Wax on, wax off

It’s nearly summer, that means exposing the body, getting your togs on, and getting beach-ready.

First on the list is getting rid of unwanted hair.

We send Sally and Angela to try two different methods of waxing for summer; the salon wax vs the home wax gel and see what they thought...

The home wax
Reviewed by Sally Peters

It looks like wax, it feels like wax. It smells absolutely gorgeous. So does it really work? I try out new hair removal product on the market, BodEze Body Beautiful Sugaring Gel to see what I thought.

Well, to be completely honest at first I was a bit skeptical as there are a lot of cheap products on the shelves today that don’t work and are just not good for your skin. BodyEze Body Sugaring Gel does actually do the trick. It comes in a box with an exfoliating bar which smells very nice and has kiwifruit seeds in it which act as a gentle abrasive.  I think this is a great idea, as it is really important to teach people to exfoliate to help decrease the break out of ingrown hairs. Next there is a small pot of sugaring gel, 3 reusable spatulas, 3 long ended cotton tips, a cute little round tube like container with rolled up paper and plastic strips, and an instruction leaflet.

So…I follow the instructions and warm up the pot of sugaring gel, on the stove for 8-10 minutes, and am ready to start sugaring my legs but then wonder how I’m going to prepare and cleanse the skin. The leaflet says to make sure the skin is completely free from moisturizers, lotions and excess body oils by wiping the area with a cold damp cloth. Hmmm. Well, as hygiene is on top of my list of “most important factors” I would have liked to see antiseptic wipes or an antiseptic cleansing lotion which will 1. remove oils, moisturizers, perspiration, and any make up from the skin and 2. also kill any bacteria on the surface of the skin which will help avoid any bacteria travelling into the hair follicles which could cause blockages and infections.

I carry on following the instructions and take a spatula and thinly spread the gel down my leg in the direction of the hair growth, I place a paper hair removal strip on top of the gel pressing and rubbing in the same direction, rip the strip off in the opposite direction and did it work? Yes. Did it hurt any less than waxing? No! The ping was definitely the same! Everyone is different and has a different pain threshold however the pain usually experienced comes from the hair ripping out of its follicle not from wax or sugaring gel sticking to the skin any more or less. Therefore when you wax a hairless patch of skin there is no pain. So this is one claim I don’t agree with.

The paper strips are great and work a treat, but the plastic strips didn’t really work that well so more paper strips would have been better as there were only 5 as opposed to 25 plastic ones. I love the long ended cotton tips as trying to apply gel with a huge spatula to the brow line? Dangerous. I am glad they got this covered because half an eyebrow…not a good look.

Sugaring and waxing can be a very messy job, especially when you are a beginner, that’s why my favourite feature about BodEze Sugaring Gel is that it is in fact water soluble, and comes off so easy with water which is the one thing that can be very frustrating when it comes to waxing. Wax sticks and is not easy to get off anything. I wouldn’t say that it’s a better alternative to waxing. It didn’t come with any after calming lotion, due to the fact that they claim it causes blockages. I have never once experienced one client getting blockages from calming lotion. It’s definitely better than shaving though, as the hair won’t grow back for weeks.

So what do I think about BodEze Sugaring Gel? Well, out of all the other DIY waxing kits on the shelves, I definitely think this has by far been the best one yet. It’s very professional, comes with a handy exfoliating extra, is very natural and smells delicious. Waxing or sugaring will always be hard for any beginner at first and can be hard to get right the first time and that is why it is very important to read the instructions and if followed carefully and correctly can work just as effectively as a wax you would get at a salon, so all in all, this DIY hair removal product is great.

The salon wax
Reviewed by Angela Hayes

By no means classified as a fun day out, if you get your wax done at OFF WAX Bar, you will certainly leave feeling more streamlined and groomed, and with a smile on your face!

OFF WAX Bar has two stylish and centrally located salons, one in Hurstmere Road in Takapuna, just opened four months ago, and one in Osborne Street in Newmarket, behind the Rialto complex. Both salons are a refreshing change to the regular beauty salon experience. Owner Nicky has paid careful attention to the fitout and size of the rooms (spacious and elegant) and to choosing staff who are experts in their field, and who possess a great attitude and customer focus I’ve not seen much of lately.

I visited the new Takapuna salon to get “tidied-up” for a beach holiday recently and under the expert hands of Sara, was a very happy customer indeed, opting for the standard bikini and underarm wax (their range of services feature a smorgasbord of options). Sadly my reluctance to grow out hair on my legs meant that after only one week they just weren’t long enough to be waxed (Sara advised three weeks growth as ideal, especially after shaving, to ensure a good result). The salon uses hot wax which Sara says is the most effective method to remove hair in sensitive places (doesn’t take the skin off with it – ouch!

The other great thing about OFF WAX is that you can book online – no embarrassing conversation on the phone about your nether-regions, and it’s all done in a couple of clicks of the mouse. You get a confirmation and can opt to be reminded of your appointment via email, text or phone.

It’s best to book well ahead at OFF WAX. Word has got around they are the best in the business, and such a pleasant experience too. Love the nightclub music, the lollipops and the friendly faces. Everyone at OFF WAX seems to really enjoy themselves and take pride in their work.

In summary, Nicky at OFF WAX was so great, and they really looked after me, even getting their best waxer in on a Saturday.  They cater to both men and women. For more information about their services visit www.offwaxbar.co.nz.