Benefits and drawbacks

Benefits and drawbacks

There are many benefits to waxing versus other forms of hair removal. It is an effective method to remove large amounts of hair at one time.^[2] It is a long-lasting method. Hair in waxed areas will not grow back for two to eight weeks. When hair is shaved or removed by depilatory cream, the hair is removed at the surface rather than the root. Within a few days, the hair can be seen at the surface. With these methods, hair tends to grow back in a rough stubble. Areas that are repeatedly waxed over long periods of time often exhibit regrowth that is softer.^[3]

There are many drawbacks of waxing as well. Waxing can be painful when the strip is removed from the skin. Although the pain is not long-lasting, it can be intense, particularly in more sensitive areas. Another drawback to waxing is the expense: waxing is usually performed by a licensed esthetician, and in some cases the cost can be very high, up to several hundred dollars depending on the area of hair removed and how many treatments are necessary. Most licensed beauty salons offer the treatment for between $12 (average eyebrow wax) and $300 (average full body wax). There are do-it-yourself waxing supplies, but they may be difficult to use on oneself on some areas on the body. Hair removal is not permanent. When removed against the direction of hair growth, the wax strip may disturb hair follicles, causing hair to begin to grow in different directions. This may cause hair growth to be more noticeable and make other methods of hair removal more difficult. Fortunately, this risk is negligible if the waxing is performed properly.

Another drawback of waxing is that some people experience ingrown hairs, red bumps, and minor bleeding. This is more likely to occur when waxing areas with thick hair, especially the first few times when follicles are strongest. While usually impossible to eliminate, ingrown hairs can be reduced by regularly exfoliating, and applying an astringent or a solution of both astringent and oil (typically baby or azulene oil).

Types of waxing

Types of waxing

Various types of waxing are available. Some must be performed by a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician. The different types of waxing that can be performed are:

• Eyebrow waxing
• Leg waxing
• Arm/underarm waxing
• Back waxing
• Foot waxing
• Chest waxing
• Entire body wax
• Bikini wax
• Upper Lip

Most parts of the body can be waxed, but other parts, not listed above are not given special consideration. Areas individuals should never wax include inside the ears and nose as well as eyelashes, eyelids, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. These areas are of particular concern due to sensitive skin that can be severely damaged if waxed.

Waxing

Male chest before and after waxing.

Waxing is a method of semi-permanent hair removal which removes the hair from the root. New hair will not grow back in the previously waxed area for two to eight weeks. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, bikini area, legs, arms, back, abdomen and feet. There are many types of waxing suitable for removing unwanted hair.

Waxing is accomplished by spreading a wax combination thinly over the skin. A cloth or paper strip is then pressed on the top and ripped off with a quick movement against the direction of hair growth.^[1] This removes the wax along with the hair. Another method utilizes hard wax (as opposed to strip wax). In this case, the wax is applied somewhat thickly and with no cloth or paper strips. The wax then hardens when it cools, thus allowing the easy removal by a therapist without the aid of cloths. This waxing method is very beneficial to people who have sensitive skin.

History

History

Spa, the water city

Print of Spa, Belgium, 1895

As the famed site of healing hot springs, Spa has been frequented as a watering-place since as early as the 14th century. Though other sources of healing hot mineral springs have become famous throughout the world, it is the town of Spa which has become eponymous with any place having a natural water source that is believed to possess special health-giving properties, as a spa. The place name is from Walloon espa meaning "spring, fountain."^{[citation needed]}

In 1918, the German Army established its principal Headquarters in Spa, and it was from here that the delegates set out for the French lines to meet Marshal Foch and sue for peace in the consultations leading up to the Armistice which ended the First World War. In July 1920 it hosted the meeting of the Supreme Council. German delegates were invited to this to discuss war reparations.

The town is perhaps best known today as home to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which hosts the annual Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. It is also the location of mineral water producer Spa.

Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot was born in Spa.

Spa hosted the finish of Stage 2 of the 2010 Tour de France on July 5

Spa, Belgium

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This article is about the municipality in Belgium. For other uses, see Spa (disambiguation).

Spa
Location of Spa in the province of Liège
Spa, Belgium Location in Belgium
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Spa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some 35 km (22 miles) southeast of Liège, and 45 km (28 miles) southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543. The total area is 39.85 km², giving a population density of 265 inhabitants per km²

Diprobase

Diprobase is an emollient, specifically targeted at eczema and dermatitis. It is an occlusive emollient, meaning that it restores the layer of oil on the surface of the skin to slow water loss. This gives its tendency to make the applied area sticky.

Ingredients

Diprobase contains no 'active ingredients'. It is made from a combination of liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin and water, as well as cetomacrogol and cetostearyl alcohol as emulsifying agents, chlorocresol as an antimicrobial preservative, phosphoric acid,

Effects

Dry skin results from lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells (the stratum corneum). When this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The stratum corneum contains natural water-holding substances that retain water seeping up from the deeper layers of the skin, and water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a surface film of natural oil (sebum) and broken-down skin cells, which slow down evaporation of water from the skin surface. Diprobase works by increasing that layer of oil.

Manufacturer

Diprobase is a British brand of the American pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough. Its trademark stems from the now older range of corticosteroids the company still manufactures; Diprosone and Diprosalic. The Dipro being suggestive of betamethasone diproprionate. Diprobase was originally conceived from the emollient vehicle these products had, though it should be emphasised that Diprobase is purely an emollient and has no steroid component

Types

Types

Exfoliation is achieved through either mechanical or chemical means.

Mechanical

This process involves physically scrubbing the skin with an abrasive.^[7] Mechanical exfoliants include microfiber cloths, adhesive exfoliation sheets, micro-bead facial scrubs, crepe paper, crushed apricot kernel or almond shells, sugar or salt crystals, pumice, and abrasive materials such as sponges, loofahs, brushes, and simply fingernails.^[8][9] Facial scrubs are available in over-the-counter products for application by the user. People with dry skin should avoid exfoliants which include a significant portion of pumice, or crushed volcanic rock. Pumice is considered a good material to exfoliate the skin of the feet.^[10] Microdermabrasion is also a mechanical method of exfoliation.

Chemical

Chemical exfoliants include scrubs containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, fruit enzymes, citric acid, or malic acid which may be applied in high concentrations by a medical professional, or in lower concentrations in over-the-counter products. Chemical exfoliation may involve the use of products that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or enzymes that act to loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to ease away.^[7] This type of exfoliation is recommended for people treating acne.^[11] In beauty spa treatment on continental Europe the chemical properties of wine producing grapes are exploited in the practice of Vinotherapy which is becoming increasingly popular.

[edit] With hair removal

Some methods of hair removal also exfoliate the skin.

• Waxing is a mechanical process which is done with the intention of plucking the hair, which also functions as a mechanical exfoliant. As this is done every two to eight weeks, it is not performed as frequently as many exfoliate, so it does not fully substitute for a regimen, but may substitute for a normal session in a regimen.
• Nair is an example of a chemical hair removal product which also functions as a chemical exfoliant. It is done more frequently than waxing (once a week rather than once a month) since it only destroys hair partially below the skin, rather than destroying the entire root as with waxing. Using it weekly can substitute for a weekly exfoliant regime. It is a very aggressive chemical and cannot be used on the face so other exfoliants would need to be used on the face.
• Wetshaving also has exfoliating properties; first, the action of moving a shaving brush vigorously across the face washes the face and removes dead skin at the same time. After applying the lather with a brush, the use of a double-edged safety razor or straight razor removes dead skin simply by the fact that the aforementioned razors are dragged much closer across the skin and remove dead skin more effectively than a cartridge or electric razor