panky777

I am a professional in this field as well as other cosmetology work. I have had the most interesting responces, reactions, requests, and experiences in the waxing room. I would like to start this thread so that we can share with each other about our own waxing experiences, likes, dislikes, curiousities and so-forth. So I'll start off with this question: What are your experiences with waxing and what would you like to experience?

little_tippler

Well I have had a lot of my body waxed for hair removal and what I'd like is no pain

Since that is not possible...I hate it when the professional doing the waxing makes comments on my body or my hairs. That is one way to make sure I never go back to that place.

I like it when the job is thorough. Sloppy work, like missing hairs, or even just fine hairs, makes me think they aren't so great at what they do.

I also like it if the person listens to me, like if I say that particular area hurts like a bitch, they take extra care in that area. I like people who don't think they know everything because they say they've seen every body type/hair out there. They don't.

I'd also rather they shut up and do the job. I don't mind chatting a little, but if it's constant I feel weirded out. They are working on some areas of my body that not everyone gets to see so I want it done quickly and quietly.

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

panky777

Hair that is missed often has to do with the condition of the hairshaft and/or the wax used. If the hairshaft has some substance like body oil from the skin that didn't get cleaned away during the prep then that hair will not get well adhered to by the wax. Likewise: if the prep powder or other product that helps prevent the wax from adhereing to the skin, coats the hairshaft because of oils on the hairshaft, the wax will not stick. Simularly, if a hair is lying exactly under another hair and the wax misses it. Differant waxes adhere to different kinds of hair. If the wax type is for fine hair the course hair may not adhere. If the wax is for course hair but the person has fine hair then skin tissue may be damaged. Many times I've seen more than one type of hair on the same person and even in the same general area. More than one wax pot is required so the operator has various selections. It is very risky waxing the same area twice so if tweezing is not a viable option then a second appointment a minimum of 48 hours later is required to wax again.
I agree with you on the conversation issue. Interesingly however, the clients sometime like to talk endlessly and when they pause I often wonder if they might be waiting for a responce from me, although I am usually so focused on what I'm doing that I haven't been listening. That leaves me feeling a little guilty.

ColonelSpecial

I have only had one bad experience being waxed. I went to a salon that was recommended and the actual waxing went fine but I noticed a couple of days later that my face where I had been waxed was breaking out. It took about a week for the red bumps to go away. I won't be going back there. I don't know what was different. Everything seemed the same.

When having legs waxed, how long does the effect last?

__________________
"Mommy, the presidents are squishing me!"

"Using the pull out method of contraceptive is like saying I won't use a seat belt, I'll just jump out of the car before it hits that tree."

Sara

panky777

Skin reddening and bumping issues are related to a few things: Temperature of the wax, preparation of the area to be waxed, type of wax used, after wax care of the skin as in: cleaning, closing of pores with astringent, prep of clean and astringent treated skin with antiseptic to control bacteria, moisturizing, and related products that feed the tissue nutrients to promote cellular regeneration because the protective layer of epidermus tissue has been removed.
The regrowth of hair will depend on several factors: the frequency of waxing, the more regular waxing regiment will enjoy the finest, lightest color, and sparsest regrowth. The use of growth inhibitors also make a difference for a high percentage of those who use them.
Washing regime based on mild temperatures and rinsing with cold also keep skin healthy shiny and does not encourage faster growth.

Ayashe

I have a question rather than a comment. What specific recommendations would you have to patrons to make the experience better for them? Perhaps that could make the difference between a good experience and a bad.

Also as far as your note on post waxing care, do you offer your patrons any sort of post-wax care info sheet afterward? I would think that providing tips as you wax/before/after would be very much appreciated by patrons. It also helps you to appear more educated and better trained.

