I have recentley been reading in threads that you can use oil before waxing. I was not taught this but i did my training long ago. ha ha.
My question is does the use of oil not stop the wax from sticking to the hairs?
I have never really had any problems with waxing but am interested as i have never heard of this before. Many thanks

I have to agree when I first hear this I thought "WHAT!!! surely you are removing oils so putting them on the skin defeats this process!!" In training you are told to keep the skin dry.

Actually you clean off the natural oils/moisturisers on the skin as per usual and then add a small controlled amount of oil (I use an after care oil) this helps with waxing especially over the knees and on dry patches.

Too much oil and you are right the wax will not stick to the hairs and the spatula just skid over the surface. The right amount and you will be applying wax as per usual. The oil forms a protective barrier on the skin only thus causing less irritation and giving a better less painful result.

thank you for your answer weezi. I will try it as my partner has very sensitive skin so will see if it makes any difference. xx

Cool, you're welcome, just passing on what I learnt. It should help on those with more reactive skin. I have noticed that clients having facial waxing no longer go red after using oil first. I thought the oil would heat and burn the client but this does not happen.

that was a really good question!! i will now be trying oil before waxing myself to see the results. thanx guys!!

Hi, if you do a search think you'll find lots of info on types of oil and how to use it etc... 'Axiom' is the God of waxing and oil!

Lol, well that's very kind of you to say so Stampy, thank you

Wax Queen Lori Nestore and our very own Huberella and Angelxdevil are also well-known advocates of waxing with oil, and what those gals don't know about waxing ain't worth knowing!

Just to recap, you can use any light oil - massage oils such as jojoba, sweet almond and grapeseed are fine, as are mineral and baby oils, and as Weezie has discovered even the post-wax oils that some companies sell will do a good job. I believe Huberella also adds tea-tree oil for it's antispetic qualities, which sounds like a great idea. Steer clear of the heavier massage oils like wheatgerm and avocado though, as these are more difficult to get the right amount on the skin.

Using a small amount of oil acts as a barrier between skin and wax in a similar way to talc/powder. The main difference is that talc absorbs moisture, which can sometimes result in wax sticking to the skin (in turn making lifting and irritation more likely), whilst oil creates a lubricant barrier that prevents the wax from sticking in this manner. Many people find that this makes the whole dang process hurt less, too!

As Weezie rightly said, you really do only need a light smear - too much and it will stop the wax sticking to the hair, and you'll slip and slide about all over the place. If this happens, simply wipe off the excess oil with a tissue and try again. Takes a bit of practice to get right, but it's well worth the effort!

Andy x

Oil works best on clients with those dry flaky skin types - or when clients have been on holiday and their skin is flaking away. (y'know the one where the clients says 'oooh your waxing my tan off')

thanks guys. I will definately give it a try. xx

I must be honest, I've never used oil whilst waxing either, but I am eager to try it.

Think I'll give it a go on my own legs this weekend, see what happens. I've got grapeseed oil so I'll use that.

You will never switch back to the old way once you've started using oil. It is absolutely amazing. Your clients will even notice the difference.

I just started using this method recently and it is brill. It is sooooo much less painful, especially on delicate areas such as bikini. My friend is a major wimp and she amazed at the difference using oil. Its just so much better. Give it a try.

Waxed my legs this evening - used the oil. Absolutely fantastic! Can't believe how much better it is and I also can't believe its taken me so long to find out about this method!!!!

Thanks guys for sharing the info!

do you just apply the oil with your hands?

You sure do - I put a few drops of oil in the palms of my hands, rub together and then smooth over the area to be waxed. Any excess can be blotted from the skin with a tissue.

Andy x