Strip wax method

[Lucy-s]

I havent posted in a very long time, just been reading all the posts etc so dont mean to just come back straight away with a question but Im a little confused!

Im currently studying Beauty Therapy L2 and for when waxing legs we were taught to apply the wax from just under the knee all the wax down to the ankle, then apply the the strip and pull off. I saw another girl in my class applying all the wax first to one leg (just the front) and the taking it off with the strips which my tutor said is an easier & quicker way of doing it. I then read somewhere recently that you should apply the wax and then the strip straight away instead of leaving it on the leg while you apply the rest.
I've been ill so havn't been able to ask my tutor but I'd also like to the view from people who are actually working within the industry right now.

Obviously there can be different methods for everything but I just wanted to know which everyone finds easier and which is best for different types of strip wax. At college we're using a creme wax. I do have creme wax at home which I've been using to practise with but also recently bought Cristal Ocean but I've only tried that on eyebrows and I found it a bit stringy? I know its something I'm doing because everyone seems to be raving about it!

Sorry for going on but any tips would be very much appreciated.

 

[Kim Lawless]

Hi. I would cover the entire front of the lower leg then remove.

When you say the Cristal Ocean was stringy, you're not getting this confused with Euroblonde are you? This can be stringy when it gets too cool and drives you nuts. However, once you master getting your wax pot temp just right, it'll be your best friend. I've never heard of CO being stringy. Maybe you've got the temp too low.xxx

 

[Lucy-s]

Hi. I would cover the entire front of the lower leg then remove.

When you say the Cristal Ocean was stringy, you're not getting this confused with Euroblonde are you? This can be stringy when it gets too cool and drives you nuts. However, once you master getting your wax pot temp just right, it'll be your best friend. I've never heard of CO being stringy. Maybe you've got the temp too low.xxx

Thanks!

Nope its definitely CO but as you say, I think the temp was too low. I heated it slowly over about 45 minutes so maybe it just wasnt warm enough?

If I do cover the leg and it doesnt come off, would that mean that I need to leave it on for longer or I've left the wax on for too long before applying the strip? x

 

[Kim Lawless]

Sounds like your temp is too low Lucy. I turn my wax on full blast until it's melted and then turn it down to the required temp and let it cool.

If you have your wax as hot as possible, but so that it's not too hot for your client, then the wax will go on quickly and you'll remove it quickly, so there's not of that business with wax getting too cold and sticking to the skin.

Make sure that your spatula is on a knife's edge when applying and your wax will go on really thin. xxx

 

[Lucy-s]

Sounds like your temp is too low Lucy. I turn my wax on full blast until it's melted and then turn it down to the required temp and let it cool.

If you have your wax as hot as possible, but so that it's not too hot for your client, then the wax will go on quickly and you'll remove it quickly, so there's not of that business with wax getting too cold and sticking to the skin.

Make sure that your spatula is on a knife's edge when applying and your wax will go on really thin. xxx

Thanks so much Kim.
I do keep the spatula at 90 degrees but sometimes I find that it doesnt all go onto the skin, again this is probably because the wax isnt hot enough?
I read in another thread that if you heat the wax too quickly that it can damage the wax?
I'll just give it a go your way because its obviously not hot enough but I also get worried in case its too hot and doesnt cool down in time! I guess its all just practise. Thanks again! x

 

[Jen Smith]

I also get worried in case its too hot and doesnt cool down in time! I guess its all just practise.

It is down to practice and comes easier in time. Always, always test the wax on your inner wrists before applying to the client until you are totally confident with the wax, this is the only safe way of avoiding an accident with the wax being too hot. I can tell nowadays by just the feel of the wax if its at the right temperature or not.. but it took a long time before I really got to know the wax to be sure it was perfect for application.

If I changed wax again then I would go back to testing again before applying on my client.

Christal Ocian is a very thin wax when heated to the correct temp and goes onto the skin very thinly which makes it so cost effective, but you would loose this if its applied too thickly.. so it is very much worth it to practice with it to get it perfect for your client and your profits :hug:

Good luck with your practicing

 

[Lucy-s]

Thanks very much Jen. We've been taught to test wax on our wrists first but I look forward to the day when I will know just from the feel of it!

Another question: Is roller wax easier to use? I know that the whole double dipping thing is quite a hot topic at the moment and Ive seen that you can get disposable heads so you arent going through 30 spatulas per client. Is it worth eventually investing in a roller system as well if I do decide to go mobile?

Thanks x

 

[Jen Smith]

Roller systems have their place.. and there are a lot of techs that use them and love them... especially for larger body areas such as legs... personally I didnt get on with the one I had and sold it on.

When you get used to application with pot and spatua you will use less spatulas anyway as you will load it fully and be able to spread the wax further before having to load a further one. Spatulas are very little cost too so it isn't that expensive to use them. I don't double dip on face, underarms or intimate waxing.. but on legs and other areas I still do double dip.

At our college they wanted us to dribble the wax from one spatula to the working spatula.... seemed like a faff to me... but if it became manditory then I would have to get used to it like anything else I guess.

As for rollers and phd type systems, I am not 100% sure these are any safer than pot and spatula or as safe as they are made out to be, and as I am not a chemist I cannot say for certain. Rollers and phd systems seem popular with mobile therapists due to heating quickly smaller amounts.

If you do a search you will find a few threads on roller waxing and phd type systems which will give the pros and cons of these.

:hug:

 

[Lucy-s]

Thanks so much for the info.

I seem to have spent all afternoon reading through threads! At the moment if I do use 1 spatula per dip then I'd probably go through quite a few spatulas! Im only practising with my creme wax on mum and sister's legs so im not too bothered about double dipping but once I start on clients I will change over the pot.

 

[weezie]

I use strip wax mobile I would have thought it harder to get roller wax to the correct temp quickly enough and with a pot you can visually see when the wax is ready but I may be wrong!:hug: Plus then there are no rollers to clean or store between clients.

 

[lisa21]

I use strip wax mobile I would have thought it harder to get roller wax to the correct temp quickly enough and with a pot you can visually see when the wax is ready but I may be wrong!:hug: Plus then there are no rollers to clean or store between clients.

Hi Weezie

I am currently training in waxing and am also a mobile therapist so adding this to my treatment menu.

Can you tell me how you go about heating the wax for your clients as surely the wax takes ages to heat plus the worry about transporting the hot wax.

Thanks
Lisa

 

[weezie]

As I only cover areas up to 30 mins from my mums or my house I usually put the wax pot on to pre heat at her or my house when I get a chance before the treatment. Then make sure I have time to pop in to pick it up, this way the wax will have only been cooling for up to 30 mins so only takes the time it takes me to set up (5-10 mins) to get hot again. I plug it in the moment I arrive at the clients house.

I also put a layer of tin foil over the top of the pot under the lid, this keeps in the heat and stops any spills. I just place the pot on the passenger side floor of the car and drive slowly over speed bumps! Then I keep the small sports bag I keep the wax in level as I transport it. Just don't fill the pot over 3/4 full at any time. You'll only need to spill it once to learn the hard way that you need to keep the pot flat at all times!!! :hug: