WAX FAQ
Does it hurt?
Everyone has a different pain tolerance and pain is relative. At House of Wax we use the MOST GENTLE wax on the market and not only do we specialize in HARD WAX (stripless wax) but we CUSTOM BLEND our very own formulas! Hard wax does NOT pull on skin whatsoever & only pulls the hair. Here's a dirty secret you may not know: soft wax is far too aggressive for the Brazilian area skin & salons only wax with it to save money & time when waxing. Hard wax is 2,000% more expensive to keep in stock & salons save SO much money by traumatizing your labia with soft wax. We are passionate about CLIENT COMFORT & SAFETY & we invest in our products and tools. Did you know it's NOT normal to be sore & tender after a wax? Even a Brazilian wax should not leave you sore or raw feeling after it's done. Skin is NOT supposed to lift & swelling is NOT normal. If you are icing your Brazilian area after a wax YOU ARE ENDURING UNNECESSARY PAIN. You may also take an ibuprofen 30-60 min before your waxing appointment.
Who isn't a candidate for waxing?
FACIAL WAXING: If you are on antibiotics, using RETIN A, retinoids, alpha-hydroxy-acids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or have received a chemical or topical peel within the past 2 weeks. If you're freshly exfoliated or sun burned PLEASE INFORM YOUR WAXER.
If you are on Accutane you may not receive waxing ANYWHERE ON YOUR BODY until 6 months off of Accutane.
How do I care for my skin between waxes?
For BODY WAXING including Brazilians: Our best advice is to moisturize DAILY with Finipil or pure, raw, African shea butter (either may be purchased on Amazon & shea butter may be found at Rainbow Blossom). If you are sensitive or ingrown prone - use alcohol free witch hazel (our fave is Thayers & may be found on Amazon or at Target) 3-7x weekly depending on what stage you're in. If you're broken out * want to clear bumps, apply 1-2x daily until skin is cleared then to maintain healthy skin use 3-4x weekly for maintenance. It's very important to always moisturize daily so that skin stays hydrated & allows hair to grow in properly through soft skin so that ingrown don't occur. When the skin is hydrated the hair also comes out so easily when waxing and pain is reduced drastically! 70% of your waxing result is at home care in between sessions!
.
How often should I come back?
We recommend booking Brazilians & body waxes 3-6 weeks apart.
No sooner than 3 & no later than 6. Eventually your hair will grow so thin & slowly you'll receive maintenance waxes 6-10 weeks apart.
Brows & facial waxes are usually booked 2-4 weeks apart for maintenance.
Are Brazilians awkward for you?
HELL NAW.
We have done COUNTLESS Brazilians & have clients of all ages, sizes, shapes, genders, colors, etc. We are a BODY POSITIVE, professional, comfortable, high end, QUALITY waxing salon & we take the most pride in our clients' comfort. You all are our top priority & we are solely focused on providing the best experience possible for our clients. Please check out our 350+ 5 star reviews & you'll quickly get a feel for how inviting our atmosphere is. Remember this is our profession & we have a job to do - & that's to get you waxed safely & COMFORTABLY.
Why is waxing so much better for skin than shaving?
- Waxing removes dead skin cells.
- Waxing not only removes hair, it also exfoliates your skin. When you pull out the wax from your skin, it takes away dead cells and leaves a brand-new layer of skin. This is why the body or face feels so smooth after waxing.
- Long-lasting results
- Shaving doesn't entirely remove hair, it just cuts off the hair shaft, which is only the visible part of the hair on the surface of the skin. But hairs are much longer than that; they grow from the hair follicle deep in the dermis (layer of skin below the epidermis). That's the reason why after shaving, fuzz grows back so quickly – in just one week hairs are visible again. On the other hand, waxing does remove hairs from the root; therefore, it takes a lot longer for hairs to grow back and be visible on the surface of the skin – from three to four weeks, depending on the person.
- Hairs might cease to grow
- Waxing mercilessly pulls hairs out from the root; this action weakens the hair follicles, and therefore, hairs grow back, but are less strong. Overtime, if you wax on a regular basis, hairs might actually stop growing because the hair follicle is too damaged to work properly.
- Hairs grow back thinner
- Given that waxing weakens the hair follicles, sometimes hairs start to grow much thinner, and they become easier to pull out – the procedure even gets less painful!
- Smoother outcome
- The final result after a waxing session is much smoother and attractive than any other kind of shaving method, especially because the hair is pulled out from the root.
