Tag Archive for "waxing" - Beauty Schools Directory Blog

The Risky Business of Body Waxing

Posted on: August 13th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 4 Comments

Tiffany Hall is a licensed esthetician and certified massage therapist, as well as a makeup artist with more than 16 years of experience “painting faces,” as she likes to put it. Tiffany is passionate about skin care, waxing, sanitation and supporting local business. She graduated from David Pressley School of Cosmetology in 2004 with a diploma in esthetics, Origin Institute of Massage Therapy in 2005 with her massage diploma, and Dale Carnegie in January 2009 in Human Relations and Communications. Follow her on Twitter @msesthy or become a fan on Facebook.

You’ve finished your cosmetology and esthetics training, passed your cosmetology board exams with flying colors and now you are ready to take on the world. Bright eyed and bushy tailed you have put together an esthetician resume and cover letter that gets results. “You’re hired!” Those words are music to your ears and they have given you the confidence boost that you need in order to live your dreams of being an esthetician, performing waxing, facials, cuts, colors or round brushing. You can’t wait to tell all of those who have loved and supported you throughout your beauty school journey and start your first day.

Taking the Helm: On-the-Job Training
It’s your first day on the job and you are in your treatment room or station at the salon, and Mrs. Smyth walks in unexpected and needs a facial wax. She is headed out of town for business tomorrow. You are the only one available and the receptionist books her with you. Yay – your first official client! Your esthetician career is off to a great start.

You go through your mental check list:

Wax Melted √
Strips √
Applicators √
Gloves √
Client form completely filled out √

In the midst of you servicing your first waxing client, the owner walks over and says, “Take good care of Mrs. Smyth, she’s a regular. Oh, and by the way we use one applicator per client.” You hesitantly comply with her wishes after all she is the owner and you don’t want to make any waves on your first day. The receptionist tells you before handing you your only tip (Mrs. Smyth’s) that the owner would like to speak to you. The walk to the back office is one of the longest walks you’ll ever take. You get there and nervously sit down, and ask, “Is something wrong?” She says “Yes, Mrs. Smyth complained about how long it took you to wax her and that your gloves kept sticking to her face, and I noticed that you used too many supplies for that one service.”

Don’t Rock The Boat, Baby?
You are at the pinnacle of your career, you work in a posh Midwest salon, and the potential for growth is endless. Just one problem – they are unsanitary! I mean DISGUSTING. They break every sanitation in the book. They double-dip during waxing, don’t wear gloves, their wax pots are a health code violation, and you, the germaphobe, are forced to go along with their unsanitary practices. After all, your job is on the line. In your heart you know that double-dipping and not wearing gloves while waxing is risky business, but you need your job. So you grin and bear it.

Making Waves
Sanitation during body waxing is a very touchy subject and has been known to spark the most heated debates among spa and salon professionals. So much so that people are afraid of losing their jobs if they speak out. If sanitation is an important issue to you and you are unwilling to compromise (good for you!), take these steps to find the right

Put it in writing. Use your resume and cover letter along with your application to state your intentions upfront to perform the highest quality, most sanitary waxing services.
Take a stand or take a walk. If you are serious about sanitation and unwilling to take the risks associated with double-dipping and not wearing gloves while waxing, do not compromise your standards.
Be on the lookout. There are countless spas and salons out there that practice safe sanitation when performing waxing services. Keep going until you find the right one.
Ask and you shall receive. During any routine interview the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. This is your chance to ask about their sanitation practices and inform them early on that it is important to you.
Call in reinforcement. You’ve been gainfully employed, and aside from the waxing violations things are perfect. Before you approach management concerning their sanitation fiasco, do your research. Find others that share your point of view on safety and sanitation and broach the subject with management in a respectful manner with solutions in mind.
Put yourself in their shoes. This may be very embarrassing for them. Take their feelings into consideration and assure them that it is in the spa’s best interest to provide the safest services to your clients.

As trained, licensed estheticians, you know the benefits of body waxing are endless. As we are in peak season for waxing and sun, remember what you learned in cosmetology school about safety and sanitation for waxing procedures, and put your clients’ health first. It is a win-win for everyone. Your clients leave safe and happy, your salon has repeat customers coming back for the highest quality services, and you will always know you’ve done the right thing.

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The Bikini Waxing Debate: Sugaring vs. Waxing

Posted on: July 23rd, 2009 by Heather 11 Comments

All of the horror stories in the media lately about the dangers of Brazilian waxing and bikini waxing got me wondering, what alternatives are there for men and women who want to go hairless? For those who are tired of shaving but can’t commit to laser hair removal? There is another alternative that’s been around much longer than waxing (supposedly ancient Egypt) but isn’t as popular in salons and spas – sugaring.

And so it begins. The battle of the century. Which hair removal technique is better: sugaring or waxing?

Application

Sugaring – Sugaring is similar to waxing as it rips hair straight from the root, but there are differences in the application. The sugaring paste or gel is applied lukewarm, under no circumstances should you accidently get burned during this procedure. Using a traditional sugaring technique, the sugaring paste or gel is removed the same direction as hair grows; this is easier on the skin and less painful. Sugaring also only attaches to dead skin cells – it won’t accidently remove your skin.

Waxing – Wax is applied warm, there have been several cases of clients getting burned during this procedure. Wax strips are pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth, which can be hard on the skin and painful. Wax attaches to both dead and live skin cells making the possibility of skin coming off more likely.

Ingredients

Sugaring – Sugaring has natural ingredients that are less harsh on the skin and are less likely to cause allergic reactions. The main ingredients in the sugaring formula are sugar, lemon juice and water; essential oils may be included as well.

Waxing – Waxes have many more ingredients and most are not natural. Waxes are usually made of resins and can include artificial fragrances, dyes, chemicals, and preservatives.

Infection

Sugaring – Bacteria does not breed or survive in sugar; it actually helps prevent infections and promotes healing. Sugaring is also water-soluble, extremely easy to clean up and leaves the skin feeling smooth.

Waxing – Bacteria breeds in wax, can bruise skin, and can cause rashes and bumps. Wax is difficult to clean up; usually heavy oils or chemicals are needed and it often leaves the client’s skin sticky.

Cost

At most salons and spas, sugaring costs a few dollars more than waxing. The main reason for the price increase is that sugaring takes longer than waxing.

Conclusion

From most of the comparisons I’ve read, sugaring seems like the obvious choice. I think most of us would be willing to pay a few dollars more for less pain and risk of infection, as well as a better, more natural result.

So why isn’t it available everywhere like waxing seems to be? I’m curious, is this technique is being taught in the majority of cosmetology schools? Does your salon or spa offer it? What are your experiences with sugaring and waxing?

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