Waxing Flashcards
Working temperature of warm wax
43 degrees celcius
Main ingredients - warm wax
Mixtures containing rosin (pine resin), glucose syrup, zinc oxide (cream wax) and colour / fragrance
Application & removal - warm wax
Applied in a thin layer in the direction of hair growth using a spatula & removed against the hair growth using a paper / muslin strip.
Advantages - warm wax
Versatile - all areas can be treated.
Quick
Cheap
Can be applied twice if no skin reaction
Disadvantages - warm wax
Sticks to both skin & hair
Leaves a sticky residue
Working temperature - hot wax
50 degrees celcius
Main ingredients - hot wax
A blend of waxes & resins - up to 60% beeswax with soothing ingredients and plasticisers for flexibility,
Application & removal - hot wax
A spatula is used to pick up a ‘ball’ of hot wax. The ball is applied to the area in a figure - 8 motion to form a strip shape. The wax cools around the hair, shrink-wrapping it. The edge of the strip is ‘flicked’ up & the strip is removed as one against the hair growth.
Area suitability - hot wax
Areas of coarse hair growth & sensitive skin (under arm / bikini / facial areas)
Advantages - hot wax
Effectively grips short, strong hairs
No sticky residue
Grips the hair but doesn’t stick to the skin.
New generation waxes are excellent for sensitive skin as they are flexible and have a much lower working temperature to traditional hot wax (usually 30-40 degrees celcius).
Disadvantages - hot wax
Slow & time consuming to use
Can be messy until skill is developed.
Expensive to use as the used wax must be disposed of after one use.
Traditional hot waxes (50oC) cannot be re-applied due to the high working temperature.
Hair structure - hair shaft
The portion of hair which extends beyond the skins surface.
Hair structure - the root
The part of the hair that is in the follicle.
Hair structure - the bulb
The enlarged base of the root – known as the bulb as the lower part of the follicle is wider than the upper part.
Hair structure - the arrector pili muscle
A small muscle which attaches to the base of the hair follicle and the epidermis. On contraction, the hair stands on end creating a ‘goose bump’.
Hair structure - the sebaceous gland
A gland which is attached to the upper thirds of the hair follicle and secretes sebum (the skin’s natural moisturiser) onto the skin.
Hair structure - the dermal papilla
A connective tissue sheath which is surrounded by the hair bulb. It has a good blood supply and supplies the hair with nutrients from the blood.
Hair structure - the matrix
Located within the lower part of the hair bulb. Contains actively dividing cells. New cells push older ones forwards resulting in hair growth.
Mitosis
The method of cell division for all cells in the body other than sex cells (ova & sperm). One cell divides producing 2 identical copies.
Keratin
The protein which makes up hair, nails and skin.
Keratinisation
The process by which epithelial cells become filled with keratin granules, die and form tough, resistant structures such as hair / nail / skin.
Hair growth cycle - anagen stage
The active growing phase. The hair is fully attached to the blood supply at the base of the follicle and cells in the matrix are actively dividing.
Hair growth cycle - catagen stage
The changing or transitional stage where the follicle moves from growth to rest. The hair separated from the dermal papilla and moves up the follicle.
Hair growth cycle - telogen stage
The resting stage. The shortened follicle rests until it is stimulated to grow again & the catagen hair falls away.
