GREASED LIGHTNING

The use of pre-depilatory oil is one of the best-kept secrets in the
modern waxing world!

Many of us have spent our entire beauty careers believing we need
to remove all surface oils from the skin prior to waxing and then
powder our clients up like a baby’s bottom.

Well, it’s time to throw the talc away! The use of pre-depilatory oil
is a French technique that is rapidly gaining favour across the rest
of the globe, and for good reason.

Next time you crack open a can of wax, try applying a fine layer of oil to the skin before waxing. Unlike powder, this creates a lipid barrier between the wax and skin that has several advantages:
 Increased client comfort – oil prevents wax from adhering to the skin and makes the hair removal process more comfortable for customers.Reduced skin trauma – wax can be applied over the same area multiple times if necessary.Cost effective – a little goes a long way. Wax spreads incredibly thinly over lightly oiled skin, allowing more treatments per gram of product.Clean, effortless results – wax is removed cleanly and easily, leaving minimal residue on the body. No more sticky bits and clean-up is a breeze!

Depilatory oils can be used under all strip, non-strip and roller waxes, regardless of the brand. Although suitable for all waxing services, oil is especially great for clients with dry or cold skin, and when removing hair from sensitive areas such as the face, underarms and bikini or Speedo line. Try it, you’ll be amazed at the results!
 Some waxing lines include a specific pre-depilatory oil, but you can also use any light massage oil such as grapeseed or sweet almond. Avoid the heavier oils like avocado or olive, as these tend to leave a greasy film that interferes with the adhesion properties of the wax.After your normal pre-wax cleanse, rub a few drops of oil between the palms of your hands and then smooth over the treatment area. You could use a cotton pad instead, but personally I find this wasteful as much of the oil simply sinks into the cotton.You want just a light sheen of oil on the skin; you’re not dressing a salad! If you use too much, wax will appear to ‘slide off’ the body during application and won‘t stick to anything. If this happens, simply blot any excess with a tissue and try again.You can add more oil as needed throughout the waxing service if the skin becomes dry.I also massage a generous amount of oil into the skin at the end of my waxing services. This helps to dissolve any sticky wax residue that may be lurking, and ensures my customers don’t look like a human lint ball when they peel their clothes off back at home. I follow with my usual post-wax cleanser (nobody likes to leave the salon feeling like they’ve been dipped in a chip pan, plus the cleanser acts to cool and sanitise the skin after waxing), and finish with a healthy application of post-wax soothing lotion. The job’s a good’un!

© Andy Rouillard, 2009-12. All rights reserved.