Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to know about my hair removal service? 

It's your responsibility to TELL YOUR ESTHETICIAN IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONTRAINDICATIONS APPLY TO YOU!!

• The use of topical AHA’s and retinoids and most prescribed dermatology medicines, and any antibiotics are NOT compatible with waxing. If possible, please discontinue using these types of products 7-10 days before your service. Ask your doctor about waxing if you have a prescription that will affect your skin with waxing. Some over the counter products, (especially for acne & aging) can also be contraindicated if they are too exfoliating or impair your skin’s natural barrier function.
• Avoid consuming alcohol or stimulants before your service. Stimulants tighten the pores making hair removal more difficult and uncomfortable.
• Hair needs to be at least ¼” long for the wax to grab onto. Please abstain from any type of hair removal for at least two or three weeks before your service.
• Skin is contraindicated if you use a tanning bed, have sunburned skin, recently received certain exfoliation treatments or anything of similar activity impairing skin’s natural barrier function.

What can I expect during a hair removal service?

Typically a waxing service will last an average of 15-45 minutes. This time varies depending on the area to be waxed and the hair type. I hold the client's skin taut and quickly remove the strip. I work in sections until the serviced area is free of hair.

The Cleanup:

When the area is free from all unwanted hair an oil is applied to remove any residual NuFree product from the skin. Lastly an antimicrobial finishing product called Finipil is applied to the area to soothe the skin, protect the area and help prevent ingrown hairs. Finipil is proven to kill 99.999% of germs protecting clients from any possible infection. It also impedes hair growth and helps to give a longer lasting result.

Home Care Post-Wax:

Finipil is an excellent product to use in between waxes and I retail it for that reason. I recommend that clients use it once or twice daily to help keep follicles clear and skin free from bumps. Immediately following a hair removal service it is important to avoid excessive heat or friction to the area. For the rest of the day avoid working out or any physical activity that involves friction of any kind. Avoid taking warm showers or soaking in a tub. It is also best to keep any body products with fragrance in them away from freshly waxed skin.

Common Post-Wax Side Effects:

• Redness and Inflammation of the Waxed Area- It is very common for some degree of redness or inflammation to occur right after a hair removal service. This is especially common for first time clients and usually subsides throughout the day.
• Pain- If you become sensitive after a Brazilian or bikini wax this is normal. Taking a cool shower and applying a cool compress and pure Aloe Vera gel or other recommended treatment products; such as Finipil, to the area will help soothe discomfort. Avoid tight clothing for a day to prevent irritation.
  
• Post-Waxing Bumps and Pimples- A pimple or two and maybe even a breakout can happen even if you’re not prone to acne or have oily skin. Your Esthetician can help with recommendations to assist. 
  Ingrown Hairs- An ingrown after waxing happens when the hair grows back into the skin. Most commonly it occurs in areas where the hair is thicker and/or curly. For most people that have recurring ingrown hairs, it means that they are PRONE to them. It is not up to your Esthetician to solve your ingrown hair challenges, however they can be of great assistance and will make product recommendations, changes at home, or may even provide other services to assist. Involving your Dermatologist is always a good idea as well. 
  
• Red Dots or Even a Very Small Amount of Blood – Red dots and a small amount of blood is normal. This occurs because the hair is being removed from deep down causing the hair shaft to remain open. It happens more where hair is thick like the underarms, bikini area or men’s body hair. This will go away almost immediately. Remember that everyone is different so the time the redness or dots last can vary from person to person.
  
• Anyone who receives a hair removal service anywhere is at risk for these common side effects. You’re especially at risk if you’re new to waxing or don’t receive regular waxes because you have a more dense hair growth in the treatment area. Regular bikini waxing helps to condition your skin as well as the hair follicles, making any side effects much less common. In fact, consistent hair removal damages those follicles and could permanently prevent the hair from growing fun that follicle again, which is a fantastic side effect regarding unwanted hair!
• "Lifting" - there can be many reasons for this. If you are using a skin care product that contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid or alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) of any kind, these can cause the skin to "lift" while waxing. To the untrained eye, it will LOOK like a burn or skin-scrape, or basically an area where too much skin came off. Another cause is previous aggressive exfoliation such a microdermabrasion or chemical peels, or just too much physical abrasion or chemical exfoliation of any kind at home or from a professional service. There should be a healing waiting period following an abrasive or chemically exfoliating service before a waxing service. HOWEVER - Prescription medication is the most likely reason behind most "lifts". Meds such as; accutane, retin-a, retinols, renova, strivectin, proactive and avage, and many others - a list too long and always growing, to list... can cause thinning of the skin which results in lifting during waxing. My recommendation is that if you are unsure about what you are using, just ask. Also don't hesitate to consult your doctor. But it is still difficult to predict how every skin type will react no matter how many precautions are taken.
• Stubble, short or very fine hairs could still be present following your service. This simply means that they were too short, too stubborn or too difficult to be removed. Every effort (usually one or two passes) will be taken to remove them, but they might simply not be able to be removed. This usually happens because the client shaved or trimmed the hair prior to the hair removal service. The Esthetician will be able to identify this because of the hair tip texture, if this is the case. If there is time during your service, your Esthetician may chose to help by using a tweezer to grab the obvious few, but it is up to the client to take note of any of these potentially problematic hairs PRIOR to the service. Sometimes the Esthetician will point them out during the service, but it is up to the client to grow their hair the the length required for effective removal. For body hair, 1/4" length is the minimum. 

Do you do male anatomy brazilians?

At Elevate Esthetics Parlor, I only do female anatomy hair removal as I am not trained with hair removal or skin treatments to the male genitalia/anatomy.