panky777

I have not prepared a paper handout but your suggestion is good, I will get one together for my clients.
Comfort is ambiguous in the waxing room. The experience one goes away with depends on his or her own interpretation. We are, after all, talking about ripping hair out.
Basically: Having warm tissues allows the hair to be removed easier. Timing the appointment at a low stress period of the day or week MAY make the reaction to the pull less severe, however that is open to debate. I have had and do have some women that prefer to time their appointment to coincide with the hieght of their flow and/or listening to Grunge/Metal claiming that such influences help to dull the sensitivity of the more localized area I'm working on. Others can be opposite or anywhere in between.
I will use a numbing spray for some areas on some clients and in majority of areas a mist of cool water/astringent dilution, sprayed right after the pull, will bring instant relief. And as odd as it may sound I have observed that a percentage of people both male and female will show signs of arousal during waxing, and not just for the bikini wax but generally, it really pleasures some to have their hair pulled out. I admit that for me there is a place on the mid inner thigh that feels so good to have the hair pulled out, it's like a thousand itches all at once. However the pubus mons for most can feel like fire for up to 7 seconds or so, that's where the cool spray is most welcome. And a majority of women will agree that the lower eyebrow is one of the most sensitive areas on the body, but not everyone.

KRM28152

If I were to do waxing at home, what would you recommend I use? I can't afford to go to a salon, and I go to school in a town with 1 stoplight. I can't make a trip to Charlotte every time I need to be waxed. Also, is there a difference in the strength of plain bikini wax and Brazilian wax? Or can you use a wax that says bikini on it for a Brazilian wax and vice versa? Thank you so much in advance, and thanks for sharing your wisdom! =)

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“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.”

panky777

KRM; I have been in your situation back when waxing the body was not a familiar idea. I started doing my own waxing. You will have a lot to learn but some tips will help greatly. To start go online to Sally Beauty Supply. Find the nearest store to you. If it is too far to drive to you can order by phone with a card and have stuff shipped to you. Look for GIGI waxing supplies. You'll need a warmer, All Purpose Wax, Preparation Cream, Skin Cleansing Cream, Applicator Sticks - with angled ends (not rounded ends), Muslin - get the roll it's more economical and doesn't get old, desensitizing spray - (Lidocain). The cheapest warmer will do, the most expensive is for salon use where it is left on all day every day. The wax comes in a variety of types. The All Purpose covers most hair type and skin type situations. At one end of selection is Facial Wax for delicate skin, it doesn't adhere to any but the finest hair. At the other end is Brazilian Bikini Wax or Hard Wax, adheres to the coarse wiry hairs that grow deep into the folicle, doesn't need the muslin to pull because it hardens as it cools and is 'Peeled' off, it can adhere to delicate skin. There is other products available too: Preparation powder so wax will not stick to the skin, in some cases the powder prevents the wax from adhereing to the hairs that you want to remove. If that happens wait a day or two before waxing that area again, REALLY. There are lotions to slow the regrowth of the hair and lotions to sooth the skin also. Antiseptics and Astringents are good to keep on hand for skin conditioning and cleansing. All these are sold at Sally, and to the public. GIGI has a instructional video and that would be very good to get. Waxing is not easy, a veteran professional even has difficult subjects from time to time. Find a friend that wants to learn and share in waxing with you, it will be easier and you will develop a bond with each other that will be fun and meaningful. If possible, after you have tryed it a few times book an appt. in the city with a pro, take your friend with you. No matter what part of your body gets waxed, you'll pickup a lot of tips. Important reminder: don't try to do too much in one pull. The smaller the pull and the longer the loose end of fabric equals the FASTER you can wisk it away. Pull the skin taut. The tighter the skin is stretched and the faster the muslin is wisked away, the less one feels it. Watch the hair growth patterns, in the perinium, (crotch), the direction can change three or four times in the space of a large coin and you must ALWAYS pull in the opposite direction of growth. Also true about the growth pattern in the arm pit. Never try to pull hair longer than 1 inch or shorter than 3/16 inch. A decent shear and comb will suffice to shorten long hair. Set your next appt. time to wax on your calendar, regular waxing means finer fewer and easier to pull.

settie

My first waxing experience was done myself using an at-home wax kit. :P It's easy to wax yourself. You're just a little more prepared for what's to come I think.
This summer I had my first professional waxing experience, just the lower legs waxed. Good gosh it hurt like hell! I was ovulating at the time, stupid me. I realized it half-way through when my eyes wouldn't stop watering, and each strip on one leg hurt more than the other. I had a pedicure with paraffin wax that same day, same happened with the wax. I could not put my foot in that damn bag of paraffin wax without being the biggest wuss! Hehe. Lesson learned there.
I haven't gone back since to have anything waxed. Aside from my stupidity, it was a pleasant experience, far far better than I could ever do. Plus, I'm too lazy to get a truly hair-less finish.

