During your waxing appointment, the positioning of your body will be dependent on where you are being waxed. However, more likely than not, you will be lying on a treatment table, similar to an examination bed from a doctor’s office, or a massage table.
Your esthetician will inspect the length of your hair, the condition of your skin and account for either of these by either trimming the hair or cleansing the skin of residual oils and creams. After this, talcum powder will be applied to your body to dry the area, followed by wax. The wax will be applied in the same direction as hair growth, in a small area of a few square inches at a time. Applying the wax in the same direction as hair growth helps the wax adhere to the hair strands, and ensures that the hair is appropriately covered.
If hard wax has been applied, the esthetician will pull your skin taut by placing one hand against your skin and using the other to grip the edge of the wax, and remove it against the direction of growth in a sharp, tugging motion. This will pull the hairs out, and the wax will be discarded.
If using soft wax, after the application of wax to the skin, a strip of cotton or muslin cloth will be applied, and also smoothed into the wax. Again, your skin will be held taut, and the strip will be pulled against the direction of hair growth. Depending on how much hair has been removed on the strip, your esthetician will either discard the cloth or fold it in order to use a clean area.
From time to time, you may be asked to assist in pulling the skin taut, especially when performing bikini waxes or Brazilians. If you are having your legs waxed you will need to help manipulate your legs so that all areas are accessible, and even roll over onto your front or back to ensure complete hair removal is possible. If you are having a bikini wax or Brazilian, further body positioning may be required.
Knowing that the hair being pulled out is uncomfortable to downright painful, many estheticians and beauticians will press a hand against the waxed skin after pulling off a strip. This helps to calm the skin and can remove some of the initial discomfort felt.
The repetition of wax application and removal will continue around the area until all hair is removed, and depending on the salon, your esthetician may come again with a pair of tweezers to remove the most stubborn hairs.
Once free from hair, your skin will be cleaned with a wipe or solution to remove any residual wax or talcum powder, and cleansing, a post-wax solution may be applied. After that, you will be able to dress, and leave your appointment completely hair free!