Powder or Oil when waxing?

I get this question A LOT, so I thought I'd address it. "Should you use powder or oil when waxing"? The answers are simple. Yes answers:)

1. If the client is particularly sweaty or there is excess moisture on the skin, powder is often used to absorb that moisture, because if there is too much moisture on the skin, the wax will not stick. BUT you need to use a powder than does not contain oils.

2. If the client has dry, ashy skin, a bit, and I do meant A BIT of oil (non-greasy) is used to protect and hydrate the skin. Too much oil and, again, wax will not stick. If you get too much oil, simply blot the skin to remove the excess. DO NOT ADD POWDER as this will make a cake on your client's hooha.

And now for the twist. Most times when I am doing a Brazilian I do not pre-cleanse the skin. I will wipe off the skin with a clean cotton round and leave their natural oils to help protect the skin. I ALWAYS use my pre wax balm (Wonder Whip) on the labia area making sure that it all gets a nice coating to help keep that delicate area hydrated and protected.

Hope this is helpful

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sally Connor on February 13, 2013 at 1:36pm

Crickett, everything you post is extremely helpful and educating!!

Are you talking about both soft and hard wax?

I prefer hard for both facial and bikini/brazilian areas... and occasionally, not often, will buffer the skin with a preep oil, as you mentioned. I have only used powder under soft wax, although I certainly understand about excess moisture.

I usually use a 4x4 size to cleanse bikini areas, but I do think I would like to try it just moistened with water. Leaving the natural body oils makes sense. Your clean cotton round is moistened with water, right?

Can you speak a little more about the ingredients/thickness you use in the labia area to coat that skin? How is it different from the preep oil?

Do you use anything following the waxing that might address bacteria? Maybe tea tree is enough???

I have found when the skin heats up during body waxing (with hard wax) and the wax wants to stay kinda soft and gooey a damp paper towel laid over the wax strip helps it set up quickly. It was a tip I picked up in a continuing ed class on waxing and it has been very helpful at times.

Permalink Reply by Crickett Enos on February 13, 2013 at 2:59pm

Great questions Sally:) I'm glad you find it helpful. On the delicate areas (face, underams, brazilian) I use only hard wax, however you can choose to use oil or powder with either soft or hard wax. The reasoning is the same to use the products in either case.

My cotton round is clean, not dampened because I want to keep the natural oils on the skin. The dry cotton paid just removes excess oils/dirt.

As for what to use post wax, your tea tree oil is a fine choice for antibacterial.

My pre prep of Wonder Whip can be found at www.thewaxchick.com This particular product has shea butter and emu oil (among lots of other great ingredients), so it's not oily or greasy, it penetrates into the skin and protects prior to waxing and when used post waxing, it has all the ingredients to calm sooth and provide antibacterial protection as well. (all of the ingredients are listed on the website if you want to check them out)