Hard Wax

Hard wax and soft wax are both GOATS in hair removal, but even though they both remove hair, there are a few differences that lead different waxing professionals toward one more than the other.

The biggest difference between hard and soft wax is that soft wax hair removal requires a non-woven or muslin strip to be removed, while film hard wax, AKA stripless hard wax sets itself by hardening to be removed all on its own.

You’re on the right track if you’re starting with high-quality wax products from Miss Cire. Using hard wax beads with a professional wax warmer and the proper pre-and post-wax care is a must. Melt your hard wax beads down according to the instructions on the package as each formula has its own vibe and hard wax temperature that it needs to be melted at. Next, cleanse the area with Miss Cire Pre Depilatory Cooling Gel and test a bit of your melted film hard wax on your wrist before applying it all over skin.

Smooth the wax over hair in the same direction as hair growth with firm and even pressure and round it out at the end to make what’s called a “lip” at the opposite end of the hair growth pattern. Once the strip has cooled over skin, flick up the lip to give you the means to pull off the strip. Hold skin taut at the lip and pull the strip off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Follow with Miss Cire Post-Depilatory Moisturizing Emulsion.

Once you get the rules of waxing hair removal down, you’re more likely to be successful with most of your services. Learn the following waxing deal-breakers and see if you can determine why your wax isn’t working as you want it to.

Amount of Wax
Pay attention to the size of the pot, the amount of wax in the pot, and the type of wax you're using. Your final wax temperature should make the wax look like molasses or thick honey.

Room and Skin Temperature
Check your room temperature and pay attention to your client; if either of them is running hot, it could affect your wax setting. Make sure to keep your wax room temperature in the low 70s.

Wax Temperature
Check the instructions on each wax you use and make sure that you’re not using a one-size-fits-all approach to its final resting temperature.

Looks Matter
How does your wax look before application? Soft wax can be a liquid for a smooth application, but hard cream wax should look like thick, yummy melted taffy, and hard gel wax should have that honey-like slow, slow drip. If your wax looks too liquidy, it’s not going to set the way you want or grasp hairs in any way that matters.

Your Spread
If your wax is spread too thick with hard wax, it takes forever to set.

Hair Length
That whole “grain of rice thing” is said so much for a reason; it’s a good measuring stick to reference when checking to see if your clients’ hair is at least ¼ inch long. You may think that your wax isn’t setting, but in truth, it just can’t get a grip onto hairs that are too short to be waxed in the first place.

Skincare Set-Up
Highlight the importance of proper skincare in between waxing visits with clients. This includes exfoliating and keeping the skin clear of dead skin cells and build-up of any kind.

Your Prep Talk
Before waxing, use Pre Depilatory Cooling Gel to ensure removing any excess oils, makeup, deodorant, sweat, lotions, or perfumes from skin. These are bad news for a solid waxing hair removal service, so be sure skin is prepped up in style.

Skin and hair growth are different for everyone, as well as the areas of the body you’re working on. But one thing is for sure, no matter if you’re using hard wax for face or hard wax for legs, results can last longer if you make sure to follow the proper do’s and don’ts of waxing.

Hair usually takes between two to four weeks, depending on how fast or how much your hair grows within a given area. ¼ inch hair for waxing is best, which is about the size of a grain of rice.

Your clients’ waxing results are determined by knowing what to do before waxing and what to avoid after waxing. You want to treat the skin like royalty before, after, and in between waxing sessions to avoid ingrown hairs, acne after waxing, or a patchy removal which can lead to all kinds of drama. The main things you need to avoid at all times when using hard wax at home or at the salon are inflammation, dehydration, and bacteria. After waxing, though, be sure to apply Miss Cire Post-Depilatory Moisturizing Emulsion and then avoid the following for at least 24 to 72 hours after hard wax hair removal:

• Sun Overexposure
• Sweaty stuff like going to hot places, working out, or sex
• Lakes, Pools, Oceans, or Baths (stick to showers)
• Touching the Waxed Area
• Intense Scrubbing or Exfoliation
• Saunas or Steam Rooms
• Harsh Skincare Products

There are a couple of reasons to want to know how to remove wax from a wax warmer:

1. You want to switch out a full pot of one formula for another.
2. You are at the end of your wax, and you’d like to try something new.
3. You want to know how to clean hard wax that has spilled on your professional wax warmer.

Here are the best ways to remove hard wax in all three cases.

What you’ll need: paper towels, Miss Cire Wax Cleaner, and thick rubber gloves for protection against heat. Disclaimer: Be careful; you’ll need to be working with a heated wax pot. For extra safety, wear protective face gear.

1. How to Remove Hard Wax from Wax Warmer: Large Amount
Turn your wax warmer temperature dial all the way up and allow it to melt the bottom and outside layers of hardened wax so that you can remove it as one whole piece. Empty into another stainless steel or metal container to save for later. Use paper towels to wipe out any leftover wax. Wipe with Miss Cire Wax Cleaner, then do a final rubdown.

2. How to Remove Hard Wax from Wax Warmer: Small Amount
Start by setting your wax warmer to just before the halfway point. Keep an eye on it to see when the wax is melted enough to wipe away with paper towels. Wipe it out when melted enough, then wipe with Miss Cire Wax Cleaner for a grand clean finale.

3. How to Clean Hard Wax from Wax Warmer
For any waxing oopses on hard surfaces like your wax pot, simply apply Miss Cire Wax Cleaner over the area to dissolve the wax. Let the wax cleaner sit longer if the amount of wax is more intense, then wipe away with a paper towel.

Miss Cire has the best hard wax to help you get any area smooth and soft in a short amount of time, but there are a few factors that can shorten or lengthen the time it takes for a Brazillian waxing session.

1. Hair needs to be at least between ¼ to ½ inches long. Trim if need be.
2. Make sure that you’re using the proper pre-and-post-wax care. Cleanse the area with Miss Cire Pre-Depilatory Cooling Gel and finish with Miss Cire Post-Depilatory Moisturizing Emulsion to help avoid ingrown hairs and bumps.
3. Seasoned professional hard wax pros can do a Brazilian wax in anywhere from 15-30 minutes, but new estheticians may need to double that time. Have a little practice to help your Brazilian waxing session go by more quickly.

Let’s say you’ve been using hard wax at home, or on a client; you flew too close to the sun, and got some hard wax on your hairline or brows, don’t worry! We got this. Try to wipe as much of it off as possible, then apply a face or body oil. Use a thin spatula to shimmy out any wax left in between hairs and keep moving between wiping and shimmying to remove all the wax.

If wax has gotten on larger areas like an arm that doesn’t want to be waxed, just apply some Our Miss Cire Post-Depilatory Moisturizing Emulsion over the wax and let it sit until the wax becomes movable and wipe. Keep applying our post-depilatory moisturizing emulsion and wiping until the film wax is completely removed.