GiGi Student Starter Waxing Kit - All-Purpose Honee Hair Removal Wax Kit with Wax Warmer, Pre & Post Care, Muslin Strips, and Applicators - At-Home & Salon Use for Face, Body, Arms, and Legs

This Kit is awesome ~ almost painless!!! I've already done a Brazilian wax and waxed my underarms, in the less than the week that i've owned it :D I'm not going to stick to my tips and tricks rather than revisit some of the amazing reviews that are already here.I've never gone to a salon for waxing, I'm always scared i'll have a reaction to the chemicals. So my method of choice (until purchasing this system) was Nair/Veet or shaving.In the past I've tried cold wax strips, microwave waxes etc, but they all left me more bloody and bruised than hair free. This product is the only one I've ever tried that has worked and it worked well. I'm italian and the hair i waxed is pretty course, and thick. This kit took it out pretty painlessly. I'm thrilled with the amazing resultsBRAZILIAN: this took me like 3.5 hours and i did not do the back. Mainly because i had been doing this for 3 hours and i had stuff to do. That being said, I removed about 95% of the hair, and areas like the front, and my bikini line are perfectly smooth. I think the main reason was wax was too warm (see below for more info). I'm sure then next time it will be way faster.UNDERARMS: This took me a bit less than an hour- again see below. However, I got rid of about 99% of the hair, and the hair i did miss was easily plucked right out. (I did need hubbie for this on a couple of pulls). However the next day, my underarms are smooth and beautiful!A FEW UPDATES TO OTHER POSTERS:1. They must have updated the video (as of Aug 1) because it was only on the hard wax and not other types as other reviewers said. The video was a nice bonus in the kit.2. The kit includes 1 collar to help keep your warmer clean. You can purchase a set of 50 for $6 well worth it. There was NO clean up on the warmer when i was done. Plus each collar can be used more than once if you're neat.3. Test the wax on the inside of your wrist before putting on your bits.4. I had no problems with the oil or the gel spilling in the container.5. My kit does NOT look like the one in the photo. I don't know if they recently re-did packaging. Doesn't really matter i guess, my box & products look different but are as described.MY STEPS TO DO WAXING1. lay down garbage bag under wax warmer and working surface on the bathroom counter, an old sheet on floor & a small bag to put used wax in after.2. Add collar to the wax pot, set in warmer and turn on3. Take Advil4. Shower & exfoliate (I used Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash- its for the face, but it's gentile and I love it).5. Flip the hard solid wax that's still in the center of the pot6. Add Pre-Epilating Oil (DON'T FORGET THE OIL IT HURTS 1000 times more if you don't remember the oil)7. Start waxing8. Use olive oil to remove any wax residueHonestly, i think the hardest thing in the whole process is figuring out what temperature is the right consistency for the wax. I've done two waxes with it (Brazilian and under arms) and still don't think i have it quite right. I wax wouldn't be sticky to the touch on top but then would have the consistency of gum on shoe (best i can think of to describe it). I ended up with both waxes getting an ice cube, and putting it in a plastic bag and rubbing it over the wax strip. It worked -- YAY!!! Seems counterintuitive but i think maybe i am still having the wax too hot. One reviewer said waiting for the wax to cool was hardest part, and boy oh boy is she right.Those that complained the "Kit doesn't come with strips to remove the wax", really aren't giving the product a fair shake. You don't need strips. That being said, I can understand why they want them. For me, the wax never seemed to get to that perfect not sticky state. Therefore, when i was doing my second underarm i had an idea. i took a used bit of wax and kinda made a wax strip out of it. Then i'd cover the spot to be waxed with fresh wax from the pot, then put the wax strip over the hotter wax cooling on my skin. I then rubbed the strip a little bit, so the wax strip sort of melts into the fresh wax i just applied. Then RIIIIPPPPPPP!!!!!That seemed to give me the best result. It allowed me to really get at the hair with the wax, and the 'wax strip' i added on top was too cool to stick to skin at all, but added enough strength the wax underneath so everything