I've waxed my lower leg, upper leg, and bikini zone. I'm pretty light haired, so I can get away with hair sometimes.

I have a question: I have that annoying hair follicle problem where the hair likes to fold in half or curl up and give me nasty ingrowns, or those red bumps or red dots on my skin. I exfoliate my problem areas (elbows and backs of forearms close to elbow, knees, upper and lower legs) several times a week, which helps a lot, but I've had no luck reducing the amount of problem ingrowns I get. I get no fewer with all the attention I put on them. It's likely I get more! *grumble*

My big frustration are the back of my forearms: those hairs, once exfoliated, are a darker colour than the rest of the hairs on my arm. It looks ridiculous. I've considered bleaching, but I'm curious if waxing will lighten up the hairs. Any suggestions?

panky777

Typically regular waxing will see the hairs growing in fewer, finer, lighter in color. The ingrown hair problem is usually resolved with cleansing, toning (astringent), and exfoliating. If you are too rough with exfoliating, the surface will build up a cuticle layer faster than normal hense creating a worse ingrown problem. The protective layer or cuticle is there to protect against micro-organisms/bacteria and environmental damage. When you exfoliate you should avoid removing too much of this epidermal layer since the dermal layer will have to speedup it's process of becoming epidermus so as too create the protective cuticle that was removed before it's time. Waxing is a process that removes the epidermus as well as hair, depending on the product used. Remember that the hairs become ingrown because the openning of the folical is covered by epidermus/cuticle and the folicle is enlarged enough to accomodate the increased space that the doubled over hair needs. Toning with astringent tightens the skin and reduces the size of the folicle.

settie

Thanks. So, do you think that I should wax the problem areas regularly, then when cleansing, especially when exfoliating, use astringent?

panky777

how's it working for you now?

surferlove007

When I got to high school and I began growing hair down there I started waxing due to my constant swim practices. I use the at-home Sally Hansen strips. They actually are great for me.

I've used everything from a hot pipe with water going through it or blow dryer to warm the strips up before "ripping it out". What other at home brands would you recommend? I usually wax after a shower and thorough cleaning. I only get irritation bumps for a day or so afterwords and they disappear then its smooth for almost a month.

I have a question as well. I have a larger labia minora which has kept me from going to the salon and having a professional wax me. What are the specifics on women with this particular body type? Is it hard/uncomfortable/painful for you to work on them? Do you see many people with this? I just have never had the courage to go somewhere for the fear of being judged. Just wondering! Thanks

KarrB

I've only had the guts to do my eyebrows, but my friends do every hairy part of their bod.

Tiny Dancer

I regularly wax my own arms at home, that is the only place that I have the guts to do it. I hate my arm hair, I use to shave but waxing is just so much easier for me. I've never had waxing professionally done so i don't know what that experience is like. Wish I could because I'm not brave enough to wax my bikini area. Is there anything that you would recommend for me to use for that private and delicate area? What things also make it less painful or am I just going to have to suck it up? Thanks for your advice.

qtpye4u84

I bought some wax that u heat up and pull off with out using strips and I waxed my husbands chin just fine it was cool I looked at the wax and it looked like a lil rug of black hair and wow he stayed hair less for like a week in a half. I tried to wax my bikini area with the same stuff and I was to afraid to pull it off and my hubby wouldn't help me he didn't want to hurt me so when I got the guts it was to late i think the wax was hard and it made it really tough to pull it hurt real bad I bleed from where the hairs got pulled lol the wax that didn't come off stayed on my skin and got stuck to my under ware for like 3 days it sucked how do you get wax off that gets stuck? Oh and I want to go get it done at a salon but they have like a rule to where the hair has to be a certain amount of inches and I would be embarrassed to have it be to long or be to short how do you go about seeing how long it is lol

