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."