5 tips for warm weather waxing

-

The sun has got his hat on, hip-hip-hip hooray… and the waxing clients are coming out to play. Keep your cool (geddit?) with these quick tips for sunny days.

Hot, clammy skin is a nightmare to wax, so don’t be stingy with the pre-wax cleanser. My personal preference at this time of year is for a liquid, toner-style cleanser, as I find many of the thicker gel-based products simply don’t cut the mustard when it comes to sweaty bodies and industrial-strength anti-perspirants. Tea tree wet wipes are also a handy option for quickly cooling and prepping the skin prior to waxing.

Switch your oil for powder if necessary. We’ve spent the last few years being told that oil is the new Holy Grail of waxing and that talc is the work of the devil. But as temperatures soar and clients arrive perspiring more than normal, a light dusting of talc-free powder over a sweaty back, bum or underarm makes life easier for everyone.

At the other end of scale, customers who have overcooked their tan or returned from holiday looking like Madge from Benidorm are likely to have much drier, dehydrated skin. This can cause your wax to stick and skin to lift, so work in smaller sections and this is where you can use a little extra pre-wax oil to compensate. As a side note, never wax over sunburnt skin, even at the peeling stage – it WILL lift. Wait for things to completely heal before getting happy with your spatula.

High temperatures play havoc with your wax, too. If you find your peelable wax is taking ages to set on the skin in this humid weather, simply dampen a cotton pad with water and wipe over the top to rapidly cool and harden any gummy patches. Cleanser does the same job… but water is cheaper. 😉

Finally, I say this every summer… a good SPF is especially important after waxing any exposed area of the body at this time of year. Freshly waxed skin is more sun-sensitive, bringing with it an increased risk of sunburn and hyper-pigmentation. Remind clients to avoid tanning for at least a couple of days after their appointment and to slather on the sun cream whenever they venture outside.

Now, who’s getting the ice creams in? Make mine a Mivvi. 🍦

© Andy Rouillard 2017

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dealing with waxing injuries

-
Image
Following my recent post about skin lifting , I had several lovely emails, Facebook messages, tweets and texts from fellow therapists relieved to know they weren't alone! If something does go wrong, a common concern therapists have is how on earth to inform a waxing client about an injury. This is something we cover on all of our classes at Axiom Wax Academy , but I figured I'd take the opportunity to share a few ideas here, too. It’s enough to make any therapist’s heart sink: you pull a strip of wax off and realise with horror that it’s left behind a nice, shiny graze or a big ol’ bruise. Welcome to the club Take comfort in the knowledge that you’re not the first person this has happened to and you certainly won’t be the last. First things first: have a little internal sweary moment, then take a deep breath and point it out to your client. This is important. If you don’t mention it, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll g...
Read more

Introducing the new Ashmira Botanica pre and post-wax skincare line

-
Image
New pre & post-wax skincare from Ashmira Botanica Congratulations, it’s quintuplets... 👶👶👶👶👶 I’m a proud Wax Daddy today. My babies are finally here!! I’m pleased as punch to unveil the new waxing skincare line from Ashmira Botanica, which I’ve been working on for the past year. It’s an absolutely beautiful range, even if I do say so myself, incorporating both in-salon and retail items to support your waxing services. Every product is enriched with wonderful botanical extracts, natural butters and plant oils to protect and nurture the skin throughout every stage of hair removal. They all feel amazing, smell gorgeous and (of course) do a blinding job in the treatment room. I’m going to attempt a ‘Facebook Live’ video over the next few days to show off the little ’uns, but in the meantime here is a family portrait and a quick introduction to the new brood: Refreshing Skin Cleanser A gentle cleansing milk with apple amino acids, for use both before and...
Read more

5 waxing mistakes to avoid

-
Image
Ensure things go smoothly at the wax pot. In an article first written for Salon System , waxing specialist Andy Rouillard reveals the most common waxing mistakes therapists tend to make… and how to avoid them. 1. Not doing a consultation This should really go without saying, but I still see too many therapists forgetting to carry out a consultation prior to waxing. Regardless of whether it’s a 5 minute upper lip wax or a 2 hour full body treatment,  always carry out a full written consultation with new clients  to ensure that waxing is safe and appropriate for that customer. With regulars, check whether there have been any changes affecting their skin, blood or immune system since you last saw them. A seemingly simple change in skin care, health or medication can have a significant knock-on effect with waxing, so it’s vital to check at every visit. In addition to being a mandat...
Read more