I was at the Orlando show in 2008 working the satin smooth booth, and a woman approached me and asked if I could help her. I was all too happy to assist. She wanted to buy wax for a machine that she had inherited after her mother’s death.
Easy enough. She had about 6 14oz cans of strip wax in her possession, and wanted to know how she could dump them in to the wax basin. Huh, wax basin? I showed her a single warmer, a double warmer, and last but not least a paraffin warmer. Ding, ding, ding we have a winner.
She was looking for a paraffin warmer, and almost purchased six cans of depilatory wax. That would have been a hot mess, literally. I have been apart of this beauty thing since birth, and what comes second nature to me, doesn’t come easy for others. In honor of the lady at the Orlando show in 2008 I am unlocking the mystery of wax, well at least the ones that you”d find in a body spa.
Dip baby dip, come on now!
Paraffin wax (not to be confused with candle wax) typically comes in blocks about the size of a brick, and is melted down in a paraffin warmer. We use this wax during spa services to aid in hydrating the skin. Paraffin is not used for hair removal. Here is a video that I found on You Tube to give you an idea of all things paraffin. It can be used in facial treatments too.
The Hair Removers
There are two types of wax used for hair removal. One being a soft aka speed or strip wax, and the other being a hard wax or stripless wax. I use both waxes during most services. Strip waxes typically come in a tin, has a low melting point, and is removed with a non-woven or muslin strip. If you’re ever been waxed 9/10 this is the kind of wax the esthetician used. It spreads thin and is removed before the wax cools.
Now on to the least favorite misunderstood wax of them all, and my all time favorite (I root for the underdog) hard wax. This wax can come in a variety of ways tins, beads, and blocks. Hard wax has to be warmed first before it can be used. It spreads thicker than strip wax (about the thickness of a nickel), and has to harden before you can remove it. The great thing about hard wax is that it does not stick to the skin, only the hair. It may be an alternative option for someone who skin has been unhappy when using strip wax.
Here is a video I did on hard wax.
This Blog Post is dedicated to Regina F. thanks for the inspiration.
Have you ever had a paraffin dip?
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Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
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