- No more hyperpigmentation
In case you didn't know, hyperpigmentation is a condition that develops when small areas of the skin become darker than the rest. These dark spots can appear on skin that has been shaved several times, depending on the person, his or her type of skin, and health condition. Sometimes, even dermatologists are required to solve the problem. This will never happen with waxing.
- No more itching
- Itchy legs, armpits, or pubic areas are a common problem for women and men even right after shaving. With waxing, this could be prevented by using high-quality, nourishing waxes that are made to treat and prevent said side effects.
- No more cuts
- You can say goodbye to razors and unintentional cuts on your skin. When shaving, you can seriously harm yourself when the blades are too sharp or if you're not paying attention to what you're doing. Although waxing can also be dangerous – skin burns can be caused by hot wax - there are plenty of spa businesses and hair removal specialists to which you can go to in case you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself.
- Wide range of options
- There are lots of different waxes on the market and plenty of spas that offer waxing services of good quality. Soft body waxes, hard body waxes, waxes with scents and moisturizing properties, products especially made for people with sensitive skin… Truly, the alternatives are endless.
- Fast yet better results
- We won't lie, shaving will always be the fastest way to remove hair, and you can get hairless legs, for example, in just ten minutes. However, waxing doesn't require much time either, and for the little extra time you're spending, you will get much better results.
If I'm self conscious about my body, what are some tips you have for me?
I wish this weren't such a common question, but it is & it can't go ignored. As mentioned previously, we are as body positive as it gets and our clientele is so diverse. I wish it were as simple as me telling you to just love & accept yourself because there's nothing wrong with you & you're perfect the way you are - but it runs much deeper than that. If this is any consolation: we are also human & we even wax each other at House of Wax. Not only are we professionals but we are also women and we are clients. We are completely aware that all bodies look and work differently & we embrace ALL clients & encourage ALL humans to practice self care and SELF LOVE even if that means stepping out of your current comfort zone. ANY client who's come petrified of their body image has left GLOWING & FLOATING feeling so grateful they did something to treat themselves. We are here to TREAT you. This is meant to be an empowering & powerful experience that elevates you! You can always start with a Bikini wax or even a leg or thigh wax just to feel comfortable in the environment before committing to a Brazilian. Come one come all. You are welcome & valued & you matter.
How long does my hair have to be?
We need hair long enough for the wax to grab!
Brazilians: 2-3 weeks at LEAST but the longer the better.
Brows: at least 2 weeks
Legs & body - 4 weeks or LONGER
What if I'm on my cycle?
100% okay! We do NOT period shame. Wear a tampon & know you'll be more sensitive, however.
I'm pregnant; how bad does it hurt?
Your hormones can certainly make you more sensitive but pain is relative & we have dozens of happy & pregnant clients with no complaints!
Do you trim?
If necessary; yes we do.
Can I bring a friend?
Sure! We have a cozy lobby your friend may lounge in while you're being serviced. *currently due to Covid we do not allow additional guests to accompany clients.
What can I expect during the appointment for a Brazilian?
Once you're undressed from the waist down, you just hop up on the table and lay down with your knees bent and the bottoms of your feet touching. We cleanse you with alcohol free witch hazel before the service & the whole wax may take anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on hair density & client comfort/conversation (we usually talk during the entire service and time flies). Once finished we apply witch hazel once more as well as Grapeseed oil to restore hydration.
Define all Bikini/Brazilian services
Bikini - Includes hair outside of the bikini area. 3-4 inches outside of the bikini line give or take.
French Bikini - A bikini wax plus a little more. We narrow in & leave a wide landing strip & remove the outer third of hair from the labia as well as line up the top of the landing strip. Add the butt strip for $10
Brazilian - Includes ALL hair front and back (leave any you'd like, however). This service does not include butt cheeks but cheeks may be added for an additional $35 if selected in addition to the service when booked (select cheeks).
Do you wax men?
YES. We do not discriminate. ALL GENDERS WELCOME.
Do you recommend numbing topically before the wax?
Nope! It makes the skin way too slick & doesn't really work. Also our wax is gentle as it gets so we find no need for numbing here.
Are you all cruelty free?
HELL YEAH.
There is absolutely no reason that in this day and age any salon should carry products tested on animals. Not only are mice and bunnies killed in labs for through animal testing, but so are Beagles, cats & monkeys. Beagles are actually the most commonly lab tested animals because they're such a loyal dog breed. PLEASE check PETA's cruelty free product list any time you shop for products or you enter a salon! Please join us and be part of the solution!