With bikini season (hopefully) soon approaching, it’s time to show off a little skin. Waxing is a great way to remove any unwanted hair however most women result to shaving. The pros and cons of waxing vs. shaving are pretty obvious: with shaving, it’s quick and easy but you have to do it more often; with waxing, you get longer results but you have to wait until hair grows in between treatments (and it hurts!) But suck up the pain because waxing is the way to go!

In obtaining and maintaining flawless skin, waxing is an important part of any beauty routine. Personally, I have always favoured waxing. If you can tolerate the minor discomfort that comes along with it, then this is the method for you. From experience, I’ve noticed thinner and fewer hair growth which is common since the hair is removed directly from the root. With shaving, the tip hair is being cut making it difficult to poke through the skin and can cause ingrown hairs, rash and stubble. (yuck!)
You may be thinking: “It’s such a hassle to go to a salon every 3-4 weeks, and so costly!” So do it yourself! For at-home waxing, try Bliss Poetic Waxing At-Home Hair Removal Kit ($48, available at Sephora) The easy-to-use kit comes with 3 large and small spatula’s, cleanser, oil, and an ingrown eliminating pad.

If you’re a regular shaver, wait 2-3 weeks before waxing so the hairs are long enough to grab. Do not apply moisturizer right before waxing; your skin should be clean and dry. For best results, start off by applying baby powder on your skin to allow the wax to adhere to your hair better. Pull the wax strip against the grain of hair growth to ensure all hairs are removed. After waxing, exfoliate and moisturize to smooth skin.

Finding the type of wax for your skin type is key for ensuring smooth results. Honey wax is the most popular wax used and it’s tough because it grabs onto even the shortest hairs. Cream wax is great if you are prone to waxing sensitivity. Because cream waxes contain conditioning agents, it helps moisturize while it’s on the skin. These are both types of soft waxes that are used with the strip waxing method; spreading a thin layer over the skin and using a paper strip to remove the hair. If you haven’t tried hard wax, you’re missing out. Ideal for small areas such as your face, this wax’s thick consistency hardens when it cools on the skin and is removed by simply lifting the edge of the hardened wax and pulling, no strips needed.

Waxing will have your legs looking much better than any razor. So throw away that razor this spring and show off your smooth legs in those cut off vintage denim shorts.

By: Kristyn Tsampiras, Toronto

You should follow me on Twitter @Ktsampiras_.

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