came out nice and clean. I actually can't wait to try this technique during a brazilian, there were a few spots I couldn't get and i think this would be perfect! As an added bonus, because you are re-using wax you need less 'fresh wax' to make the thick hard wax strip.Overall, I didn't find this wax messy (some of the reviewers had me scared). i spilled a little bit on my granite counter, and it cleaned right up.OTHER THOUGHTS:1. After Wax Cooling Gel (included in the kit)- stung. I don't know if it's supposed to but I've ordered 100% aloe to use next time.2. GiGi Wax Off Wax Remover (purchased separately)- this stung too, didn't do a great job of cleaning the wax off and it stinks like cheap lotion. I just used olive oil. . Save your money. Do NOT purchase it.3. GiGi Clean Collars 14 oz.- You get one free one in the kit. You'll want to purchase this (50 collars for $6). If you figure 3 waxes per collar that $6 will last a long long time.Update Years later:I still would have purchased this kit knowing all of this (it was a great starter kit) and gives you everything you need to get started.It's almost 4 years later and the pot still works. However something happened. After about two years, temperature control stopped working. It has like two settings now - off and molten lava. I kept it to heat wax if I wanted to do a soft and hard wax at the same time. On a side note, believe it or not, I still have the original bottle of Pre-Epilating Oil and use it since you only need a couple drops.I ended up purchasing the Satin Smooth Professional Single Wax Warmer Quick - SSW09C as a replacement when my gigi stopped working correctly. It has a bit more temperature control (10 settings verses the few with this one). Gigi and Satin smooth take the same size pots so there's not concern if you want to try a different wax.As far as waxes go, I tried everything (gigi, the blue one, etc etc) and these are my two favorites. They both fit in both the Gigi and the Satin smooth pots):* Satin Smooth Tea Tree Wax 14 oz. - Soft wax for legs (you need strips and sticks when using this)* Satin Smooth Calendula Gold Wax - hard wax for brazilians, underarms face etcAs far as time, using the Satin Smooth pot and wax to do a full brazilian (stem to stern so to speak), it takes about an hour including setup. It's not so much the waxing but repositioning my body in contorted yoga positions to get 'stuff'. It doesn't hurt unless I let things grow in too much. Legs take a bit longer using the soft wax because its messier. If i was just doing bikini, face or underarms - that's stupid quick.If you haven't waxed before or in a while, I recommend you go and get things done professionally then maintain monthly with waxing - less hair = less pain.For clean up I still use Olive oil and coconut oil. I have not reaction and I feel better about it since it's less chemicals.To Avoid ingrown hairs use:* PFB Vanish + Chromabright (brazilian area, underarms, face). This works well and I've bought it several times. It's a bit drying so i couldn't use on my legs* Glytone Body Lotion - I use this on my legs and if I don't do the PFB Vanish on the rest of waxed areas I just started using it in the past few weeks but have been very impressed. It's an expensive lotion but a little goes a long long way. It's rather thick(Whatever you do don't mix PFB and Glytone- it burns! eep)I've linked below to things I buy regularly. You'll notice two different Applicators (FantaSea and Jovana). You tend to go through the wider ones since they're used more often so start with the FantaSea and refill with the Jovana.These are links to some of the amazon things I regularly buy:Hard Wax: Satin Smooth Calendula Gold Wax 2 PackSoft Wax: Satin Smooth TEA TREE WAX 14 ozSatin Smooth Warmer: Satin Smooth TEA TREE WAX 14 ozFantaSea 350 piece Wax Applicator Kit (multiple size sticks) FantaSea 350 piece Wax Applicator KitJOVANA Large Wide Wood Wax Spatula Applicator: JOVANA Large Wide Wood Wax Spatula Applicator 6" x 3/4" 100 packNon-woven Hair Removal Waxing Strips, 100 Pack Non-woven Hair Removal Waxing Strips, 100 Pack (3"x9")PFB Vanish + Chromabright PFB Vanish + Chromabright , 93 gramsGlytone Body Lotion -Glytone Body Lotion, 8.4-Ounce Package

