ADDICTED ARTISTRY

The History of Waxing

The art of removing body hair dates back to the ancient Egyptians around 1150 BC.  The Egyptian people removed all their hair from their armpits to their pubic hair using sugaring. While people had been removing hair since the cavemen, the Egyptians began the format closest to waxing.  There is rumor around 900 BC the Queen of Sheba surprised Solomon with Possibly the first recorded “Brazilian”. Then around 500 BC the Grecian barbers practiced hair removal in their shops. Grecian women used a resin or wax like material in this way to remove unwanted hair from their pubic areas. This is evidenced by looking at ancient Greek statues of women with no body hair.   The “day spa” is credited for starting during the Roman Empire, 27 BC – 476 AD. Going to daily baths for steam and massages, the men were refined and young men commonly removed their leg hair. These methods were used until after the Middle ages and then Rome’s fall led to the trend of keeping body hair.  The Christian religion brought years of neglected body hair.  The Crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries brought in Eastern practices and along with them hair free appreciation and removal again.  

 

Why Wax?

Body Waxing is more effective than shaving because it removes the hair from the root with the full hair follicle. Shaving only removes the hair at the surface of the skin.  Waxing also leaves the area completely smooth because it removes the root.  Hair takes longer to grow back, and is usually finer and softer than it previously was.  While shaving removes hair for only a few days, waxing can last several weeks, up to eight weeks in some cases. Another benefit to waxing is the fact that large areas of hair can be removed at a time.

 

Delicate areas such as eyebrows and around the mouth are also better served by waxing than other hair removal techniques. Waxing is an accurate and safe way to remove hair from these areas.  Waxing and sculpting the eyebrow can be used as a tool to give a new look to the face with a clean and fresh appearance.

 

Another reason that waxing is preferred over shaving is the skin irritations shaving can cause. Unsightly razor burns, bumps, ingrown hairs, and abrasions are all some of the side effects of using a razor to remove hair. Not only are razor burns and cuts a nuisance but they also expose your body to possible infections.  It also has the additional benefits of exfoliating the skin and spares you a prickly feeling when the hair re-grows.

 

What else should I know to prepare?

The average time people wait for return visit is three to four weeks, but it varies greatly between body type. Factors like hair growth cycle, age and sex all play a factor in how fast your hair grows. It also depends on which body area you are having treatment on. Hair generally needs to be about 1/4″ long before it can be successfully removed. This is typically 2-4 weeks of growth.  The more you have it done, the longer the interval will be between treatments.  Skin will be smoother longer.    Please inform your esthetician if you are using any products containing Retin-A, Retinol, Glycolic, Accutane and other topical solutions prescribed by your dermatologist.