WAXWITCH

What are the least painful areas to have waxed?

Underarm, nose, brow, areolas/nipples, glutes. This depends on your usual hair removal method. If you’ve been waxing for a while, legs, arms, even Brazilian waxes are a breeze! If you’ve shaved since your last wax or it’s your first time, it can sting and be more uncomfortable. When you begin to ONLY wax an area, as opposed to jumping back and forth from waxing to shaving, each time you wax becomes less and less painful. Your hair becomes weaker and usually begins to grow less. A fine, weak hair is going to hurt a lot less when you pull it out than a thick, coarse hair with a blunt tip that has been shaved or never disturbed before.

Is there anything I can do to make waxing hurt less?

Some clients find that taking an ibuprofen before their treatment helps a little. Also, allowing the hair to grow a little longer than the required ¼ inch can help a little by reducing the amount of times we need to go over the area. Once you’ve begun waxing, the one thing you can do to reduce the pain is to STAY ON SCHEDULE with your appointments.

Do I need to trim the hair?

No. My technique and type of wax actually perform better with longer hair.

How long does waxing last?

This is a tricky question to answer as everyone is a little different. In the beginning, you may experience more growth and random hairs popping up in the 1-2 weeks after your appointment than you would after waxing for a few months. Once you have been waxing for 3-6 months, you experience around 2 weeks free of hair with 1-2 weeks of some random hairs beginning to pop up and then proceeding to reach ¼ inch (bikini area). Most people are ready to wax again at about 4 weeks for bikini, 5 for backs, around 3 for legs (lower) and underarms, 2-5 for facial hair, upper legs 4-6 weeks. These are generalizations/estimates. It depends how long you have been waxing, how many active hair follicles you have, your after care, whether or not you’re shaving in between, the texture of your hair and how fast it grows, etc.

What else can I do to prepare?

Besides making sure the hair is at least ¼ inch, wear a loose garment. You don’t want to leave in anything tight or synthetic. For Brazilian clients, if you know you are sensitive, you can even bring a pair of clean, cotton underwear to put on afterwards. Also try to exfoliate and moisturize the area you intend to wax as soon as you decide to have the service performed. Exfoliation should be performed 2-3 times a week and you should try to moisturize at least every day or two. This will ensure there are no hairs just under the skin (common with shavers) that we won’t be able to remove. Do not use numbing creams! They are hard to wax over and they don’t work. Please review my aftercare instructions and make sure you do not have any inappropriate activities scheduled for the next 24-48 hours such as gym, tanning, saunas etc.

Why does my first Brazilian wax (or fully grown-in or post-shaving) cost more?

Generally, your first time requires a little more wax and more time than a maintenance appointment. Same goes for your first time back after shaving. Shaved hairs are harder to get out which means I need to go over them more times with more wax. I may need to also use thinner strips, which takes longer since the service will hurt more than it would have if you hadn’t shaved or had been on schedule. Also keep in mind that I schedule your first time a little longer so I can spend some time explaining your service and aftercare.

Why wax? What are the benefits and what’s the difference between waxing and shaving?

Totally different!! Shaving is essentially just cutting your hair at skin level. Razors cause ingrown hairs, razor burn, discoloration, itchy regrowth, etc. Waxing greatly reduces or eliminates those issues. Waxing also lasts longer! You get a solid 2 weeks of clean, hair-free skin when you get a Brazilian whereas with shaving, you get stubble and need to shave again within the next couple days. There is no stubble, even as the hair grows back, it is finer, softer hair that is not itchy and uncomfortable. Waxing also causes way less hair to grow back.  As you wax, you are damaging and sometimes destroying the follicle’s ability to produce hair. Over time, you have less and less hair. That will NEVER happen with shaving. Also consider how much time you’re spending shaving every day or every couple days VS the 15 minutes every few weeks you’ll be waxing.

What are some of the “cons” when it comes to waxing as compared to other hair removal techniques?

It depends which hair removal technique you compare waxing to. The biggest hassle is probably that you do have to grow the hair long enough to be able to wax it. Some negative results of waxing can be any of the following: bumps, pustules, ingrown hairs, lifted skin, histamine reactions, allergic reactions, torn skin, burns, bruising, irritation and discomfort. Many of these are prevented by proper technique, quality products and proper aftercare. Things such as histamine or allergic reactions cannot always be prevented or predicted though they are usually treatable.

What causes ingrown hairs?

There are many culprits! Improper technique, tight clothing, sweat/oils/bacteria getting into the follicle, synthetic materials (such as lace, spandex, nylon), friction, dead skin, dry skin, not following proper aftercare protocol. Unfortunately, some people are just prone to these also.

Why aren’t my legs smooth after my wax?

Dry skin and/or hair breakage. SO much of this can be prevented or reduced with exfoliating and moisturizing. When you wax an area of your body that has dry skin, when the hair gets pulled out, the dry, dead skin around that follicle gets disrupted and feels like a bump. Also, when your skin is dry and not in optimal condition to be waxed, some hair breakage usually occurs, especially in larger areas where bigger strips are used. This results in skin that may not feel as silky-smooth as you were hoping it would. Please refer to my aftercare instructions to be sure you are doing all you can to ensure your legs are moisturized and exfoliated properly. Legs are a great area to use exfoliating gloves or a dry brush on. We don’t realize how much we neglect our arms and legs when it comes to skincare. Be mindful! Legs in particular are notorious for being bumpy after a wax. Remember that it also takes a couple months of waxing to get your best results. So, if you’re getting married or going on a cruise or have some other special event coming up, it's best to begin waxing a couple months before and start getting your skin in shape ASAP to get a good result. If you come in a few days before the event for your first leg wax without having exfoliated and moisturized, chances are you won’t be thrilled with the result.

