HARD WAX HINTS AND TIPS

The following hints and techniques refer specifically to new generation hard waxes. Techniques should be fairly universal but each brand will have it’s own unique quirks and application methods; don’t be afraid to experiment to find out what works best with your particular product.


WHAT IS HARD WAX?

You may have heard it referred to as non-strip wax, peelable wax, film wax or hot wax. Traditional hot wax is applied in a thick layer or built up over several layers, usually in a figure-of-eight pattern to ensure a thorough coating of all hairs. It is left to cool and harden on the skin, firmly encapsulating each hair as it dries; the cooled wax is then removed by hand, taking the hair with it.

New generation non-strip waxes share these unique ‘shrinkwrapping’ abilities of older hot waxes but are lower in temperature, easier to apply and stay flexible as they cool, making them much more comfortable for the client and an ideal choice for removing short, coarse and stubborn hairs anywhere on the body.


INGREDIENTS

The base ingredients of hard wax include beeswax, rosin (treated pine resin) and microcrystalline waxes (derived from petroleum), to which various other ingredients may be added to alter the consistency, flexibility and melting point of the final product.

Typical additions include emollients (such as lanolin and vegetable or mineral oils), thickeners (e.g. paraffin), plant extracts with various soothing and antimicrobial properties (e.g. tea tree, lavender, rose and chamomile), fragrance and colouring agents. New generation hard waxes may also contain synthetic rosins and elastomers, for increased pliability of the cooled wax.

Hard wax is available in pellets, bricks and diskettes for ease of melting, allowing the wax pot to be topped up as needed throughout the day.

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