Waxing: A short, sharp shock for unwanted hair
Waxing: A short, sharp shock for unwanted hair
Maria Kegel, Contributor, Jakarta
A long-time resident of Jakarta was overjoyed to find a salon in
West Jakarta that would wax her bikini area before her long-
anticipated holiday to Manado some five years ago.
However, once she was on the table in one of the salon's
private rooms, she seriously wondered if she had made the right
decision. She said two estheticians voiced their amazement about
the amount of hair she had in her bikini area, and called in
several colleagues to have a look.
"It was soon obvious that the one doing the waxing wasn't
properly trained. She couldn't get all the hair off in one area,
so she reapplied the wax and strip several more times in that
same spot. I didn't know any better, so it was a case of grinning
and bearing it," the woman recalled.
The end result was the loss of several layers of skin, similar
to a deep abrasion. In addition to the pain and lasting
discomfort, the woman said an infection occurred during her
holiday.
Waxing is more than a sensitive issue: It requires proper
hygiene and know-how, said Le Spa clinic manager at the Meridien,
Kartini, who advised that a salon should be chosen with care as
the practice was not that common in Indonesia.
"Although some places call themselves a spa, not all of them
can do waxing," Kartini warned.
When it comes to the bikini area, hair should be trimmed to 2
centimeters first as this is the most sensitive area on the body
to wax.
"Never, ever wax the same area twice. Either wait for a couple
weeks before waxing the area again or just pluck out any stray
hairs with a pair of tweezers."
Kartini specializes in waxing and has had over 10 years
experience since she first studied esthetics in 1990. With
several years spent each at The Mercantile Club, the Thalia Spa
and the Javana Spa in Sukabumi, West Java, before settling in at
Le Spa, she is known locally as "the queen of waxing" and claims
she can wax a full body in 30 minutes flat.
"Shaving may be convenient, but waxing has longer-lasting
results because it goes right down to the roots, whereas shaving
takes hair off at the surface."
She added that waxing reduces skin irritation and there was no
risk of cuts as there is with shaving.
Another plus Kartini noted was that hair grows back in fine,
natural and barely noticeable with waxing, while hair grows in as
thick stubble one to several days after shaving. Waxing lasts for
about one month.
She also said if proper moisturizer was used, waxing was good
for the skin as it also removes dead skin cells at the same time
hair is lifted out of its follicle.
Popular body parts to be waxed include the legs, arms,
underarms, upper lip, eyebrows, the bikini area and for men, the
back.
She gave us the full lowdown and shared some essential tips on
how to pull off the best waxing job to rid yourself of unwanted
hair.
Kartini also gave the following guidelines to ensure a healthy
and successful treatment:
DOs:
* First-timers should consult a doctor on whether their skin is
suitable to have wax treatment. Scars, especially keloids, from
past injuries or operations, are a concern, and if you are prone
to allergic reactions, medicine can be prescribed to take before
the treatment, Kartini said.
Dr. Edwin Juanda from the Jakarta Skin Center said that
although allergic reactions to wax were rare, they could occur by
clogging the pores and causing the skin to become red and
swollen. Those who know they have an allergy can avoid a reaction
by having their doctor prescribe steroids in pill form for them
to take once or twice before their waxing appointment, Edwin
said.
* Use the cotton strip only once and then discard it. Do not keep
it for reuse.
* Discard the spatula as well, especially if it is made from
wood, to avoid mold. However, if there is wax left over, it can
be kept and reheated again.
* Clean the rims and the outside of the wax container to maintain
the quality of the product inside.
* For men having their back waxed, a body scrub is recommended
about one hour beforehand. "This removes trapped oil and dirt in
the skin and also makes it easier to remove hair."
DON'Ts:
* Do not use any perfume, deodorant or even scented soap on newly
waxed areas as the skin is new and sensitive. "Old dead skin
cells have been removed, revealing new skin underneath, which can
be easily damaged by the fragrance in toiletries." Stick to baby
oil or natural products.
* Do not use any scented moisturizer on newly waxed skin as it
can be easily absorbed at that stage.
* Avoid body scrubs or massages after waxing.
* Avoid waxing the lower lip or eyebrows if you have just had a
facial treatment. "The skin is more sensitive, and it could
break."