March: Waxing. Bikini, French Bikini, Brazilian...what's the difference? What to expect plus Pre & Post Care.

With Spring right around the corner... FINALLY and summer coming soon we are starting to think about hair removal and getting ready to be out in the sun! We get asked a lot about Brazilian waxing. Do people really do that? Do you have to remove EVERYTHING? The answer is yes they do - it's one of our most popular services and no you don't - you can tailor a Brazilian wax to take or leave as much as you want. We also find that many clients don't know what to ask for or book when it comes to Bikini vs. French Bikini vs. Brazilian wax. Here's a break down:

Bikini Wax: Traditionally this is strictly everything just outside of the panty line. In fact, some people prefer to keep their panties on for this service or opt to wear a disposable bikini (we provide those)! This can be tailored to go in on the bikini line as far as you need it to on the top and sides depending on the type of swimsuit you plan to wear. Usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

French Bikini Wax: This is what we call the beginner Brazilian Wax. This service typically goes in on the bikini line about a half an inch on the top, sides and labia leaving a clean strip of hair in a uniform look going all the way down. We then remove everything from the backside. Usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Brazilian Wax: This service intimidates new clients because it is indeed an intimate and vulnerable service. We remove all hair from the top, labia and back side. This includes all the little tiny fine hair in all the nooks and crannies. We specialize in leaving no hair left behind and no client to go home and have to tweeze anything. We can absolutely leave a strip or triangle on the top at your request! Usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.

What you can expect from each of these services is comfort, professionalism and guidance. All service providers go through extensive training and model trials before they begin taking clients. We don't have anyone on staff providing this service who isn't passionate about it, so rest assured if you book this service, we are excited to help you build your confidence!

What to expect in service:

For first time clients it is normal to be nervous, to sweat, or to feel self conscious. We will guide you through every step of the way. Once you arrive, we will walk you back to your service room and tell you exactly what you need to remove, change into or keep on. We will also tell you how to lay on the table. Despite rumors people hear, there will be no gymnastic or extensive yoga positions necessary. You will typically lay on your back with your legs in a butterfly position for the front and then roll to your side for the back side. We prep your skin, apply powder to keep you cool and dry and then soothe your skin after with aloe and a light oil. We also use breathing techniques to help you prepare for strips to be pulled if you want. Some clients just want us to move fast and don't want a warning or time to prepare but some want to breathe through it!\

Pre & Post Care:

For any type of waxing, especially Bikini or Brazilian, you always want about 4 weeks of hair growth. That means 4 weeks of no shaving, trimming or tweezing! We always get clients who are self conscious about how much or how long their hair is; we are here to tell you, the longer the better! We can work with hair that is overgrown, what we can't work with is hair that is too short. This will lead to a painful and unsatisfactory service because there will be a lot of hair either left behind or that needs to be tweezed (ouch!).

Exfoliation is key to a good wax and long term results. We recommend scrubby gloves that can be washed regularly and kept in the shower for easy use! Do this every day with gentle unscented soap then follow with an unscented moisturizer to keep your skin soft and moisturized. This will help prevent ingrown hair with grow back and prepare your hair for waxing by removing the barrier of dead skin on the surface and revealing hair trapped underneath it.

These services should be booked every 4 to 6 weeks for best results. Typically, in the beginning, 4 weeks is best. As hair growth slows, you may be able to push your waxing appointments out further.

What to expect in those 4 weeks:

After your first wax, it is common to have hair or stubble that grows back pretty quickly. This is because shaving only cuts the hair at the surface rather than pulling from the follicle so grow back will be different for different areas and your hair length may be different. We try to remedy this as much as possible by using wax meant for short hair and by tweezing anything left behind. After a 2 -3 waxes, you can expect about 2 solid weeks of no growth and then a slow, softer and finer grow back.

We look forward to seeing you this Spring and Summer and helping you feel confident in whatever way that looks like for you!