Learn Male Waxing

An area many waxing therapists struggle with when starting out is removing hot wax without resorting to picking. Here’s a short little video from Andy Rouillard at Axiom Wax Academy, demonstrating various ways of lifting that first bit of non-strip wax... no flick required! 1. Peel and reveal If your hard wax has clearly defined edges and overlaps into hair-free skin, you can simply stretch the skin taut and peel back a corner to start your pull. The secret here is to make sure your edges are clean and even all the way around, which makes for trouble-free removal. If the strip doesn’t lift easily, try one of the following alternative methods. 2. Stick and lift Press the waxy tip of your spatula into the edge of the strip and lift briskly. The wax on the spatula will stick to the wax on the body, just enough to raise a tab for removal. 3. Press and pull Press the shiny, hair-free side of a recently removed piece of wax into a corner of wax still on the body, a...

Trusted tricks for more comfortable waxing Let’s be honest: until someone invents the Ultimate Wax Bar, where every pull of the strip is accompanied by an intravenous shot of gin and chocolate, it’s unlikely that waxing is going to feature on many peoples list of ‘fun things to do’. The unfortunate fact is that pulling hair out by the root is always likely to have an element of some discomfort about it. But it doesn’t need to be dreaded - and neither should it be an exercise in endurance! Let me state from the off that I have never been a fan of numbing creams or recommending painkillers to clients. Aside from the possibility that here in the UK you could land yourself in hot water with your insurance provider, in my humble opinion they are an unnecessary faff and expense. Instead, there are a number of simple and cost effective steps that can be taken to introduce a little less ‘ouch’ and a li...

Oil is one of the most versatile tools in a modern waxer’s bag of tricks. Many waxing brands now include a pre or post-wax oil in their line-up, but there is more to this wonder product than first meets the eye. Here are some ideas for getting the most out of our slippery chum… Before waxing Probably the most well-known technique in this bunch, it’s easy to forget that the use of pre-wax oil is a relatively recent phenomenon. When faced with especially dehydrated, sun-damaged or fragile skin, apply a light sheen of oil to the body before slapping on the sticky stuff. This creates a lipid barrier that gives extra oompf when it comes to protecting dry and delicate skins. Oil can be used under all strip, non-strip and roller waxes, regardless of brand. Protect sensitive skin by adding more oil if you need to go back over an area with your wax to catch any stragglers.  On gloves Apply a few drops to your gloved hands before you start waxing. It’ll help avoi...

When finishing a waxing service in areas like the lower back, upper arms, buttocks and speedo line, it can be tricky to create a natural looking transition between freshly waxed skin and the remaining body hair. Blending is a great way to soften an obvious line between hair and hairlessness, and clients appreciate the attention to detail.  You can use wax or electric clippers, or a combination of both. With strip wax Use a freshly removed paper or cloth strip that’s got wax on it. Press the waxy side lightly into the area you want to blend and remove against the direction of growth as normal. This will lift some but not all of the hair, thinning the strands out for a softer line. Repeat a few times with varying pressure until you get the desired effect. With clippers Start with a grade 3 (9mm) and trim about an inch worth of hair at the edge of the area you want to blend. Reduce the grade as you get closer to the waxed bits, resulting in a gradual s...

It's exciting to hear that Violet and Mulberry have started to land in your treatment rooms. I hope you all enjoy hanging out with them (and I hope they behave themselves)! I will add some video tutorials to my Facebook page over the coming weeks, but for those keen to get up and running here are a few tips for getting the most out of your Mulberry   peelable wax. Skip to the end for the short version!! First things first The single most important thing to know about Mulberry is that he doesn’t hang about. He sets extremely fast and for this reason he’s best mates with confident waxers who work quickly. This is a blessing for anyone who wants to cut down their treatment times, but do bear it in mind. Know where you want to go before you get him out of the pot, as too much stick twizzling will mean he starts to dry midair before even hitting the skin. Heating Mulberry is happy whether heated gently (use a timer to switch your pot on 90 minutes before you...

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...

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 eve...

Skin lifting is usually pretty easy to spot in the treatment room: a red mark or shiny pink patch of tender skin is a sign that the uppermost layers of the epidermis have been removed by the wax, resulting in a superficial graze. Sometimes, however, lifting only becomes apparent once the client has left our care and we get a panicked phone call or email the next day. Minor grazes of this nature will generally heal very quickly – they’ll stay pink for a day or two and then either ‘dry peel’ (like sunburn) or form a scab, with no lasting signs of injury. The process can be helped along by advising customers to apply an antiseptic cream at home and avoid UV exposure of the affected area until fully healed. Lifting is more common in sensitive areas of the body or on patches of thin or loose skin, for example under the eyebrows, the upper lip, underarms, scrotum and labia. But the truth is it can happen anywhere, at any time, with both strip ...

Today's topic of conversation: pre-wax intimate wipes. Oh the glamour. I provide wipes for all of my intimate waxing clients to use prior to their treatment. It doesn’t matter if they have come straight   from the shower or spent all day climbing mountains - if it’s a hot sunny day, they’ve rushed to get to the appointment or are   feeling a little nervous, everyone gets a bit sweaty in these situations and the opportunity to freshen up before their wax is   appreciated by clients. Perhaps more to the point, it’s also appreciated by me, as I'm the person about to spend the next 20 minutes within sniffing distance of their bits and bobs. 😷 I prefer the individually packaged towelettes such as the ones pictured above from Outback Organics, but packs of hand wipes or unscented baby wipes will   also do the trick (if they’re good enough for a baby’s bottom, they’re good enough for your clients’, right?). Just bear in mind their final destination and steer ...

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I was reminded of the above advice from waxing legend Lori Nestore last week, and it's the perfect inspiration for when you're feeling overwhelmed with the task ahead. It happens to all of us at least once. Usually in the early days of our hair removal career, fresh faced and starry eyed, it seems the universe decides to test our mettle: "so you think you're a waxer, huh? Well then, wax THIS!" The client unbuttons his shirt or you whip off the modesty towel and it's like the first days of disco all over again. You literally can't see skin for hair. Your mouth goes dry, beads of sweat start running down your forehead and the room seems to spin. You don't know whether to wax it or plait it, and running away to join the circus suddenly seems like a much more attractive career option... Well, my little waxlings, next time you find yourself wondering whether a woolly mammoth snuck into your treat...

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...