!
Direction Wax Strip is Applied and Removed
The first wax strips should be applied in the direction of the hair growth. These strips will get rid of the bulk of the hair -about 90% of the initial amount will be removed. We will then apply “clean up strips” which are applied in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This will get rid of the rest of the hair -you know, those stubborn little guys! Want more tips on how to apply hard wax? Click here to check out our other blog post which goes in to much greater detail.
Why Is My Wax Not Removing Hair Video
Hair is too Short
No, not from Oaktown, too short as in length! The hair needs to be about the size of a grain of rice in order to be waxed. Depending on the customer, this means roughly 3-6 weeks of hair growth. If the hair is too short, the wax cannot suction cup the hair which will result in the hair breaking at the surface. Anything longer than that will make it harder for the wax to reach the skin and can cause more discomfort.
Time the Wax is Left on the Skin
Every hard wax performs differently. It’s important to practice with the hard wax that you are using so you can understand how long it takes to cool. Leaving the wax strip on for too long will cause the wax to break so the hair cannot be pulled from the root. We like to use a hard wax that can be left on after applying multiple strips so we can be more efficient with our time -elasticity is key. However, a variety of factors not related to wax can affect your timing AND these factors can vary throughout the day! Client’s skin temperature, air circulation, room temperature, and humidity level all come into play. Everything from the time of year or whether the hvac system is running can play a role. What exactly is the correct amount of time? The answer to this will just take practice and getting a “feel” for the hard wax you are using. Practice makes perfect!
Hopefully these tips can help you find the reason your wax is not pulling the hair from the root. If we missed anything or you still have more questions, feel free to reach out to us -comment below! We are always happy to answer any questions you might have. Still not convinced that we know what were doing? Feel free to check out our reviews on Google to see what customers say!