Prepare yourself for too much sharing. But come on - we are talking about a kit expressly made to wax one's lady parts. Is this really a time for modesty?Let's put it this way. If we lived in the 70's, the "delicate curls" of my nether regions would be appreciatively referred to with such adjectives as "expansive" and "luxurious". Also perhaps "impressive", what with my nether mane's ability to creep halfway down my thighs like a spreading fungus. However, living in the now, the only acceptable place for an expansive and luxurious mane is on one's head. Sucks to be me.As a woman with an "expansive and luxurious" rug, personal care can be difficult and embarrassing. Dark and coarse hair never seems to completely disappear, even directly after shaving. Combine this with the palest skin on earth (finding makeup is difficult because of my light skin) and super sensitive skin (oh look, another razor burn & ingrown hair!). Now what do you have? A hairy ghost-white chick with a red rash at her bikini line. No wonder I never want to go swimming or wear shorts...A few weeks back I happened to pick up some Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit, for Face, Brows & Bikini to take care of some unsightly hair on my face. Somehow, instead of filling me with rage, ripping off that wax strip was wholly satisfying (even though the first time I did it, I took some lip skin along with it). And, I am insane, but something about looking at the strip afterwards was mesmerizing, in the same vein as staring at a Biore strip after you pull all of the gunk out of your nose pores.As I stared entranced at this wax strip and the multitude of tiny hairs, visions began to dance in my head. Visions of me, frolicking through the grass in a pair of tiny white shorts, my legs smooth as a baby's butt (too bad I'm not skinny enough). Me wearing a swimsuit that's not a skirtie because I am not trying to hide my crotch from the world. And, (TMI ALERT), better romantic spontaniety with my spouse because I don't "have to shave first, sorry, ask me tomorrow".So I bit the bullet and ordered this kit. And I waxed, and waxed, and waxed some more. I waxed my bikini line. I waxed my upper thighs. I waxed inward from my bikini line to a landing strip. I waxed my armpits. I waxed my happy trail (did I mention I am hairy?) I waxed my legs... at least halfway. Then I ran out of wax and became sad, so I ordered some more. Don't worry, there is a lot of wax in the kit. You'll get several brazilians if that is your only objective. I was just going crazy with it.In all seriousness - this kit is awesome. It has everything you need to be a waxing superstar. I found the wax perfectly suitable for every area of my body that I tried it (upper & lower legs, armpits, crotch, tummy). It is VERY easy to use. It didn't take me long at all to get the hang of multiple strips at a time (otherwise it doesn't seem time efficient since you sit and wait for it to firm up). I'd apply just as many strips as I needed for the first one to be ready, then go back down the line ripping them off. It's still taking a long time because I am inexperienced and trying to wax off a LOT of hair, but I expect it to become easier as I get more practice and get more into the "maintenance" phase of things.As far as pain, there are some areas I just couldn't get because it hurts. I mean really, you are ripping the hairs out of your body all at once. It is not as comfortable as having a massage, or even stabbing yourself in the eye with a fork. I wouldn't say I am super tolerant of pain however and MOST areas of my body were no issue for me. Just remember, it's pain in the name of beauty and convenience!If you are not comfortable double-dipping into your own wax, you'll need lots more wax sticks. The first time I used the kit I never double dipped and I used almost all of the sticks that it came with and hadn't even accomplished that much. I quickly decided that my personal double-dipping policy is that it's ok as long as I'm outside the bikini line. Remember NO double dipping EVER if you are sharing your wax pot with someone else.Here's a good kit of wax sticks also from Amazon: FantaSea 350 piece Wax Applicator KitYou'll also need: GiGi Clean Collars 14 oz.Here are some tips. Others have said them, but they bear repeating.* Commit an old sheet to the cause and put it down on a hard floor and put your wax warmer on the floor with you.* NEVER EVER forget the pre-epilation oil. Ow :(* If I was getting a hard to reach spot or an area that I can't really move the pull end into a non-waxed area (some areas this seems impossible??) I would roll up a bit of the last strip I pulled off, and stick it to the end of the new strip to make a tab I could grab.