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The QTpie

creepysusie

I have a genuine question. The last couple of times I went to get my eyebrows waxed, I warn the lady to use very little wax and do multiple little wax strips because the skin under my eyebrow is super sensitive. However, the last couple of times I went to a well respected place, I had skin ripped off. As a result from an incident a year ago, right before a big formal event, I now have mild little scars under my eyebrow and vaguely on my eyelid.
How can I prep myself for this? or should i seek out a threading specialist.
Other parts of my body are not affected by wax at all so this saddens me because I cannot wax my own eyebrows, but I can do all the other areas on my own.

panky777

Hi ya. I have been without computer for four months. I want to respond to all above but have no time right now. I will come back in 3 days and answer your questions. Cheers.

panky777

Hi, Panky here. Gigi is excellent and provides all the various sundry products for before and after care. The bumps should be controlled with astringent/antiseptic before and after waxing. Typically bumping is caused by bacteria and/or inflamation in the folical. The shape of female bits is a little differant for everyone but the Labia Minora being long or large is not unusual. This tissue is very changeable with momentary conditions. The same is true with the Clitoris. I have encountered long Labia and Clits many times. When the session first starts she is usually smaller and more compact right out of a snug pair of panties. The prep of the area includes cleaning and powdering or oiling of the skin/hair to be treated. Because of this being her Vulva I work a little more gentle and conscienciously since it is her private area. The skin of the Labia likes to stick to itself and can render itself more sensitive, the same with the Clit and her hood. I usually apply Olive oil or Canola oil to the opening area, the Labia, the Clitoral hood. This light application of oil allows the tissues to be free to be moved away from my waxing zone and reduces the sensitivity of those tissues. However the gentle application of the oil and warmth of my fingers will unintentionally cause the Labia to full-out slightly and that is actually helpful when it comes to moving those tissues to one side and out of my way.

---------- Post added at 08:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 AM ----------

There are lidocane sprays and creams that can be applied to the area a short time before the waxing. These will numb the area to a degree that will make waxing tollerable. Please realize that the Vulva is not all delicate tissues as one might think. The most delicate tissues on the body are facial tissue. The clitoris is very delicate. The nipples and Labia Minora is medium delicate. The majority of the skin on the outside of our body is fairly durable, this includes the skin in and around the crotch and underarms. The toughest skin is the palms, soles and gums/tongue. Sensitivity is altogether different though. The sense of touch/pressure is great in certain areas like lips, (in both places), backs of hands and feet, nipples, eyeballs, and dull in other areas like back and buttocks, sides of arms and legs, palms and soles etc.

---------- Post added at 08:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 AM ----------

Threading may very well be the best choise for you. The scars may still be repaired. I developed a Scar Tissue Potion of essential oils for new surgical wounds. It is a simple receipe developed through reading about EOs in books by Tisserand and Lawless, two leading researchers in the field.

---------- Post added at 08:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 AM ----------

Softer wax is softened and removed with oil or alcohol, harder needs warming then oil. Only apply the smallest amount that you will be able to remove even if it only adheres to two hairs. Non skin surface cleaning works with 99% alcohol.
Ideal length would be measured with a new pencil eraser because you can get the hair to stand up next to the eraser. That would be 1/4 inch long hair or about 3 weeks growth.

ametc

I wax myself, but I've found it difficult to get the area where my 'lips' meet. It's always the most painful and most difficult to get.

Also, how do I make sure not to get ANY ingrown hairs? I've tried exfoliating and applying witchhazel.. but there seems to be some ingrown hairs that just don't care what I use and they grow under the skin anyways. A pimple type thing usually forms over the hair and I end up having to pop it and tweezing the hair out. Is there a better way of dealing with ingrown hairs?

