A full body wax is a method of removing unwanted body hair from the entire body. In this method, hot wax is poured over small areas, a cloth is immediately smoothed over the wax, and then it is pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair. This pulls the hair out by the root, ideally preventing it from growing back for at least a few weeks. This can be quite a painful process, though many people feel it is worth it to temporarily get rid of body hair. Both men and women may get a full body wax.
It is important to prepare for a full body wax before getting one. The skin should be exfoliated, washed, and thoroughly dried. It is necessary to allow hair to grow to a certain length before getting it waxed, otherwise the waxing process will not really work because the wax will have nothing to grab onto. Some people also take a painkiller about a half an hour ahead of time to dull the pain a bit, but it is certainly possible to take one afterward, if this step is forgotten. It is important never to wax skin that is injured in any way; blemishes, rashes, or cuts can become searingly painful if the skin is waxed.
A full body wax is done incrementally, and depending on the person doing the waxing, could take an hour or more. The same process of applying the hot wax, applying the cloth strip, and pulling it off will need to be repeated over the entire body. When the process is complete, a soothing lotion is generally applied to treat the skin. Keep in mind that a full body wax may mean different things in different salons; for instance, it might just mean arms, legs, and bikini area, or it might literally mean all the hair on the body, including back, chest, and underarms.
There are many reasons someone might choose to get a full or partial waxing. It does last much longer than shaving. Bodybuilders often receive a full body wax to make the lines of the muscles on the body as clear as possible. Other people might simply be more self-conscious about body hair and want to effectively get rid of it. It is only a temporary solution, however; laser hair removal is the only permanent solution for unwanted body hair, which is very expensive, but less painful.
