Body

Body Waxing: 11 Behind the Scenes Salon Secrets

From clients who don't freshen up to staph infections, pro waxers share their (often gross) stories.

May 26, 2011 | by Sarah Carrillo | 63 COMMENTS

Ever wonder what's going through your waxer's mind while you're spread eagle on their table? You could ask, but that whole hot-wax-in-your-private-areas thing can be a little preoccupying, you know? That's why we tracked down these waxing salon owners: Jodi Shays of Queen Bee Waxing in Culver City, Calif., Cindy Barshop of Completely Bare Salons in New York City, and Leah Nacion of The Waxing Co. in Honolulu. They gave us the uncensored scoop on everything you'd ever want to know (and then some) about what goes on behind-the-scenes in waxing salons.

SEE NEXT PAGE: What waxers are really thinking when they're looking at your you-know-what:

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Definitely some things here that I've never heard from anyone else. Not sure if that's good or bad...

by schien Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:29AM Report as inappropriate

diy is the only way to wax

by LittleBunny Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 07:07PM Report as inappropriate

Great info to know on this subject

by TBjunkie Monday, May 14, 2012 at 11:11PM Report as inappropriate

There are some things seriously wrong with this article. Its is not sanitary AT ALL to double dip. if the wax is hot enough to kill ALL bacteria.. it would have to be at abou 300 + degrees, which would obviously burn someone. Secondly, I would never do a Brazilian on someone who had their period, even with a clean tampon. It's usually not recommended to do a bikini wax either, but that's easier to work around. And last, just because a wax hurts, does not mean the person doesn't know what they're doing. You're getting hair ripped out of your body, ITS GOING TO HURT. Really terrible and misleading article.

by breereinke Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 10:54AM Report as inappropriate

This is nasty!

by lisiana_de_bem_justino Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:10PM Report as inappropriate

I can only imagine what they have seen and heard.

by beautybody Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 11:22PM Report as inappropriate

People going in to get waxed with poop on themselves... wow. Ew. lol

by eatinglipstick Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 07:45PM Report as inappropriate

I love the "there's always someone worse" quote, that definitely makes me feel better

by sportimonki13 Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 08:31PM Report as inappropriate

Nice, but I'm still hesitant about waxing because it's painful.

by grass Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 10:42PM Report as inappropriate

good article

by Nicole2814 Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 06:01PM Report as inappropriate

really good article

by anna_davis Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:12AM Report as inappropriate

This was very informative.

by andyv1217 Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 06:27PM Report as inappropriate

good to read before getting a wax!

by queenofthegreen Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 09:36AM Report as inappropriate

ooooooooh OUCH!. I am not a fan of Body Waxing and I never will be. One reason first of a all is because that stuff really hurts and sometimes the hot wax could rip off your skin as well. For me, the only thing I do to keep my skin feeling would be to shave. That's my only technique and it will only be my only technique because it's not as painful whenever you scrape your skin with a razor it heals up in a few weeks or days. But, whenever you get body waxed and your sking kind of rips off, it takes probably monthes for the scar to heal up and then When it does heal there will be a mark shown on your body that ou don't like and. And then your gonna wish that you should of never got the waxed body treatment. But I'm just saying for some people, stick to your razors and shave instead of getting your body waxed because body wax will probably lead to scars that will never go away in the future.!

by Iman Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 05:51AM Report as inappropriate

OUCH

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 12:46AM Report as inappropriate

sounds painful!

by LittleBunny Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 01:41PM Report as inappropriate

Some things made me go eewwwww....

by selma Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 12:26AM Report as inappropriate

Hmmmmm. Seeing that I get waxed, i don't think I should have read that article, lol.

by MissPurple Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 01:39PM Report as inappropriate

yeah, right... what are these interviewed waxers going to say? Of COURSE they say they don't judge the customers bodies... like they are going to admit it, hahahaha! Yeah, THAT would be good for business.

by leslieann7569 Friday, June 24, 2011 at 11:41AM Report as inappropriate

Very insight article. I definitely would consider salon waxing now.

by MissXu Monday, June 20, 2011 at 09:47AM Report as inappropriate

Nacion needs to read her books again about double-dipping. The wax could never be hot enough to kill germs. Please stop spreading this myth.

