Before, during and after-care

Caution:  Before waxing,  any oral or topical antibiotics must be discontinued for two weeks prior to any waxing treatment. No waxing anywhere for those on Accutane – you must discontinue its use for one year prior to a waxing treatment. These medications compromise the integrity of the skin making it much more sensitive and will pull, rip, or burn the skin if used in conjunction with waxing.

**And lastly, if you have any of these conditions please avoid body waxing altogether as your skin is already compromised and your risk of infection will be greatly increased as well as possible contagion to other individuals.

Sexually transmitted diseases, Diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease, a weakened immune system, eczema, or psoriasis.

 

PREGNANCY: It’s okay to get waxed! You may have some trouble lying flat on your back, but we have plenty of pillows, and you may be more sensitive in the bikini area with all the localized blood flow, but we have great breathing techniques as well as skin (and baby!) -loving ingredients. I can see you right up until your due date but it’s best to come in a few sessions beforehand to get the skin that much more acclimated. 

 

PERIOD??: It’s okay to get waxed! Just please wear a tampon;) You will be a little more sensitive so avoid caffeine and take a couple of pain-relievers beforehand and come on in!

 

 *For all waxing, we use a variety of cruelty-free hard waxes (depending on skin and hair type. Hard wax is a stripless wax which hardens at room temperature. As it hardens it wraps itself around the hair, not adhering to the skin, which makes for a gentler waxing experience for sensitive areas. For the heartier skin on the legs and arms I use soft strip wax. We do not offer sugaring.

With ALL waxing treatments, skin is prepped BEFORE your treatment with a natural tea tree oil antiseptic cleanser to prevent infection, then treated with almond and coconut oils to allow for easier wax removal DURING your treatment. AFTER your wax,  an astringent blend of witch hazel, aloe, and rose water is applied to soothe and heal the skin as well as close the pores. And unless I decide to open an ice cream shoppe, there is no double-dipping .

REMEMBER: Waxing is not without its risks, nor without its pain. We are removing hair from your skin – this hurts. You get used to it, and it’s always worse the first time. And the result is totally worth the thirty minutes of minimal discomfort which goes away immediately. If your pain tolerance is very low and you have high anxiety, waxing may not be for you. Secondly, when you remove your hair, you are also removing one of the skin’s natural barriers. The hair shaft can provide a pathway for the oil, sweat, and other debris to escape the skin. Once you remove that hair, these things can get trapped inside the pore. Thus, you must take extra care to keep these pores cleaned out. I am not trying to deter you with this – waxing is still the most cost-effective, budget-friendly, and skin healthy way to safely remove hair. But it will take some time for you and your skin to get adjusted to it – you must be patient – and by understanding the principles of hair growth and hair removal and adhering to the following guidelines and protocol, you will absolutely have the best, most sassiest skin you’re in

 

Now on to waxing!

• It’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be! It will hurt more the first time than any other time because you are pulling out 100% of the hair. Your nerves are on edge, and you don’t know what to expect. But it is a quick sting that stops hurting almost immediately after. And it gets easier! The more you do it, the more consistent you are, the more tolerable it becomes. Keep at it!
• Hair grows in 3 stages and it can take up to 4 waxing treatments before all of the hair is on the same growth cycle, thus all come out together. Your first wax may not remove all the hair, it may last only one week, it may last up to three – it just depends on your own genetics, how recently and often you’ve shaved, and how well you do at preparing the skin before the wax and taking care of the skin between your treatments. Don’t be discouraged if your hair doesn’t stay gone too long the first few times. The more you wax the longer it will last. However, if your last hair removal was shaving, your first wax post shaving will not last as long. Please don’t shave in between waxing appointments!
• For your first wax after shaving, let the hair grow out for about 2 weeks/3 weeks for thicker hair (1/2-3/4 inch, whichever is longer – for best results, longer is better). After your first wax, your hair will be be finer and less obvious than shaving regrowth – much easier to tolerate.
• Before any bikini wax, only trim if hair is excessively long, but leave it at at least 1/2 inch. If you’re unsure, I will trim for you if necessary.
• Your rate of hair growth is unique to you, which can be anywhere from ten days to three weeks. For some lucky folks, it can be longer than that!
• I recommend waxing every four to six weeks. In order to keep the hair coming in at a reduced rate, it’s best not to go past six weeks before your next wax.
• If you follow a recommended schedule, by your second waxing treatment you will be much happier and as close to a pain-free wax as possible!

