COSMETOLOGY PROFESSIONAL COURSE Module 32

Home , Cosmetology, Hair removal, Laser hair removal, Plucking (hair removal), Shaving cream, Threading (epilation)

32. Module 32: Waxing

Table of Contents

32. Module 32: Waxing ...... 1 32.1 Have it off! Hair Removal Examined ...... 2 32.2 Shaving...... 3 32.3 Waxing ...... 6 32.4 Laser hair removal ...... 7 32.5 Hair removal cream ...... 9 32.6 Threading ...... 10

32.1 Have it off! Hair Removal Examined

Having body hair has gone in and out of fashion over the decades. These days it would appear that less is more. Back in the day there was only one way a person could get rid of their body hair and that was by shaving, but nowadays there are many different methods of hair removal that you can do alone or have done professionally. This module explores the different ways of removing body hair for both men and women and the equipment that is needed. Module nine includes the following items:

 Shaving

 .Waxing

 Laser

 Creams

 Threading

32.2 Shaving

In many countries in the West it is culturally encouraged that women from a certain age keep their underarms and legs hairless, which is why shaving has long been a common beauty routine for many. Shaving may look easy, but there are still some things to consider such as what kind of razor you will use, the time of day you will shave, and what you need to do if you accidentally cut yourself with the razor.

When using a disposable razor, you will need to replace it each time otherwise you may cut yourself using a dull razor blade. You can shave any part of your body, but it is not recommended for women to shave their faces or their stomachs as this will just encourage darker hair to grow back in its place much quicker. Shaving will last between 1-3 days.

There are no real risks involved when shaving, however, if you shave in the wrong direction or use a dull razor blade, you may get ingrown hairs, especially around the bikini line area.

Types of razors

You need to decide which razor you will use. You have a choice out of the following:

 Disposable non-electric razor

 Non-electric razor that has replacement blades

 Electric razor

With a disposable razor

1. Before shaving rinsewash your legs in lukewarm to hot water for about 10 minutes in the bath or shower to soften the skin and open up the hair follicles.

2. When shaving it is easier to divide your leg up into three different parts to make the shaving process more manageable – the upper part above your knee, the lower part below your knee, and the knee itself.

3. Sit on the side of the bath with your legs close to the tap.

4. Apply an Aloe Vera based shaving cream evenly, making sure to cover both the front and back of your leg.

5. Pressing lightly on your skin, working from the bottom up, move the razor slowly upwards towards your knee. It is important to shave in the opposite direction of hair growth to ensure you cut the hairs properly at the root to prevent ingrown hairs.

6. Wash legs, pat dry, and apply moisturiser.

NB: A Non-electric razor that has replacement blades requires exactly the same method like when using a disposable razor. The difference is that your disposable razor is likely to be thrown away after one or two uses and with the razor that has replacement blades, all you need to do is to replace the razor blade head. Usually, those with replaceable blades are more comfortable to hold and use, and another benefit of them is that they are usually cheaper in the long run.

With an electric razor

1. Wet your legs a little with warm water to ensure hair removal is as easy as possible. However, while shaving, your skin needs to be a little bit drier.

2. Just as you do when using a razor, shave in against the hair’s growth. Do not keep going over the same area otherwise you will cause skin irritation.

3. Wash your legs and apply a light moisturiser with Aloe Vera.

4. Clean your razor to maintain its life.

Shaving the bikini area

When you shave your pubic hair it is different to shaving your legs or armpits. The hair in the pubic region is thicker and it is a highly sensitive zone. You need to take more care as this area is more vulnerable to ingrown hairs. You need to allow yourself 15-30 minutes to shave.

1. Choose your shaving cream. This is a sensitive area, so you need a special shaving cream or gel and do not use soap. The best cream to go for is an unscented shaving cream to get a smooth shave and moisturise the skin at the same time.

2. Use a razor that has a pivoting head with multiple blades so you get a close smooth shave.

3. Trim the area first using a comb and scissors, so you do not have to work your razor too hard.

4. Have a warm shower for 5-10 minutes to soften the skin and hair follicles.

5. Exfoliate the area to get rid of the dead skin cells and achieve a closer shave.

6. Use a little pre-shaving oil to ensure your razor will glide over the area with ease. This will prevent razor burn, irritation, and also ingrown hairs.

