Thinking of waxing in time for summer?

Summer is just around the corner and that means sun, sea, and sand. Another S is part of the equation, though—skin, since baring one's skin is in during this season. 

 

Much attention has been placed on ways to have summer-ready smooth skin, from proper tanning to sunblock use. But in recent years, women have also started adopting measures to achieve a hair-free body.

 

Summer or not, many women have considered including a depilating service as part of their regular regimen. Come to think of it, the principle is the same between depilating and having a haircut: the removal of unwanted hair growth.

 

As a result, services like threading, intense pulse light (IPL), the Diode Laser, and one of the most common, waxing, have become popular. 

 

Waxing is a form of semi-permanent hair removal which removes the hair from the root using wax. Dr. Sherwin Llego, dermatologist at Makati Medical Center, said “Waxing is a good option for those who cannot afford the IPL or the Diode. It is reasonable and more convenient compared to hair removing services done in hospitals and aesthetic centers.”

 

Waxing can be done in body parts such as the eyebrow, upper lip, arm, underarm, legs, bikini area and now more accepted than before, the pubic area.

 

Brazilian wax is the waxing of hair down there. Boyzilian is the male counterpart. For waxing aficionados, this process is usually most dreaded as it is more painful than waxing other body parts. 

Tab Abad, a self-confessed waxing enthusiast, shares, “From a bald eyebrow to patchy skin caused by a botched Brazilian wax, I've experienced them all just for my body to be hair-less. So finding the right waxing service became a quest for me.” 

 

In 2007, Tab chanced upon Strip: Ministry of Waxing and was very impressed. She adds, “I was surprised that the Brazilian waxing was pain-free and took only 15 minutes! And from a pain scale of one to ten, I give it a three.”

 

This prompted Tab to open a Philippine franchise of Strip in 2008 at Serendra, and recently, in Greenbelt 5 as well.

 

“There’s a science behind Strip’s waxing process,” explains Tab. “The services and techniques are all standardized to ensure consistency. Our Stripellas all have medical backgrounds. Like nurses, they undergo rigorous training to adhere to Strip’s standards. The company also has its Research and Development team who consistently innovate our products.”  

Llego, however reminds us that “Every procedure or company can claim to be this and that. These are all just anecdotal claims. It is still best to rely on clinical studies. Right now, the only FDA-approved depilation procedure is the Diode Laser.”

 

He emphasises: “May it be plucking, shaving or waxing the underarm, if done too much can cause chicken skin or other reactions. I advise that one should alternate depilation procedures because the tendency is, doing something too often might eventually result to untoward skin condition.” 

 

“Each individual responds differently so it’s always best to approach these procedures with care,” Llego adds.

 

While Llego does not dissuade people from waxing, he advised moderation. “It is good to give your skin a rest from waxing, or any other procedure at that. Nothing should be done in excess.” —KG, GMA News