It’s bikini season and we all want to look good in our pretty bikinis on the beach for that Instagram post. Shaving is easy and accessible but waxing is definitely a better option as it removes hairs from their roots, preventing hair growth for a longer time.

Many of us prefer to do it ourselves at home but without the proper techniques, it is easy to bruise our skin and damage our follicles which cause ingrown hair. But don’t fret! Here are some tips on how to wax properly at home.

1. Prep your skin before waxing

To get the best results, exfoliate your skin a day or two before you wax, that would have clear pores and allow the wax to grab onto the hairs easier. Also remember to remove any dirt or oils on the skin before you wax, add baby powder if you want to take that one step further in absorbing any moistures on the skin. The skin should be dry and clean to be ready for waxing.

2. Test the wax before you apply

If you’re heating up your wax, always test it before you apply generously on the area you want to wax. If the wax is too hot, it could burn your skin. Test a little bit of it in the inside of your wrist.

3. Apply wax in the direction of hair growth and pull opposite to hair growth

Direction is key in waxing, apply the wax in the direction of hair growth so the wax adheres better to the hair and pull in the opposite direction to remove hair from their follicles.

4. Hold your skin tight and pull strip close to the skin

This point cannot be stressed enough. If you don’t hold your skin taut while pulling the wax strip or wax paste, you can potentially bruise and irritate your follicles. Always always pull and hold your skin tight and pull the strip close to the skin to reduce inflammations, bumps and bruises.

5. Calm your skin after waxing

Now that your skin has gone through all that, we must calm it with some treatment. Apply aloe vera moisturizer or baby oil to moisturize and soothe the skin. Aloe vera is known as a great skin soothing ingredient and will calm your skin after all that pain.

By Crystal Shum