7. Apply your shaving gel or cream onto damp skin.

8. Using a fresh razor blade, first shave in the same direction of the hair’s growth and then change and shave in the opposite direction.

9. Between strokes, rinse your razor.

10. Wash the pubic region and pat it dry with a clean towel.

11. Using an unscented cream or lotion, lightly moisturise the area.

12. To really prevent ingrown hairs, use an ingrown hair serum that will relieve bumps and any redness.

 Do not shave when you have your period due to the skin being more sensitive.

 If you are shaving the majority of your pubic hair, use a mirror to avoid cutting your vulva.

 Shave in the shower instead of the bath so you can prop your legs to make the process easier.

Ingrown Hairs

An ingrown hair is when one hair curls around and grows back into your skin rather than rising up from it. Incorrect shaving techniques, old razors and dead skin cause the hair to grow sideways instead of upwards.

Ingrown hairs irritate the skin. They produce raised red bumps that look similar to a pimple or boil. They can be uncomfortable and itchy and in some cases there may be pus inside them, which is a sign that it has become infected.

For women, ingrown hairs are more common and usually appear on the legs, armpits, and in the pubic area.

People with thick or curly hair such as Hispanic and African-American people develop ingrown hairs easier due to the coarseness of their hair.

It is possible ingrown hairs will eventually disappear by themselves over time and they are very rarely threatening. If they do not disappear however, they can become infected or darken the skin permanently leaving a scar. In some cases it is necessary to go to the doctor to get it removed surgically and they will also prescribe some kind of medicine such as:

 Topical steroid cream to reduce swelling

 Retinoids to remove any dead skin cells to lessen skin pigmentation changes

 Oral or topical antibiotics to treat infection 5

32.3 Waxing

You can either wax your hair yourself or go to a cosmetologist to get it done professionally. They will spread a coating of warm sticky wax onto your skin and after covering it with special cloth strips they will quickly pull them off to remove the hair.

Waxing is the preferred option of hair removal in summer as it lasts 3-6 weeks and it can be done anywhere on the body including the face, armpits, legs, and the pubic region.

It is possible that you may suffer side effects such as redness, bumps or an infection around the hair follicles, but the more you wax, the less likely you will suffer from negative side effects.

Your body hair must be at least ¼ inch long in order for the wax to be able to grab it.

DIY Waxing

1. Make sure you moisturise every day for a few days before you wax to prepare your skin.

2. Take a warm shower and then exfoliate your skin lightly with a body scrub.

3. Moisturise again and dry yourself.

4. Wax yourself in a warm room as cooler environments tighten your pores, which cause more discomfort during the waxing process.

5. Before waxing cover your area with an old towel.

6. Relax, being tenser causes muscles to tighten, which reduces elasticity, thus making the process more painful.

7. Following the packet instructions heat the wax and check its temperature by placing a little bit of the wax on your inner wrist; if it tingles or stings, it means it is too hot. When ready, the wax should have a thicker consistency just like honey.

8. Using a wooden spatula, apply the hot wax in a figure eight. Let it sit for 2-3 seconds and then rip it off using a strip.

9. Pull the strips off the skin in the opposite direction of the hair’s growth.

10. Apply tea tree oil onto waxed areas and massage into the skin. This has antiseptic and anti- bacterial properties to help prevent irritation and ingrown hairs.

 For smaller areas of the body such as the bikini line or under the arms, cut your strips shorter as they are easier to control.

 Clean up stray hairs by tweezing.

 Do not re-wax the same area more than once.

 Avoid wearing any kind of tight clothing for at least 24 hours.

32.4 Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal offers you a more permanent solution to your body hair problems. It is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the UK and the US. Highly concentrated light is beamed into your hair follicles; the pigment of the follicles absorbs the light and as a result the hair is destroyed.

Benefits of laser hair removal

 It is precise and can target darker coarse hair that is stubborn to remove.

 Leaves surrounding skin area undamaged.

 It is quick and each laser pulse only takes a fraction of a second.

 Each pulse can treat a number of hairs at the same time.

 After 3-5 laser sessions, 90 % of all laser patients have permanent hair loss.

Preparing for laser hair removal

This is a medical procedure and does carry some risks, therefore the person carrying out the laser treatment needs to be trained.

 Thoroughly check the doctor’s or technician’s credentials first.

