Wax On, Wax Off: DIY!

DIY wax kits have many pros!
Photo courtesy of Jane Rose Salon

When shaving no longer gets the job done, waxing can be an option… one that may hurt and cost a fortune.

We’re not talking about just any kind of waxing; we’re talking bikini.

Crystal Barnes, whom I know through a cousin, knows the pain of a merciless hand when it comes to getting waxed at a salon.

“I’ve been to salons that just ruin me, and right where it hurts,” Barnes, 24, said. “I usually can’t walk right for at least two or three days.”

For those who want to look to salons to get the job done, many salons around Portland such as Portland Day Spa, Wax On Spa, Olena’s Day Spa, The Dragon Tree and Kanani Pearl Spa offers waxing services that range from $30-$50.

For those who still look to salons for waxing services, here are five tips from Cosmo regarding how to reduce the pain of waxing at a salon and after-care:

1. Pop a couple Aspirin 45 minutes before the appointment.
2. Don't schedule your wax right before your period.
3. Avoid working out or wearing tight clothing right away.
4. Your "aim" might be off afterward, so hover carefully.
5. Schedule your appointment between 3 and 5 p.m.

In this economy, however, $40 to set aside for a wax job isn’t ideal, especially when we have bills to pay, a car to feed and a house to keep warm, not to mention hungry stomachs to satisfy.

Another option? You can go out and buy a DIY wax kit that can be used for months on end.

Nair hair removal kit – one of the many!
Photo courtesy of www.health-care-beauty.com

Jessica Riley, one of my recent friends, once relied on salons but now prefers the DIY method.

“People can lay a table while someone nearly rips their skin off of they if you want,” Riley, 22, said. “But I have low pain-tolerance.”

Riley, who still prefers the results of waxing, spends approximately $10 on microwavable Nair or Sally Hansen waxing kits from the local Wal-Mart or Walgreens.

The first time was scary, she said, but she found that the pain was more tolerable than having someone else do it.

On a scale of one to ten, the DIY method is about a 2, she said. At a salon? 7, and the pain lasts for days, she added.

“I can stop when I need to and I don’t get those weird looking bumps,” Riley said.

Tropical Mind, a blog focused on looking “amazing without breaking the bank,” also reviewed the DIY wax kit. Although the blogger cautions users about being gutsy and having high pain tolerance to use these waxing kits, which contrasts Riley’s experience with this method, she also discusses the pros of the kits: it saves money, lasts longer than shaving, easy clean up, and the kits lasts a while. The blogger offers a few good insights about the kits. Check out the blog for more details.

To save money and reduce pain and mess, Riley suggests cutting the strips (included in the kit). Simply lay the strip in front of you hot-dog style and cut from left to right. This enables you to work in smaller areas, which she found hurts less, and not waste strips.

After-care is simple. Gently pat the remaining wax off with a warm, damp towel.

Although Barnes was skeptical of the DIY method, she recently gave in, tested the product and liked it.

“It was definitely interesting,” Barnes said. “I’ll have to try it out some more to be positive, especially on the legs, but I’ve already recommended it to someone else.”

What’s your experience like with waxing? If you haven’t, would you try it?