Before you wax…

• Exfoliate the morning of your wax with a salt or sugar scrub (salt for dry, rough, or acneic skin/sugar for sensitive skin) in gentle circular motions against the direction of hair growth. This helps to lift the hair off the skin making waxing treatment more effective. Don’t have a sugar/salt scrub? You can make one at home with your choice of sugar, and a fruit oil like coconut or avocado. Mix it all up, et voile!
• Take a pain reliever one hour  before your appointment.
• Avoid caffeine the day of your waxing treatment.
• The best time to wax is the first two weeks after your period. You can still get waxed right before or during, you will just be a tad more sensitive.
• Wear loose clothing to your waxing treatment – putting on tight clothing or non-breathable clothing on after freshly waxed skin can cause chafing and delay the healing process.
• Do not apply moisturizer prior to your waxing treatment.
• If coming in for a body treatment, wear loose clothing to your appointment, if possible. Putting on tight or non-breathable clothing after freshly waxed skin can be irritating to the skin and delay the healing process.
• Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds 48 hours before (and after!) your appointment.
• For facial waxing, avoid chemical peels one week prior to any waxing treatment.
• Hair should be at least 1/2 of an inch long (about two weeks of hair growth) before waxing.
• Please trim the bikini area if you have not shaved/waxed in a while, but make sure the hair is AT LEAST 1/2 an inch. If you trim too short, it will be difficult to come out. If you are unsure, leave it and I will take care of it for you.

After you wax…

• For 24 hours after any waxing or until ALL redness has subsided:
  • Avoid prolonged sun exposure.
  • Avoid deodorant for underarm waxing.
  • Avoid cosmetics and perfumes for facial waxing.
  • Avoid chemical peels for one week after your wax.
  • Avoid exercise as sweating and oils can clog pores and disrupt the healing process.
  • Take only lukewarm baths and showers as heat can cause more irritation to the already sensitive skin.
  • For any bikini waxing, no heavy petting until the redness subsides. Friction causes irritation and inflammation – and that isn’t sexy.

Between waxes – skincare maintenance and ingrown hairs…

It is not enough to simply come in once a month for your wax – it is essential that you take proper at-home care of your skin to keep it looking blemish, redness, and ingrown hair -free. And fabulously fancy.

 

***TIMING! TIMING! TIMING!  Because of the essential timing in getting the hair to grow back at the same rate, if you wax too early, the hair will grow back too early. Be patient! If you want your hair gone ALL the time, waxing may not be for you. There will always be a small window where you hair needs to grow out (about a week ‘s worth once you’ve been waxing a while) so that the wax has something to pull.

 

***DO NOT SHAVE BETWEEN WAXES.  One, this completely defeats the purpose of waxing, and two, you’re allowing your hair the chance to all grow at the same rate. If you allow your hair to get to the same growth rate, all of the hair is able to be waxed, thus all your hair will stay gone longer. AND DO NOT SHAVE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR WAX. Once again, this defeats the purpose of waxing, and if your hair is pulled out to short (if it can come out all all) it will come back in VERY SOON because the hair will break with the wax pull or it won’t come out at all.

 

DAILY/WEEKLY SKINCARE MAINTENANCE – PRODUCTS AND PROTOCOL

A three step process:

1) Exfoliate: In the shower, twice to three times a week, exfoliate (after your regular cleanse-avoiding harsh soaps) with an all-natural salt or sugar scrub (salt for dry, rough, or acneic skin/sugar for sensitive skin) in gentle circular motions around the waxed areas. Exfoliating gloves may also be used.  This type of exfoliant removes accumulation of dry/ dead skin, and keeps your skin smooth, and lifts the hair off the skin for a better waxing experience.

2) Tone: Daily, on cleansed and dried skin, apply an antiseptic and astringent to the waxed area(s). At the shop, we use an all-natural astringent/antiseptic which contains witch hazel (astringent), aloe (healing), rose water (soothing), and poke root(antiseptic). Antiseptic decreases the risk of infection by dramatically slowing down the growth of bacteria, while astringent helps to absorb excess bad oils and debris while tightening the pores (toning) in the process.

3) Moisturize: Whether it’s the dry, dry months of winter, or the hot, hot days of summer, or anywhere in between, your skin must stay hydrated. The best way to do that is through a body butter (not a skin-clogging petrolatum product) to act as a protector, to keep your body’s natural oils in the skin to keep it supple and hydrated. And new hairs grow much easier through soft, supple skin!

If you take care of your skin, it will take care of you, and after all the torture you put your body and skin through, don’t you want to stay as sassy as possible?

Happy waxing!