 Limit any electrolysis, waxing, and plucking for 6 weeks before laser treatment. Your laser treatment targets the roots of the hair, which are removed temporarily by plucking or waxing.

 Avoid excessive sun exposure for 6 weeks prior to and after the laser treatment as this increases the risk of complications.

What to expect

 Immediately before the laser procedure, your hair will be trimmed short to just a few millimetres above the skin’s surface.

 The equipment will be adjusted accordingly to your hair’s colour, thickness, and location.

 Due to the light’s intensity both you and your technician will be required to wear eye protection.

 A cool gel will be applied to protect the outer layers of skin.

 The technician will test a small area using a pulse of light and observe the treated area for a few minutes to ensure the right settings are being used and also to check for any skin reactions.

 After the session is complete, your technician might give you anti-inflammatory creams or ice packs to ease discomfort.

 You will schedule your next hair removal treatment 4-6 weeks later and you will continue this process until the hair stops growing.

Risks and recovery of laser treatment

 For a few days after the treatment, your skin will look and feel like it has been sun burned.

 Cold compresses and light moisturisers with natural properties will help relieve any burning sensation.

 If the face was treated, it is possible to apply make-up the following day unless your skin has reacted badly.

 Over a period of a month, the treated hair will fall out.

 Always wear sun cream for the month following the treatment.

 Blisters are more common with those with darker complexions.

 Permanent damage such as changes to the skin’scolour and scarring is rare

32.5 Hair removal cream

Some men and women choose to remove their body hair with a hair removal cream, which is also known as a depilatory cream. This procedure is safe and is usually done at home. Hair removal creams work by dissolving all of the hair on the skin’s surface. Your hair is not removed from the root like it is during a waxing process, so you would have to apply the cream more often as the hair will grow back quicker.

 Choose your hair removal cream. There are many to choose from, so read reviews and do your research to try and figure out which one would suit you and your skin best.

 Depending on the area you are treating will depend on the type of cream you use. Each area, depending on the sensitivity of it, has a different cream designed especially for it.

 Clean the area you will treat with a mild body wash. If you are removing a large area of hair, take a hot shower first to soften the hair, making it easier to remove.

 Prior to using the depilatory cream all over your body, it is essential to do a few spot tests in your more sensitive areas. Wait 24 hours to check for any skin reaction.

 Using the plastic spatula provided in the box, cover the desired area with the cream evenly. Do not rub it in; it needs to be coated on thick.

 Wait for the time stated on the packet and rinse it off using lukewarm water.

 Cleanse and moisturise your body as usual.

Pros and cons of hair removal cream

 Some creams smell, but if you use a hair removal cream with a tropical blend, it is less likely to have a potent smell.

 It is cheap.

 This cannot be applied to the face as hair removal creams usually have a higher concentration of chemicals.

 On sensitive areas such as the pubic region it is likely to sting a little.

 Hair removal creams are readily available in chemists and supermarkets.

32.6 Threading

Threading is a form of hair removal usually used on the face. It is an ancient practice from Eastern countries such as India and Egypt, but it is now becoming more popular in Western beauty salons. This procedure removes the entire hair follicle and can last up to six weeks.

How does threading work?

The beautician uses a long cotton thread to pull along any unwanted hairs using a twisting motion. The hair is trapped into a mini lasso and is then lifted right out of the hair follicle.

Benefits of threading

 It is very sanitary. The only thing that touches the skin is the thread and after a single use, it is thrown away.

 It is an excellent way of cleaning up problematic eyebrows as it is very concise. It is the best method to get your eyebrows even.

 There are no chemicals used, which makes it an excellent way of removing hair for those with sensitive skin.

 It is a fast procedure and the eyebrows can be completed in as little as two minutes.

 If you do this enough, the hair removal can be permanent. Over time, after frequent threading, the hair follicle will become too damaged, ceasing hair growth.

 There is little discomfort and the sensation is similar to that of tweezing.

Threading cons

 If the procedure is done incorrectly, your hairs are likely to break and therefore re-growth will be quicker and more visible.

 This ancient art is passed down from generation to generation and it is difficult to master it in just a few classes, especially brow shaping. For this reason, unless you live in a bigger city, it will be difficult to find a spa or salon that offers threading.

 Before threading, you need to wait until your hair has grown out about 1/16 of an inch, so it is long enough to wrap the thread around, so it can be removed with ease.