Being a gal with incredibly sensitive skin, I have been in pursuit of the ideal solution to a bumpy, razor-rashed bikini line for a very long time. I have always been turned away from waxing, since you have to let your hair grow for at least a couple of weeks, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. Until now—with the turn of the New Year, and my resolution being to “try new things”. So, at 35-years-old, I was going to get my first professional bikini wax! Having to ditch my razor for two weeks was torture, but I toughed it out for the promise of at least two weeks of baby-skin smoothness to follow.
I didn’t want to just go to a little hole-in-the-wall, nail salon/waxing/Botox/facial/massage place—I wanted a premium experience. After reading many reviews, I was convinced to try European Wax Center. With over 300 locations nationwide, I felt pretty comfortable having my first waxing experience there. They’re also pretty confident that clients will make their closest center their first choice for waxing services—they even offer your first wax FREE. I was pretty intrigued by their 4-step waxing system that used hard wax instead of strips, and promised to be virtually pain free. Now, “virtually” is the operative word in that sentence.
On the day of my appointment, I was a nervous, hairy, itchy wreck! I walked into the elegant lobby area, and was warmly greeted by the receptionist. Even though I was early for my appointment, they were ready for me, and brought me right in. The technician introduced herself, and I confided in her that this was my first time having a bikini wax. She had such a calming manner about her, and assured me that she would make me as comfortable as possible. We then walked into a room with a closed door, and the room was perfectly clean and organized, similar to a doctor’s office. She described the process to me, and took great care in explaining each step, also taking the time to ask me about my preferences…how little or much I wanted removed, and so forth.
The process of using hard wax instead of strips is supposed to be less painful, since it hardens and adheres to the hair, not to your skin. As the technician applied the dark purple wax, it was very warm, but not too hot. Even in my very vulnerable and exposed position, she remained very comfortable and chatted with me about kids and the holidays, as the wax hardened. When it was time to pull off the strip, she asked me to inhale deeply, and then exhale as she whisked off the wax. I followed her instructions and as I exhaled, “Whoosh!” went the first strip, and with it—my breath!
WOW! I’m not really sure how to describe exactly what it felt like, though “painless” was not the adjective that came to mind, that’s for sure! I truly wasn’t expecting it not to hurt, but I think I had convinced myself that it wouldn’t be so bad. After all, I’ve given birth to two children, what’s a little wax? The technician was so sweet, professional and kind, which really made a painful first-time experience much easier. But to try to describe the pain—I would just have to say that it feels about what you would expect. Over 200 hairs being ripped out by the roots at the same time, off of a very delicate part of your body, would feel like.
Thankfully, the technician was very quick moving, and very thorough. After each strip of wax was removed (and a lot of deep,
Zen-like breathing on my part), she would sprinkle on a powder that helped to cool off the area, and take a little of the sting out. When she was finished, she described how skin reacts to having been waxed, and that caring for your skin properly is the key to the best results from waxing.
She sent me home with a sample of Slow It Body Wash, to cleanse the waxed area without leaving a residue that could clog pores and cause ingrown hair, and Slow It Body Lotion, to moisturize the skin and help the hair to grow back softer and finer. She explained to me that a hair follicle that has never been waxed before is large and bulbous at the end, which can make it painful. But that every time it’s waxed, the bulb becomes smaller and thinner, resulting in a less painful waxing session.
Though my skin was pretty red, and a little tender when I got home from my appointment, by the next morning—it was smoother than I have ever felt it. A week after my session, I am still perfectly smooth, and haven’t encountered a single red bump or ingrown hair, which is miraculous for my skin! As much as I am admiring my silky smoothness, I don’t know if I am convinced that waxing is the perfect form of hair removal for me personally. But if I do decide to try it out again, I will return to European Wax Center. I would still highly recommend the facility and the technician to a friend. If you’re gonna do it, it’s the place to have it done. I thought they were professional, reasonably priced, thorough, respectful of my privacy, understanding of my anxiety, with the expected final result. And lucky for me—they provide other services besides bikini waxes!
European Wax Center
waxcenter.com
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Twitter: @European_Wax
