Wax On, Wax Off: How to Make Hair Removal More Pleasant

In the 1984 hit movie, The Karate Kid, karate teacher Miyagi teaches his student, Daniel, by having him perform everyday tasks, such as washing a car. Making circular motions with his hands, he instructs Daniel to,  “Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off…”

While you might get your car washed and waxed once a month, there’s another (very different) type of waxing you might also get monthly: hair removal. Be it legs, above the lip, underarm, or the bikini area, waxing is routine for many Miami women, especially since we get so much skin exposure what with hotter weather, and beaches all along our city’s western and southern borders.

But unlike cars, we actually feel the “wax off,” aspect – and it’s not something we enjoy.  Far from it. It’s the price of beauty, we say. At first it’s torture, and over time we get more used to it, but the process is not something to look forward to. This kind of wax on/wax off procedure is a no pain, no gain, kind of thing. We do it for its goal: the smooth, clean, look and feel of hairless skin.

At the same time, hair-removal waxing can be made more pleasant. How? By using natural products whose properties are healing for the skin. Consider using any of these depilatory (meaning unwanted hair removal) waxes:

• Calendula with tea tree oil – Antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory, pain- relieving, anti-odor and moisturizing.
• Zinc Oxide with vanilla – Reduces skin irritation and inflammation while providing the delicious aromatic scent of vanilla.
• Honey – Antibacterial, antioxidant, pour-opening, and soothing.
• Azulene – Named from the Spanish word for blue, azul, azulene often has a bluish tint, and its oils are usually derived from chamomile flowers. It is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, soothing, and conditioning.
• Nacree – French for “Mother-of-Pearl,” Nacree is antioxidant and antiulcer, and is also a detoxicant.

By using depilatory hot waxes with natural, healthy ingredients, your experience will be much more pleasant, and you might even start to look forward to it. We could even jokingly say that the side benefit of using these healing waxes is that removing them also removes your unwanted hair! Jokes aside, we wish you well in your routine hair-removal waxing, and that the experience of “wax-on, wax-off” will be as enjoyable as possible. Consult with your waxing practitioner about which products are best suitable for your skin.