What does a “Brazilian” Include?

Different regions/countries have different ideas about what a Brazilian is. My Brazilian includes your pubic hair in the front, the bikini line and the hair around your anus. If you’d like to leave a strip or triangle above the labia in the front, that’s fine too. You don’t have to do “the back” if you don’t want to either but, I will let you know that it’s not as painful as the front. This is obviously a very intimate, personal service and I do not expect you to do anything you don’t want to. It’s your body!! Whatever hair you do or don’t want is up to you and I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t feel uncomfortable with.

Can I wax on my period?

Absolutely! I do require that you wear a tampon for sanitary purposes. Also be aware, due to hormones, your service may be more uncomfortable during this time.  It’s not an absolute, but a definite possibility. Some people notice no difference during their cycle while others report a huge difference in pain/discomfort.

Do people scream?

No. It’s very, very uncommon that anyone screams during their wax. Most people nervously laugh or focus on their breathing.

How long does it take?

I schedule your Brazilian wax for 30 minutes. The actual hair removal portion of the service is usually around 15 minutes or less. I allow time for dressing and undressing, possible tardiness on your part or mine, checking out, rescheduling etc. Even though I factor in extra time, it is important that you be on time!! Being late causes me to run late for my next client and possibly forces me to rush your service. No one does their best work being rushed and no one likes their time being disrespected. Please extend the same respect to me and my other clients as I extend to you. Almost all of my services take 30 minutes or less. That time is YOURS. If for some reason I am running late, I will try to notify you ASAP.  Please do the same and please understand that being over 10 minutes late may mean that we need to reschedule.

How do I make sure I don’t get ingrown hairs? How do I treat an ingrown hair?

You will need to follow your aftercare instructions and start an exfoliation routine at home. I do my best to give you exceptional service when you are in my treatment room, but you also need to do your part at home. Besides exfoliating and moisturizing as directed, please refrain from picking or digging at an ingrown. You may get the hair out, but you also may cause discoloration, infection, scarring etc. The best way to treat ingrowns is to stick to your routine and spot treat with Bump eRaiser as needed. If you are highly prone to a lot of ingrowns, even after following proper home care instructions, waxing may not be for you. It’s very rare that someone is not a good waxing candidate due to this, but it is possible.

How long have you been doing this?

I have been in this industry for over 10 years now and have spent the last 6 years primarily waxing, specializing in Brazilians. I also have the rare advantage of being trained by an instructor who owned her own waxing business in esthetics school. It is not common to focus much on waxing while in school, let alone to have the opportunity to work with hard wax or do a Brazilian. I have also trained many other estheticians in body waxing and Brazilians and still currently offer professional training and mentoring.

Can I bring my friend in the room with me?

NO. I need to direct my full attention to your service. I also need to be able to focus on educating you about what I’m doing and why, the positioning you need to be in, your aftercare, etc. You need to direct your full attention to what is happening and what I’m directing you to do. Having a friend in the room can also be more embarrassing than you bargained for and may cause you to be uncomfortable. The only times I have gotten really irritated or had clients behave immaturely and disrespectfully has been when I allowed a third party into the room. Your service is not for entertainment, this isn’t a spectator sport. I will allow moms in the room when my client is underage or nervous, but that’s it. This policy is based on experience and I will not make exceptions.

Can I bring my kids with me?

That’s really up to you. Be aware they will have to be in the room with you and they are going to be able to see everything. There is not a lobby available that is supervised/safe for children. If you do decide to bring children into the room, you will need to have them with you on the table or they will need to be able to sit still in a chair or stroller. While I do have valuable equipment and materials in my suite I don’t want ruined, more importantly there is a risk of injury. There’s electrical equipment and cords, breakable objects, heavy objects, a cart with wheels, hot wax, chemicals, etc. Please be aware and considerate.

Another wax studio has better availability and their prices are lower. What’s the difference if I go there or to you?

I have years of education, training and EXPERIENCE that contributed to the level of skill, professionalism and efficiency I have achieved. I buy quality wax and products to ensure the best possible results. I never double dip my sticks. My wax, products, linens and implements are all clean and/or sanitized properly. I offer expert service and advice. I actually care about my clients. I am a small, female-owned business (if that kind of thing matters to you). Please be aware that when you patronize a corporate waxing center, your waxer may be on week 3 of waxing after just graduating school. Also, be aware that those business models focus on profit, not on customer service or providing the best service possible. That’s why they are willing to hire girls with no experience, they know they can pay them less. It’s about keeping costs low. Those centers offer a factory-like environment typically where speed is valued over efficiency/quality. That isn’t to say there are no competent waxers who work in those environments, but there certainly isn’t a huge percentage of them. You will not experience the high-pressure sales tactics typically forced upon you at those places with me either.

What is hard wax?

Hard wax is a stripless wax. That means the wax is applied to your skin, “cures” to a certain point and is removed without strips/papers. Hard wax is generally much more gentle than soft/strip wax. It’s usually faster and cleaner than strip wax as well since larger strips can be used and no residue is left behind. Hard wax tends to have less instances of bruising, lifting, redness, sensitivity etc. It is important to know that not all hard waxes are created equally. The hard wax used at one establishment does not necessarily indicate what mine is like. Hard wax is manufactured by countless companies, comes in many colors, textures and levels of quality. Many people ask for “the blue wax”. While my wax is actually green, if you’re familiar with “the blue wax”, yes, this is similar. I have tried and worked with over 30 different types of wax to arrive at the amazing wax I’m using now.