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How to Get Wax Out of Hair
If we're all being honest, you probably read this title and had a flashback to esthetician school when you applied a little too much wax on way too much hair. And since we're on the truth train, you probably panicked a little- no, panicked a lot!
Until you learned some foolproof ways onhow to get wax out of hair. No doubt, these tricks of the trade have come in handy when you were fresh out of school and still getting comfortable with your waxing ways.
Even now, we may still have our off days or challenging wax clients that want very specific waxes and, well, let's just say you’ve colored out of the lines a little with your wax.
So, how do you fix it? Well, we're pulling out the tips from our fresh, out-of-school days and giving maybe some new tips to those who aren't as familiar with how to get wax out of hair.
These are helpful tips to keep in your back pocket for those days that just aren't going according to plan.
And for our new at-home waxers, these tips are just what you need to help you along your personal waxing journey when you make an "oops" while applying your wax.
First things first, does wax even come out of hair without having to pull the hair out?
Does Wax Come Out Of Hair?
In a short answer, yes, wax can come out of hair without needing to cut it out or rip it off.Phew! That's a relief!
The wax can be removed from hair without having to cut or rip it out because of the malleability and how soft the wax becomes when heated by the body.
Since hair removal wax is often made of rosin or beeswax (Nova'sHard Wax Tablets are made with beeswax), these ingredients are best removed with two essential components: oil and heat.
The warmer and softer the wax, the easier it will come off in one piece.
So, you don't need to panic if you've made a waxing mistake!
Now, exactly how do you use heat and oil to get the wax out?
How Do You Remove Wax From Hair?
Using a combination of heat to loosen the wax's grip on the hair and oil to create a barrier between the wax and the hair is essential in effectively removing wax from hair.
Here are a few ways to remove wax from hair:
Use a Baby Oil or Olive Oil
Baby oil, olive oil, or even a hair oil (if that's all you have handy) is an easy way to remove wax from hair because they provide a protective barrier between the hair and the wax, allowing for an easier removal process. The oil binds with the wax making it softer and more pliable.
Besides the protective factors of using oil, oils are added to waxes to keep the wax from being too harsh on the skin. Oils can help soothe and protect, which makes them an excellent option for removing wax. Our Dual-Action Oil is a prime example of this!
So, how exactly do you use hair oil to get wax out of hair?
Apply a few drops of your favorite hair oil to your hands. Warm up the oil in your hands by rubbing your palms together quickly and spreading the oil over the waxed area continuously until the wax begins to come off.
Remember to spread it in only one direction; you don't want to end up pushing the wax over more hair or get it intertwined deeper within your hairs, so continually spread the warmed oil in the same direction.
If you can't seem to get the oil warm in between your palms, you can gently warm it in the microwave for a quick few seconds. The warmth helps melt the wax down a bit, making it easier to come off the hair.
Caution: If you do this, try only 5 seconds at a time. You do not want to spread on oil that is too hot as this can cause burns. It just needs to be a little warm to loosen the hardened wax effectively.
Use Heat From A Blow-Dryer
Using a blow-dryer is another effective way to get wax out of hair. One simple way to remove the wax is by directing the warm air from a blow-dryer (on low heat) to the area with wax you want to be removed. You can then use a cotton ball or Q-tip with a few drops of oil to wipe the wax off.
The blow-dryer helps to loosen the wax from the hair strands, and this combination of heat and oil is an effective method.
Be sure not to touch the waxed area with your skin or fingers while using the blow-dryer.
Caution: If you use a blow-dryer, make sure to hold it at least 6 inches away from the would-be waxed area and constantly move the blow dryer around so the wax doesn't burn your skin.
Use A Hot Towel
You can use a hot towel to loosen the wax's grip on your hair and make it easy to remove wax from hair. You can do this by microwaving a damp hand towel (not too wet, but enough so when you squeeze out the excess water, there's still a little left on the towel) and then placing it on the waxed area for a minute or two.
The towel heats up from the wax underneath, making it warm and pliable. You can then rub the wax off of your hair with ease using the same towel. For added removal assistance, a dab of conditioner with the hot towel can help to separate the hair strands from the wax itself.
If you have a lot of wax on your hair, you may not want to use this method alone as it could still remove some hair and not just the wax alone.
Use a Wax Remover Product
Another great way to remove wax from hair is using a commercial wax remover product.
These products are available at most local beauty supply stores, and they are often very effective at removing the wax.
Do You Have To Wash Wax Out Of Hair?
You don't have to wash the wax out of hair strictly because water alone won't work to get the wax off without removing hair too.
However, a combination of the methods above, along with a warm water wash, can help to get all of the wax residues off.
Use one of the aforementioned methods first until most of the wax is off, and then soak the hair in warm water in a bath or shower. You can then use a clarifying shampoo, which is used to get rid of residues and build-up, to help get more wax off the hair, followed by a conditioner.
These techniques can help you effectively get rid of wax that is holding on to hair it shouldn't be!
Preventing Wax From Getting In Places It Shouldn't
We all know that wax happens!
Wax can tend to get in areas and places we don't mean for them to, including the hair on our head or surrounding hair that is not meant to be removed in the area we are waxing.
Thankfully, you have some help to remove wax if it goes in a wirey direction, but ultimately we always want to prevent wax from going astray.
Taking your time and not rushing can help avoid minor mishaps like this, as well as using precise applicators are always crucial.
Ourflat-rounded wooden wax applicators are fantastic for applying wax in just the right spots and helping to prevent excessive globs of wax that can spread too much too quickly. Try these applicators out and see for yourself how effective they are!
You can always spritz a little oil or pre-wax cleaner onto the area to be waxed before applying the wax, which helps it come off in one smooth strip. Doing this can help prevent lots of wax residue around hair that doesn't need waxing.
Make sure not to get these products onto areas of skin that you want to wax! If you apply the oil on the area you want to wax, you can prevent effective hair removal.
In Summary
Whether you are an Esthie fresh out of school still trying to gain your confidence in the salon industry or you are an experienced veteran in the field, reminders on how to get wax out of hair are always crucial tips to keep in the back of your mind.
You don't know when you might need them!
Of all the things to take away from our tips, always remember heat and oil works best to remove wax from hair.
Heat makes the wax melt a bit more and makes it more pliable to remove, while oil helps create a barrier to wax's adhesion on the hair.
Hopefully, this situation doesn't happen to you often with your clients, but next time it does- don't panic! Rub some oil between your palms and start applying while you feel a load of relief.
