Waxing with Liz Lugo: Men's Full Back Wax

Smooth skin is for everyone, yes - men too! Hair-free skin can make some men feel more confident in their bodies, here’s why: A silky-smooth back can allow for the muscles to appear more defined. Additionally, hair removal helps minimize body odors since sweat holds onto the hair on our bodies. With the thick, coarse hair that is usually more common with men, this can really build up a lot of unwanted scents on the skin. 

Let’s talk about two of the main hair types on our bodies: Terminal and Vellus. Terminal hairs are thicker, coarser and more pigmented while Vellus hairs are shorter and finer in texture (sometimes, they’re not noticeable at all!) We all begin with vellus hairs but as we grow older (especially when puberty hits) these hairs begin to transform, and the change is different for both men and women. Eventually, some parts of our bodies (especially down below) will develop into terminal hair, but men will usually develop it in more parts of their body than women do - such as the face, chest, stomach, and back. Understanding the type of hair you’re working with when it comes to waxing is crucial, as you will need to tweak your strategy to ensure a flawless removal process. 

Luckily, Nova Wax is an effective hybrid formula that works flawlessly on both fine and coarse hairs! With the proper technique, you will be able to wax any and all types of hair! So grab your husband, boyfriend, brother, or friend - and let’s wax along with Liz Lugo!

If you’re waxing at home (#quarantinelife) and don’t have a massage bed, that’s okay! You can try using a countertop with a towel on top of it, and have the person you’re waxing lean across the counter until they’re completely flat. To prevent any wax from accidentally dripping onto their hair, lay a paper towel down over their head for protection. If you think getting gum stuck in your hair is bad… wax is WAY worse! If wax gets caught in the hair, you’ll have to cut it out - so let’s protect that luscious hair as best as we can! (bald guys - you have the edge here 😆)

As always, cleanse the skin beforehand before you wax. Some coarse hair can be dry and dehydrated so if that is your case here, apply a small amount of oil to the area after you cleanse. Dry, coarse hair is brittle and can easily break at the surface so applying oil beforehand will re-moisturize the skin, making it much more flexible and easier to remove. Breakage can lead to irritation and ingrown hairs, and we definitely don’t want that on our backs! 

As with waxing any large areas, you will want to stick to a specific pattern so no area gets left behind. Liz begins with laying strips down the spine to create an opening for the rest of the strips to follow. This down-the-middle cleanup also prevents unwanted hairs from getting caught in your other strips, which is much more comfortable for the person you’re waxing. Lay the remaining strips in an alternating pattern across the back, spacing them out to ensure they do not run into each other. Lay your strips all the way down the back, and then remove them. You want to lay all the strips first before removing them, so they have enough time to dry down and envelop those hairs. 

You’ll repeat the same alternating pattern, starting from the opposite side of the back, to fill in the gaps that were left with the first round. Then, touch up some other areas you may have missed. Areas with thicker hair growth, like the back, may require an additional re-application to get that smooth finish. Try to avoid waxing over the same area twice! If this is the person’s first time waxing their back, it may require a couple of sessions over time to get that completely clean finish. Thick hair is stubborn - so patience is key!

If the hair you are dealing with is very thick and coarse, take your time and wax in smaller sections. It may take longer, but you will get much cleaner results and you won’t break as many hairs. Waxing large sections of hair at one time can be incredibly painful, especially to waxing newbies, so focus instead on laying smaller strips that you can pull quickly with less pain. With any strip you lay, small or large, always hold the skin taut and pull the strips in a strong parallel motion for a clean removal. Applying a light amount of pressure with your hand to the area after removal will also ease the pain sensation. 

Once that back is silky-smooth and fuzz-free, apply some alcohol-free witch hazel to soothe the skin. Avoid heavy creams and aloe gels because the thickness of these can clog the pores, leading to ingrown hairs. Instead, a lightweight post-wax lotion and oil will be the perfect finishing touch (keep an eye out - we’ll have these soon!) Avoid hot showers and the sun immediately after the wax, and exfoliate 24-28 hours afterward to maximize that smooth finish.