Ahead of National Bikini Day on the 5th of July, skincare expert Charlotte Connoley shares her top tips to achieve a salon-like bikini wax in the comfort of your own home.Should we shower before waxing?CC: A warm shower will help to cleanse the skin of any natural oils before waxing, ensuring the product clings to the hair far better. The heat of the shower will open the pores making the hairs easier to remove. Skin should be clean, clear and dry before waxing.
What are your top tips for giving yourself a Brazilian or Hollywood at home. Do you have any tips to make this less painful?CC: Carrying out your own Hollywood or Brazilian wax at home should be taken with extreme care, attention and precision. The technique you adopt is absolutely key to getting the best results. Applying hot wax sensitive areas, such as the bikini line, can cause burning, sensitivity and irritation; make sure the wax you are using is suitable for this area. Ensure you have a clear view of the areas you want to wax by using a chair or the side of the bath to raise your leg up on to. Use a mirror to make sure the correct amount of wax is being applied. Hold the skin tight in order ease the pain before taking the wax or wax strip off.
CC: Don't drink alcohol or caffeine thinking that it will ease the pain - it won't – and may mean your concentration levels are lowered, leaving you with an uneven finish and poor end results. Try to avoid trimming or shaving the bikini area in between waxes as this can make the hair grow back tougher.
What is the best method to remove cold wax strips from the bikini area?CC: Cold wax strips, such as the Nair Coconut Body Strips, are used to remove hair from the root. They can be used anywhere, even on sensitive areas such as the bikini line. Before you wax, make sure the hair is long enough - short stubby hairs are harder to remove so ensure the hair is at least a quarter of an inch in length.
CC: To ensure the wax strip is easy to remove, exfoliate the area the night before to release ingrown hairs and make them easier to remove. If your skin is highly sensitive you may want to apply some numbing cream to the area half an hour before, but make sure you wipe it off before waxing. Apply some talcum powder to the area to ensure the skin is dry and allowing the wax to adhere to the hair and not the skin; which often is the cause of wax strips being difficult or painful to remove. Hold the skin tight and smooth the wax strips down, starting on the outer edge and moving inwards. Pull the wax strip in an upwards and fast motion in the opposite direction to the hair growth. Work in small sections in order to remove even small hairs. You can always go over with tweezers to remove the hairs that have been left behind.
CC: If you struggle to remove the wax strip on your bikini area, use ice to freeze the wax off. Hold ice on the area for 30 seconds which will make the wax brittle and break away.
Nair Coconut Body Strips, £6.99Nair Bikini Brush-On, £5.99
Nair is available at Superdrug, Boots, ASDA and Sainsburys.