Summer hair removal perfected at European Wax Center, the experience

By April MacIntyre Jun 5, 2011, 23:13 GMT

European Wax Center is expanding in California, and I visited the Woodland Hills, California offices and spoke at length with my esthetician Crystal, who shared waxing do\'s, don\'ts and preparatory steps so the entire experience was pleasant and fast.

Waxing done well, once experienced, will most likely convince you never use a razor again.

No one wants to feel stubble, especially in the more intimate areas of the body. But the notion for many who have not experienced a salon waxing session, helped by movies like "The 40 Year Old Virgin," is not a positive one, as star Steve Carell is mercilessly covered in hot wax and then "ripped up" as a gleeful technician so fast and furiously, they draw blood. 

Many people are curious about what really happens during an intimate waxing like the Brazilian wax, where the entire hair strip from backside to the very front is removed, wondering what they need to do to prepare and what to expect.

European Wax Center is expanding in California, and I visited the Woodland Hills, California offices this past Saturday and spoke at length with my esthetician Crystal, who shared waxing do's, don'ts and preparatory steps to ensure the entire experience was pleasant and fast.

Whether you are getting a bikini wax, a stylish strip, or the around the world Brazilian that also covers the butt strip, there are rules and protocol for any of these services.

One of the golden rules for any waxing salon is there must be no double dipping of the wooden wax sticks. They only practice the hygienic usage of a fresh stick each wax application area. This is crucial and European Wax Center absolutely does not allow double-dipping, nor the recycling of wax from client to client, another big no no.

The quality of the wax too, is very important. They use an expensive deep lavender colored exclusive Parisian wax made with the world’s finest elastomers and polymers and 100% natural beeswax that is applied at a bath-water temperature, which allows wax to be applied in larger sections compared to other waxes.

Their wax does not include alcohol which can often result in drying, cracking and irritation, applied in impeccably clean and sanitary rooms with highly trained qualified, experienced, licensed Estheticians.

If you elect to have a Brazilian

Be hairy! Like cleaning the house before the maid comes, if you razor shave before a wax, there's nothing to grab. Please let the hair grow ¼ to ½ an inch. The wax needs something to adhere to.

Be clean! Take a shower/bath right before you go. Common courtesy and sense. Use a mild exfoliating body wash and an exfoliating mitt to help prepare the skin.

Be ready for inflammation and temporary redness: Crystal recommends you take an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen) a half-hour before your wax, it helps.

Timing is everything: Please know that you will be red (they do have a fabulous serum that calms it down) immediately afterwards, so if you were heading to see your boyfriend, you may want to wait at least 4-6 hours!

No lotions or creams beforehand; you’ll get better results if your skin is dry.

Crystal completed my Brazilian wax in under 15 minutes. It was the fastest and most completely comfortable professional wax I have had ever. 

She recommends the European Waxing Center house skin serum and other skin care products I discuss below, plus you can apply cool compresses once you get home.

Also do not wear tight underwear or clothing in synthetic materials to prevent irritation.  Cotton rules.

European Wax Center’s product line keeps the waxed skin smooth and from developing bumps, blemishes and ingrown hairs. They are all pharmaceutical grade products that are Paraben-free.

Specifically, several items you must invest in:

Restore It (Brows)

Love this product to no end. Grooms and repairs. This hygienic pen shaped applicator has a handy white brush applicator on one end that dispenses brow hair enhancing serum for sparse eye brows.  The bottom of the pen turns to allow product up the brush automatically.

Allantoin soothes, Prodew 300 hydrates, and Sericin Silk proteins create a protective barrier along with soy and wheat proteins to condition, repair, and restore eye brow hair  These ingredients shape and restore eye brows with a light and flattering shine, making a fuller brow.

Shape It (Brows)

This mascara wand applicator delivers a shining and defining serum with an alcohol-free light hold with no alcohol.  The ingredients include Aloe Vera, and all their eye products are Paraben Free.

There is also a magic lightweight serum for the newly waxed skin that takes the fire and the threat of bumps or rashes away immediately:

Serum for In-grown Hair Prevention (Body)

This cooling hygienic pump delivery is the fast relief applied immediately after a wax. You can calm down the red skin fast by applying and keeping ingrown hairs from happening in the groin and panty line elastic pressure points that tend to irritate and develop bumps.

EWC’s Ingrown Hair Serum uses a very small amount of glycolic acid to eat away at the dead skin. The serum also contains tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic that penetrates the pores and cleans out any bacteria that can cause the ingrown hair to become infected, or blocks hair from growing.  Antioxidants including Vitamin E, Lavender Oil, Tea Tree Oil calms and soothes this newly de-haired skin in a flash.

Post Waxing Exfoliate

This jar of magic helps to gently buff off dead skin and polish and prime skin for optimum moisturizing so that new hair grows in free of bumps, ingrown hairs and irritation.

Slow IT Body Lotion

This body lotion is infused with Vitamins A, C, and E to keep your skin healthy and detoxifies, protects dials down hair density and length with a Vitamins A, C & E base to nourish skin.

EWC Body Lotion contains many of the same components as their Body Wash. The Body Wash and the Body Lotion work very well together because they are both created based on the principle of keeping skin film-free.

http://www.waxcenter.com/