Hair Removal

Reproduced by Gregory T. Cartwright with permission from Dayspa magazine for limited distribution. ©2013 by Creative Age Communications, Inc.
No part of this article can be altered, changed, or reused in any way without the express consent of the publisher.
SPOTLIGHT ON...
Hair Removal
Pros sound off on how they’ll keep clients hair-free and happy this Spring.
How do you market hair removal services
during April?
Aimee Courtaway, lead esthetician at The Blonde
Salon and Spa in O’Fallon, Illinois: In our town,
waxing any part of the body other than the face is the
exception, not the rule. Locals are not constantly in
swimsuits, so we generate much of our clientele through
word of mouth and referrals. That said, we market these
months as a great time for apprehensive clients to try
a wax service for the first time, and build up for when
they will actually need hair-removal treatment (vacation,
special occasion, bikini season, etc.). I tell clients it’s a
great way to identify their hair regrowth process. Plus,
springtime is wedding season here and we always
encourage our bride-to-be clients to start waxing several
months prior to the big day.
Judith Olson, esthetician and co-owner of Wax
and Lash Bar in Denton, Texas: Our business is strictly
waxing and lash extensions, and that has helped us tap
into a niche. We market ourselves as a luxury lifestyle
service, like hair or nail treatments—we don’t do walk-in
appointments or discount services. My twin sister (and
co-owner) runs the lash extension leg of our facility,
and we often cross-sell services, which has served our
business well on a year-round basis. Our clients come
in to feel good about themselves all the time—not just
during bikini season.
Gregory Cartwright, owner of Koru Touch Day
Spa in Statesville, North Carolina: I market such
services year-round. Fall and winter are great seasons to
introduce clients’ skin to body sugaring, and this provides
ample time to balance out the skin and prevent any
adverse reactions. By maintaining the service throughout
colder months, clients will experience the miracle of this
type of hair removal, in which hair regrowth appears
lighter and almost feather-like. It’s the best way to
prepare for the summer months and vacations.
What are your tips for alleviating the ‘ouch factor’
from hair removal?
Courtaway: Making clients as comfortable as possible
from the minute they step into your spa is essential. Talk
them through the process—all throughout—so there are
no surprises. I’m also a fan of Relax N’ Wax’s No Scream
Hair-Hampering Heroes
Natural Way
Depilatory Hard
Wax This beeswaxbased, strip-free wax is
gentle on the face and
body. 800.643.1626,
naturalwaypro.com
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DAYSPA
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Satin Smooth Scarlet
Berry Wax with Açai
This fruit-scented wax
spreads thinly and
easily, and is ideal
for fine to coarse
hair. 800.726.4204,
satinsmooth.com
APRIL 2013
No Bump RollOn by Gigi This
mess-free, postwax formula helps
diminish bumps,
ingrown hairs
and irritation.
800.635.8966,
aiibeauty.com
Tend Skin Liquid
With this post-wax
solution, razor
bumps and ingrown
hairs are history.
800.558.5571,
tendskin.com
Cirépil Blue from
Universal Companies
This creamy, gel-textured
formula is recommended
for hair of all lengths and
textures, and normal to
oily skin. 800.558.5571,
universalcompanies.com
Milesman Premium
Laser Treats all skin
types with an ultra-cold
protection system, to
reduce discomfort.
855.7GO.RENT,
rentalaser.com
SPOTLIGHT ON...
Cream, which helps to numb the skin beforehand. My
clients like it, too—they even postpone appointments if
I’m sold out!
In terms of technique, I’ve adopted a light tapping
method, in which I tap the skin immediately after I strip
off the wax. I find this helps distract the clients from the
hair removal.
Cartwright: I encourage clients to use the same
breathing techniques used in yoga and exercise. I instruct
them to breathe in as I mold the sugar on the body, and
breathe out as I pull it off. And, if you keep the dialogue
going throughout the process, clients’ minds won’t
wander to craziness and anxiety. After the treatment, I’ll
wrap the body in seaweed or sulfur mud to calm and
soothe the skin. It helps close the pores and also relaxes
clients and takes their minds off of discomfort.
Olson: Having good bedside manner is very
important. Because I have mainly regular clients, I
know who they are, what they like and what puts
them at ease. The more relaxed a client is, the more
pleasant the actual hair-removal process is, and we
try to cater to each client’s specific needs and comfort
levels. My oldest client is 93, and when she comes in
for an eyebrow wax, I’ll pipe instrumental or big band
music through my speaker. Her mind will go back to
that place in time and it really makes her happier and
more relaxed.
How do you turn a first-timer into a regular hairremoval client?
Courtaway: With this type of service, trust and
credibility are key and, most likely, the deciding factor
in whether or not she will return to you. Explaining the
regrowth process and the importance of implementing a
regular waxing routine can also lead to clients rebooking
on the spot.
Olson: New and existing clients know we have turned
a regular quick-stop treatment into a luxury service,
and that’s what they love about our facility. We don’t
offer discounts, Groupon deals or even Facebook ads.
However, we do like to thank our loyal clients and
make them feel special, so sometimes we’ll throw in a
free vajazzle service or a bottle of wine with a purchase
of a bikini wax. We also offer a complimentary brow
or lip wax to clients who refer five new customers
who actually come in for treatment. You sell clients on
yourself, not just the actual service. That’s what keeps
them coming back.
Hair-Hampering Heroes (continued)
Spilo Melting Pot
La Grande Warmer
Accommodating
wax, sugar or
paraffin, this device
boasts speedy heatup time and variable
temperature
settings for
maximum versatility.
800.347.7456,
spilo.com
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PFB Numb-It
A fast-acting
anesthetic gel
that takes the
“sting” out of
hair removal, and
does not interfere
with wax or
leave greasy
film on the skin.
877.225.0233,
pfbvanish.com
APRIL 2013
Relax & Wax No
Scream Cream
Help make waxing
a relatively painfree experience
by applying this
topical anesthetic
30-45 minutes
prior to treatment.
775.830. 7546,
relaxnwax.com
Clean + Easy
Almond Coconut
Wax This crèmebased soft wax
removes hair gently
and effectively, while
moisturizing almond
and coconut extracts
help to soften dry
skin. 800.635.8966,
aiibeauty.com
Depilar System
A range of
enzyme-based
professional
formulas help
to break down
follicles after hairremoval services.
877.GO.DEPILAR,
depilarsystem.com
Men’s Gorilla
Wax from
Cosmoproshop
(a Pevonia
International
company) Specially
formulated for
stubborn male body
hair, this wax spreads
thinly and efficiently,
leaving no residue.
800.446.3751,
cosmoproshop.com
Nufree Pro
Service Center
Complete with
a thermal unit,
depilating strips,
body applicators
and client record
forms, this set
serves as a onestop waxing shop.
800.247.2405,
nufree.com