I use stripless wax. (Which, imo, is the best.)

panky777

I wonder if the meeting area is at the top or the Pubis Mons. That is generally the most sensitive area for pain. Use a numbing cream at about 30min before you wax. If you test by pulling on the hairs before applying wax and find it still too sensitive re-app the numbing product and keep testing every few min. Ambisol for the gums is also good for numbing. Clean the hairs of any residual product before app of wax as it may prevent wax from adhereing to hair, put powder made for waxing on the skin so the wax doesn't stick to the skin.
The ingrown hair typically happens when the skin grows over the folical before the hair emerges therefore causing the hair to turn and curl inside the closed over folical. Check the adheasion strength of the wax and the prep of the skin. Wax made for stiff hard to pull hair typically adheres very well but if the skin has no oil or powder on it the wax can also adhere to the skin and pull off enough that the cells remaining will start to heal and thus grow over the site including covering over an empty folical. I hope you understand the importance of the balance of products to conditions, get it right and you'll have greater smiles and less frowns.

wooÐs

I'm Greek, so waxing isn't possible lol. I'm also a cosmetologist but I don't do this for work any longer. I've tried many different waxing / hair removal products in general, and nothing works like it would on someone with finer hair. It's a bummer.

I have very thick, coarse body hair. I use Nair on my eyebrows CAREFULLY. And I shave everything everywhere except for my head. It sucks but I make it a little more enjoyable by using different moisturizing / smell-good shower gels when exfoliating with my scrubby thingy. I get the best results when I scrub as hard as I can in circular motions. Otherwise I'm covered with bumps / ingrowns.

I'm wide open for tips if you have any!

daysleeper

I'm thinking of doing a Brazilian wax, from one side to the next. And you know what that means. Hot wax on the poop shoot. Any suggestions for prep? I exfoliate daily anyway with a loofah sponge and an exfoliating body wash.

Halanna

Agree! Luckily, face wise, all I need to wax is my eyebrows. The eyebrows "rip" enough, I can't imagine that feeling everywhere.

I opt to shave, everywhere, everyday. I'd rather have the hassle of that than the pain of waxing, I'm such a baby!

little_tippler

a question from one of our male users:

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

wooÐs

Don't wax your face. You're a man. You're supposed to have some hair on your face.

Don't EVER NEVER EVER use cheap, disposable razors. You're just asking for those bumps and ingrown hairs you mention. It's worth it to drop cash on the more expensive ones. Like Gillette Mach 3.



And always use a shave gel. Don't just water it down with a little soap. You need more slip than that.

And this smiley never pertains to anything else I post so Imma use it now.

little_tippler

Waxing weakens hair growth so I don't recommend it for a man's facial hair, unless you want it to start getting patchy and even finer than it already may be.

Ingrown hairs are a bitch but for me I do find that waxing makes them occur less. Shaving and even hair removal creams, for me, tend to provoke more ingrown hairs than waxing.

The key to reducing ingrown hairs is to exfoliate your face regularly, and you might consider buying a product that helps reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs, such as this:



Apparently Gisele Bundchen swears by this stuff.

I thought this article gave some good tips on avoiding ingrown hairs for men -

Ingrown hairs

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

panky777

To Goastgirl1 in ref to your Dec.08 message:
I have only used pro.products but Sally Beauty Supply sells prof products to the public.
Different women have different shapes. I have worked on women with different size and lengths of Labia Minora. I have not had mention of sensitivity for the labia but I always put oil, (lightly), on the tissue before proceeding with my work. This allows the labia to be manipulated one side to the other in the most gentle way. It's all about removing hair and that means working with the tissues of the vulva WHATEVER they are or look like. To worry about how someone is going to judge the shape of your labia is unnecessary like worrying about how they will like your purse, why care what anyone thinks. I have seen a lot of private parts on men and women. The differences are like looking at books on a shelf, so different, every one.

panky777

Good interesting article

Sara123

Hi I just got back from getting my brazilian wax. The lady who usually does mine was not there, and someone else did it. Somehow she got nervous and ripped a layer of skin off of my labia area...I bled quite a bit, I was wondering, will it heal or should I consult my doctor as soon as possible?

Thank you so much,
Sara

Amethyst

Are you okay Sara>? What was her reaction when this happened? i hope you got the service for free??

amonkie

Yikes sara! I've been waxed before but nothing ever took that much skin.

I would make sure you gently clean the area to keep it from getting infected, and avoid irritating the skin or shaving. If it doesn't start to heal within 24 hours, that is probably when I would want to go to the doctor.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna