Waxing removes hair from the root, using either warm strip wax pulled off with a fabric strip or hot (film) wax that sets on the skin and is lifted away on its own. Hot wax grips the hair rather than the skin, so it is the usual choice for sensitive areas such as the underarms, bikini line and face; strip wax is quick and effective over legs, arms and backs.
The skin stays smooth for four to six weeks and, with regular appointments, regrowth often becomes finer and sparser. Salon menus list waxing by area — half leg, full leg, underarm, bikini line, brows, lip and chin — and most offer bundles. Male waxing for backs and chests is widely available too.
Hair needs to be around a quarter of an inch long for the wax to grip. Exfoliate gently a day or two before but not on the day, and avoid hot baths, sunbeds and the gym for 24 hours afterwards. Tell the therapist if you use retinoid creams, which make the skin more fragile.
There are relatively few large salons: much of the market is independent technicians and small salons with a loyal, repeat clientele, and a good number of nail and lash technicians work from home salons. Kelham Island has the newest and youngest end, in converted industrial blocks, with brow and lash studios and nail artists; Ecclesall Road is the busiest corridor, lined with established salons, skin clinics and nail bars, and the easiest place to find weekday availability; Broomhill serves the university side of the city with student-priced nails and lashes. The hills matter more than the map suggests, and mobile beauticians often add a travel supplement for addresses a couple of miles out.
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