A few years ago I decided I'd had enough with shaving my legs and went to Google to search “how to wax your legs at home.” Shaving is one of the more tedious body-grooming tasks if you choose to do so, and there's so much to be annoyed about, from the occasional skin irritation to the fact that—surprise—you've got to repeat the process the very next day if you want to be silky smooth (having thick hair is a blessing in most cases, but not so much when you don't want it on your legs). I blocked off extra time with the woman I see for my Brazilian waxes, and off I went, never looking back…until I realized how much money I was spending.
At my local salon, a half-leg wax runs me about $40. Go every three weeks and you're looking at an annual investment of around $680—not cheap. While I was pleased with the way regular appointments made my hair grow in thinner, I decided to start saving. Armed with a few detailed tutorials on how to wax your legs at home and a DIY waxing kit bought on Amazon, I took matters into my own hands. A few months after I bit the bullet, things have been both messy and good. It definitely requires a time commitment, and I've never had a result as perfect as what I got from the pros, but I am happy to be saving the cash.
All that said, there are few lessons I've had to learn the hard way. Here's what I wish I had known about how to wax your legs at home.
Tips Before You Start Waxing
Before you grab that first wax strip, here are few helpful pointers to keep in mind.
1. Don’t jump straight to DIY'ing.
I typically grimaced a bit at the salon but have actually found my DIY method to be less painful. Granted, I've been waxing for longer, so the hair isn't as thick as it was my first trip in. I'm happy with my decision to take waxing into my own bathroom, but I'd suggest anyone start with a professional—or at least study up on the right techniques. You'll get to see how things are done, and you'll be dealing with slightly less stubborn hair when you step into the driver's seat.
2. Look for a solution that will be easy to wash off.
One perk of doing leg waxing at home is I have more control over the formula. Beata Chyla, lead esthetician at Bliss, recommends considering your skin type and waxing needs when shopping. "You can keep both strip and hard wax at home, but strip wax is mostly used on larger parts of the body, whereas hard wax is gentler and can be used on facial hair, bikini, or armpits," she says. "The Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit is my favorite because it's very easy to use."
I personally love the Nair Wax Kit because it's so easy to clean—warm water and soap does the trick. I hop in the shower after I'm done, and any spots that land on my bathroom sink or on the applicator are gone with a soapy swipe.
3. Buy extra strips.
When using a roll-on wax, you're going to need more strips than you think. The kit I use comes with 10 strips, which doesn't cover the entire area. I've occasionally rinsed the strips with sudsy water and reused them in a pinch (thanks, Amazon reviewers!), but I recommend stocking up ahead of time.
4. Make sure your leg hair is the right length.
Too short, and the wax won't be able to grab on to the hair. Too long, and it's going to hurt a lot more. "Prior to waxing, the length of your leg hair should be at least a quarter inch long," says Chyla. An easy way to remember this is to time your at-home waxes about a month apart, just like you would for salon appointments. "Usually wax should last from three to four weeks, but everyone’s rate of regrowth can vary," she says.
5. This is not the time for a rush job.
I was the most careful during my inaugural run and slowly got lazier. When I'm hurrying or not paying attention, things get messy: I've stepped on a used strip (so gross), pieces have landed on the carpet sticky side down, and I've destroyed my sink top. Lesson learned: Take your time.
How to Wax Your Legs
Read on for our step-by-step guide, approved by the pros.
Carefully follow the instructions.
Twenty-four hours before you wax, Chyla recommends an in-shower scrub for best results the next day (she likes the Bliss Hot Salt Scrub). If your pain threshold is especially low, you can also take a pain reliever an hour before you begin. From there, just follower her pro-approved process:
