THE BALD AND THE BEAUTIFUL "BRAZILIAN WAXING"

After watching an episode of Kourtney tearing up Khloe's "Hoo Ha" on Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami last night on E! I thought I would send you some information on what to look out for when taking the plunge. Waxing down under can be scary and it's important that you choose wisely when choosing a Waxing Specialist. Below are some major points to watch out for when booking your Brazilian or Bikini waxing appointment.


DO YOUR RESEARCH
Come on ladies, it's your Vagina. The idea alone isn't worth the pain to just show up to any spa or salon and hope that the Waxing Specialist knows exactly what she is doing. Research well-known spas and spa reviews before you prance yourself into any waxing studio. Ask friends about their experiences and who they recommend as well. You will thank yourself in the end.


ASK QUESTIONS
When you call to make your appointment ask the receptionist as many questions as you need to in order to get a better understanding of what will happen during your appointment. (More than likely, the front desk receptionist will not have all of the answers to your questions so insist that a Waxing Specialist call you back with the information that you need.) Here are a list of some questions I think are important for you to ask:


-What type of wax do you use?
Hard Wax? Cream Based Wax? Do you use strips?


-How long will the appointment take?
If someone tells you that the appointment could last for an hour be aware. A Brazilian alone in which everything from front to back is removed should not take an hour. This may mean that the Technician is still learning to master the Bikini or Brazilian wax and could be in training. Anywhere from 15-40 minutes is normal depending on the length of your hair growth.


-Do I need to trim before I come in or will a technician trim for me?
This is important. For those of you who do not know, in order for your hair to be removed properly and in a timely manner, your hair must be 1/4 of an inch long. Any longer tends to get messy and can be tricky to remove even for the pros.


In my opinion, as a licensed Aesthetician and someone who waxes regularly, who wants to sit in front of a mirror attempting to trim down under hoping that they can see closely enough so that they do not nick or cut themselves. I'm sorry but, "NO THANK YOU!" If the receptionist tells you that their Waxing Specialist's does not trim then call another spa. It's part of the job and trimming comes with the territory. They do this every day. Nothing should shock them at this point in the game.


SHOWING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT
1.) BE ON TIME!!! Especially if this is your first visit to the salon or spa. There is and always should be some type of paperwork to fill out in order to access your needs appropriately.


2.) Come in clean!!! If you do not have time to take a shower before you come in for your appointment, take some feminine wipes with you on the road so that when you show up to the salon or spa you can take a restroom break before you go in. More than likely the spa should have feminine wipes there for you to use. If not, be thoughtful and take care of yourself before your appointment.


3.) If you are running late, please notify the salon or spa so that they can figure out a way to fit you in in order for you to be taken care of properly. You have to remember that in most cases the Waxing Specialist will have appointments after you. It is not fair to make the other clients wait because you were running late. Be forward with the receptionist and ask if there will be enough time to get the job done. If not, reschedule for a later time or another day. You do not want to be rushing a Brazilian or Bikini waxing appointment. You want this experience to go as smoothly as possible. Literally.


4.) Every salon and spa had developed a new or cute name for Brazilian waxing so know exactly what you want and how to get that across to your Technician. Here is the breakdown:


Brazilian: Everything must go!!! From the front to the back every little hair is taken.
Bikini: It's exactly what it states. If you were to be wearing a bikini you would be taking just the outside hair growth so nothing would be seen.
Extended Bikini: If you want a little more taken in from the normal bikini line then tell and show them exactly where and how you want it. (This isn't brain surgery. I'm sure the Waxing Specialist will understand.) :)


It's quite simple. I never understood how some women would come to me after a bad waxing experience and say, "She took too much!" Be direct and precise when explaining how you want the ending result to appear. If you want a landing strip or any type of shape it is easier to just explain that to the Technician then use any technical term that you found online. Every place is different.


DURING THE APPOINTMENT
1.) Make sure that the Technicians license is placed in visible sight. It should always be visibly available for anyone who enters the room.


2.) ALWAYS make sure that the technician is wearing gloves.


3.) Check to make sure that the Technician is not "double dipping". (Double dipping is when she has applied a stick to your body and then proceeded to reuse the same stick by placing it back into the wax.)


That is cross contamination. I do not care how she tries to explain to you that this is O.K. It's not! NO the wax is not hot enough to kill the bacteria. It does not matter if she cleaned you off first. NO, NO, NO !!! Simply tell her that you would feel a lot more comfortable if she was to use as many sticks as it takes to remove the desired amount of hair.


4.) DO NOT feel embarrassed. Believe me when I tell you that the Waxing Specialist's knew exactly what they had signed up for when receiving their license as a Beauty Specialist. They do this on a day to day basis and if they thought it was disgusting or if they were truely uncomfortable doing their job they wouldn't be. It is as simple as that. They have seen it all.


5.) If you need to take a break... DO IT! Look, this is not a walk in the park. It's painful. For some less for others more. It just depends on your pain tolerance. Do not hesitate to ask your Technician. Openly communicate with her. She is concerned with your well-being and comfort during this process just as much as you are.


AFTER CARE FOR BRAZILIANS AND BIKINI WAXING
I am going to make this short and simple. Follow these instructions and you will be on your way to a perfected bikini area.


1.) Wear comfortable loose pants to the appointment. Jeans are too hard to move in and can irritate the area making it uncomfortable for you.


2.) Avoid using any harsh soaps with fragrance and/or any products with any type of alcohol around the area that has been waxed. Waxing is a form of exfoliation and using these types of products can strip the skin.


3.) Avoid exfoliating the waxed area for up to 72 hours after your appointment.


4.) Avoid sun exposure and/or tanning bed exposure for up to 72 hours after your appointment.


5.) Invest in an after care lotion specified for post waxing. This will allow the skin to calm and can also aid in the prevention of ingrown hairs.


Well Ladies, I think I have covered a great amount of information when it comes to Brazilian and Bikini waxing. I thank you for taking the time to read this and hope that it helps you when booking your next appointment. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me. I am always here to help.


If you are in the Los Angeles area and would like to book your next waxing or facial appointment with me please contact Hands On Spa @ (310) 860-0137 located in Beverly Hills.


- Tiffany Shea
"Creator" of Beauty Rich