April 2010’s Featured Article:

Head to Toe Waxing for a Smooth Wedding Day

Dreaming of the Big Day

By Kaelen Johnson

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Most women fantasize about their wedding day from the time they are little girls playing with Barbies. Barbie was easy to get ready for her big day, with her pre-applied smudge-free makeup, smooth, tanned skin and snap-on wedding dress. Meanwhile her groom-to-be was looking sharp in his ready-made tux. Wouldn’t it be nice if walking down the aisle could be as easy for everyone else as it was for Barbie and Ken?
Each bride-to-be has her own idea of what that “perfect” day should look like. Some women may want a small exotic wedding on a beach far from home, while others crave a well attended ceremony in the countryside. One thing is certain for every bride: she wants to look her very best for the most important day of her life. One way a woman can look and feel fabulous is by removing unwanted hair from head to toe. Waxing is useful not only for hair removal, but also for exfoliation. Skin is left smooth and ready for a self-tan application, giving the bride a gorgeous glow.
A crucial point to remember when dealing with bridal clients is that their wedding preparation wax should not be their first waxing experience. Ideally, a client should begin waxing several months prior to her wedding, if not sooner. This allows for a less painful experience, as the hair becomes finer with subsequent waxing, tolerance for the process increases and there are fewer surprises. Also, it allows you to find out if the client has any negative reactions to the wax and/or the pre and post-wax products. If a particular type of the wax and products do not cause any adverse effects the first time you use them on the client, be sure to use the same ones each time thereafter.

Brows to brazilians

From brows to Brazilians, hard wax is the way to go. It is perfect for waxing smaller areas such as brows, lips, chins, underarms, bikinis, hairlines and toes. It is gentler on the skin because it shrink wraps around the hairs, allowing the roots to be pulled without lifting the skin. Hard wax has less contact on the skin than strip wax and is a “non-directional” wax, meaning that it can be applied in any direction regardless of the pattern of hair growth. It is also an excellent choice for removing shorter hairs. To take out shorter hairs, apply the wax against the direction that the hair is laying so you can lift the hairs up and embed them into the wax. This is a gentle process, and depending on how delicate your client’s skin is, hard wax usually can be applied and removed without causing irritation when it is reapplied to a previously waxed area, which is sometimes necessary.

Facial waxing

For unwanted facial hair, I generally recommend waxing only the brows, lip and chin, not the vellus (peach fuzz) hair unless the client has extremely dark, deep-rooted hair and she has had it removed with no adverse reactions in the past. If the latter is the case, then be sure to use a high frequency facial wand upon completion of the waxing to help kill bacteria and prevent breakouts, as the wand has germicidal effects. The high frequency wand can also be used on smaller areas such as the brows and lip. For clients with light facial hair, small battery operated hair removers are ideal because they remove the hair without leaving the follicle susceptible to bacteria.
Arm waxing has become very popular in recent years. Clients interested in waxing their arms should be cautioned that this area may be prone to small pimples following the treatment if they have never been waxed before. The hair on the arms generally grows down and curves around the arm, so make sure you follow the hair growth pattern and remove in the opposite direction. There are several different options for positioning your client to help you wax in this way with little discomfort. You might have your client sitting upright on the treatment table, or you and your client may be seated in a chair while your client’s arm is propped on the treatment table, arranged in a position that is comfortable for her, yet leaves enough latitude for you to work comfortably. Just as you would for the bikini area, have your client hold her own skin taut in order to prevent bruising and irritation.

Wedding woes

When performing waxing services for bridal clients, do not experiment with a new brow shape or a full Hollywood Brazilian if they have never dared to do this before. Your client should be comfortable with her look. Any changes should be gradual and tested ahead of time. For example, if she has never had a bikini wax, start her off with a standard one first. Then about a month later leave a “landing strip,” and progressively move towards the full Brazilian. Be sure to warn bikini waxing clients about premenstrual sensitivity that occurs approximately one week prior to their cycle. And avoid bikini-waxing altogether during the menstrual cycle.

Suggest that your clients come in about four days before the wedding, so that any redness or bumps has a chance to subside before the big event.

A friend of mine recently shared her wedding day “close call.” On her wedding day back in the 1980s, she decided to get a perm for the first time. She went to the hairdresser and told him that she was getting married and wanted a new hairdo. Thankfully, he had enough sense to discourage her from making such a drastic change to her appearance right before such a momentous occasion. Instead he curled her hair exactly the way she wanted it. In the end, she was happy and did not smell like perm solution chemicals! On a day when emotions are running high, it is not wise to court disaster.
The same friend also told me a story about a previous co-worker of hers who was advised to have an underarm wax the day of her wedding to avoid the “five o’clock shadow” that often occurs with people whose hair grows extremely fast. Although waxing the underarms is a good idea for brides wearing strapless dresses, it is best to be cautious with first-timers. This particular bride’s underarm hair was very coarse, deep-rooted and grew in several different directions. The bride’s esthetician should have warned her about inevitable underarm irritation, especially in the case of a virgin underarm waxing. The poor bride’s skin was so irritated she could barely put her arms down throughout the evening. As she said her vows that night, an extra vow she included was to never have another underarm wax again!
Strip or soft wax should be used on larger areas such as arms and legs. Although waxing is a form of exfoliation, I recommend exfoliating in the shower with an ayate cloth prior to waxing. The ayate cloth is a natural fiber that is grown, harvested and woven in central Mexico. Made from the agave cactus plant, this gentle washcloth expands when wet, yet is mildew resistant, machine washable and can last up to a year. Scrubbing with an ayate cloth is an excellent way to revitalize the skin while preventing ingrown hairs that frequently develop after waxing of the legs and bikini region.
Every client’s hair grows at a different rate, but generally three to four weeks worth of growth should give you ample hair length to work with. The hair length should be a minimum of one eighth of an inch, but a quarter inch is preferable. Suggest that your clients come in about four days before the wedding so that any lingering redness or bumps has a chance to subside before the big event. If a client has decided to do a full body wax, you may want to suggest that they do it in two separate sessions, as it can be a very time consuming and tedious process for both the client and esthetician.

Take precautions

Thoroughly review client consultation forms for contra-indicators such as Accutane™ and blood thinners. Also check for topical products like Tretinoin and AHAs that thin the skin. Do not use the high frequency wand on pregnant clients or those who have a pacemaker or a history of heart disease. Be mindful of the client’s previous waxing experiences (or lack thereof) and take note of allergies.

Bridal discounts

Many salons and spas of all sizes offer discounts for bridal parties. Large resorts like the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas offer several different bridal packages that include waxing. Located in the hip Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, The Body Bar is a modern urban retreat that offers an array of services and waxing for the bride and bridesmaids. Bridal clients at Emerge Salon in Richmond Virginia receive a 20 percent discount off their photos at the neighboring photography studio. Try offering incentives to encourage brides to bring in more clients by offering her half off her own services if she brings in a minimum of four others from her bridal party. She may even bring in her groom for a back or chest wax.
Even the simplest of weddings takes time, planning and preparation. With some foresight and guidance, you can help make your client’s big day a smooth success!

Kaelen Johnson has provided herbal wraps, body treatments, facials, cosmetic applications, laser hair removal, and corrective makeup procedures in the medical spa industry since 1993. She has been an educator for Essensa, an exclusive line of organic skincare products. Kaelen holds esthetician licenses in Arizona and New York as well as an esthetic instructor license in Arizona. She has spoken at national skin care conferences. Her desire to increase awareness of ecological responsibility and holistic approaches to health and well-being motivated her to open the Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School.