by Lvgypsy Friday, June 10, 2011 at 06:31AM Report as inappropriate

DOUBLE DIPPING IS SO GROSS! i own a hair and esthetic salon, and day 1 set rule, NO DOUBLE DIPPING! There is NO POSSIBLE WAY to get the wax hot enough to kill germs, it would have to BOIL! Wax is about the right temperature to make germs grow and reproduce!

by amanda44 Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 05:44AM Report as inappropriate

I love getting waxed.

by sarahmblessing Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 06:58PM Report as inappropriate

As an esthetician - I also was taught that you DO NOT double dip. How can the person who wrote this article claim that no germs could survive the heat. Ever watched National Geographic and seen the types of organisms that live right next to volcanic vents in the ocean??? SO what makes you think that germs can't survive in the wax? As a client - I would pay close attention to the process of waxing to be sure your esthetician has enough respect to keep you and her waxing area sanitary and hygenic.

by valo_green_eyes Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 11:51AM Report as inappropriate

I'm an esthetician and make-up artist ... and I do a lot of waxing on clients in all kinds of areas ... but I would NEVER double dip ... I don't care if I'm just doing an eyebrow, but can you imagine having the same wax applied to your upper lip that was just used on a previous client that had a brazilian done? Get real. Germs, bacteria, microbes, disease is prevalent, especially in this day and age ... why risk spreading something like that? What if you're dbl dipping and the wax is just below hot... but is at more of a warm temp... bacteria spreads... too risky. If you ever go to a proffesional and during your wax you notice them dbl dipping... please do yourself a favour... RUN and go somewhere sanitary to get your wax done.

by LindsayCole Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:38PM Report as inappropriate

I would love to get a wax. Need to find a reputable waxer in my city.

by becky8602 Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 06:35PM Report as inappropriate

way too much information...

by benbri1 Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 05:34PM Report as inappropriate

haha

by eatinglipstick Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 02:35PM Report as inappropriate

I don't get bikini waxes (just getting my eyebrows is a big OW, not to mention how red I get!!), but that was a fun read

by martha85 Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 12:39PM Report as inappropriate

Shaving for me thank you very much. And if my husband were that concerned about my fur bikini that he would sell one of our children so we could afford it, then perhaps it's time for a new husband!

by BellezzaBeauty Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

I will just shave

by modinosaur Friday, May 27, 2011 at 10:42AM Report as inappropriate

I think I will stick to at home waxing

by porsha_coleman_mcdaniels Friday, May 27, 2011 at 08:31AM Report as inappropriate

I still am afraid to get waxing.

by ebbsandtides Friday, May 27, 2011 at 07:23AM Report as inappropriate

O. M. G. I'm so grossed out right now about the poopy-ness, and the infection, etc... ewww. I want one...but wow... Ok. I'll just have to man-up. Don't be a drama queen...don't be a drama queen....

by msbrown822 Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 07:55PM Report as inappropriate

quite an education, but I still can't figure out the double dipping reference

by alictasia Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 05:39PM Report as inappropriate

Oh. My. Goodness.

by attagirl Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 03:27PM Report as inappropriate

Not me!!!

by Jhanooman Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 11:50AM Report as inappropriate

I'm still working up the guts to get my first brazillian. I tried to wax my biniki line myself once. Bad idea! OWWWWWW!

by ladyboarder9669 Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 09:21AM Report as inappropriate

This is definitely an amusing and informative article! I'm nervous to get waxed anywhere, and Steve Carrell's performance didn't help any.

by LipglossandSpandex Friday, April 15, 2011 at 09:01PM Report as inappropriate

LOL who knew waxing could be kinda funny.

by PorcelainHeart Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 08:30PM Report as inappropriate

I'm an aesthetician (i.e. waxer) and this story is pretty true to life. The top things I think about while waxing is maximizing efficiency & minimizing pain. The only time I think about anything else is when the hair is resistant to waxing, or the client is making the process really difficult by moving or talking too much (and when I get a poopy client, which I think all aestheticians have had at least one). While I would never double dip a wax stick for a bikini or lip wax, wax pots are hot & don't have water - which would be the way for bacteria to thrive. Please show up to your appointment clean, and hold your skin taught if you are asked to - it will minimize your pain and make the service go faster.

by elsab123 Monday, April 11, 2011 at 09:37AM Report as inappropriate

ugh i hate waxing

by AmandaAmanda Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 06:12PM Report as inappropriate

oh, WOW.

by yckitsmary Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 07:29PM Report as inappropriate

Funny read!

by volta Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 11:40PM Report as inappropriate

Some of this is hilarious, some just disgusting. And that's why waxing specialists deserve very good tips.

by js3200 Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:29PM Report as inappropriate

no way

by naughtnone Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 01:30PM Report as inappropriate

Ewww. I've never gotten a professional wax, but I figure I'd have the sense to clean up first.

by LittleBunny Friday, February 11, 2011 at 05:38PM Report as inappropriate

Fascinating. Amazing some people don't clean up first. That is just nasty.

by Agrimony Friday, February 11, 2011 at 03:02AM Report as inappropriate

This article was good until the ending about double dipping. In another article about salons TotalBeauty says that double dipping in the wax can cause infections/break outs & now in this one it says that is not true... kind of confused. Still scared of ripping out my butt hair too LOL

by pynkNymphette Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 02:44PM Report as inappropriate

if getting waxed at a salon is so bad, maybe you should jus do it yourself.

by kenya Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 01:00PM Report as inappropriate

most Estheticians don't talk about clients with other clients, ever. Sadly, there are some people out there who don't understand what a private experience Brazilian waxing is. I work at a waxing studio and 90 percent of the business is waxing the full Brazilian. As a human being, and a woman, I know that the vagina isn't exactly the freshest thing in the world, not matter if you clean up before or not. I have never had a person who was unreasonably dirty or smelly. Also, it takes 250 degree Fahrenheit to kill bacteria so if a waxer is double dipping and it's not scalding you causing a 2nd or 3rd degree burn, the waz isn't hot enough to kill the bacteria. simple as that. Softsell, you don't have to do anything. if you dont want to do Brazilians because you are worried about tampons then you need to quit. no one is making you do anything. find a job somewhere else doing facials or hair

by emmabbbbbzzzzz Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 06:05PM Report as inappropriate

Hi, I liked the article. I'm an esthetican, spa owener and wax educator. I do about 200-250 braziallians a month. There is nothing icky or creepy about it. If you don'tlike doing it, you simply don't know how to. I always suggest they use No-Scream Cream first. Takes about 80% of the pain away.......

by Deardeb Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 04:38PM Report as inappropriate

I like the article, but I disagree with the double dipping comment. If the wax is hot enough to kill the germs, its hot enough to burn the client. State board doesn't allow double dipping during the test.

by bodywaxer Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 07:18PM Report as inappropriate

I think this was very interesting I've never gone in personally I'm terrified but yeah that whole double dipping really surprised me..and personally if a was a client I would think it would be kinda icky to go in during one's period...i think it's already an awkward situation enough to deal with making the waxer a reason to be uncomfortable.

by lupitamz Friday, December 4, 2009 at 04:03PM Report as inappropriate

The story was referring to "double dipping," as in not using a new stick every time you need more wax, not reusing the same stick for everybody. Am I reading wrong? Are there waxers that use a new stick every single time? I've only ever gotten my brows waxed, and they always used one stick. Sorry if I've read it wrong.

by jraehol Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 03:59AM Report as inappropriate

I'm an Esthetician and double dipping is strictly illegal in Minnesota and totally disgusting and I can't believe anyone would say otherwise!! It's unacceptable! I use a fresh stick everytime I wax someone and I don't care if it costs the salon more money, it's sanitary!

by SkinQueen Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 09:12AM Report as inappropriate

Softsell, why are you in the buisness of waxing if you are just going to talk about the women you service?I have been debating waxing because I dont have alot of hair down south and it's horrible to shave due to itchy hair re-growth. Im hoping waxing would put that part off for alittle longer. But Im too embarassed to go bottomless...I have a c-section scar and also have had an organ transplant so I have two nice huge scars. And am afraid of being talked about. It's women who work salons that have the I'm better than you, look better than you (because I get a cheaper rate than you) women who make alot of women feel too embarassed to do salon sevices in the first place.(not speaking to softsell in the last part as I don't know you). I hate walking into the salon many times because you can tell that your pocket book is being measured even as you walk in. They should just have you fill out a card that has your annual income listed and skip the obvious look up and down,checking out your shoes, watch etc... LOL!!! I mean I'm one of those women who likes jeans and t'shirts. But I know if I want decent service not just a quick here's your cut and go...I have to dress up to go to a salon.And if it's not the salon attendants it's the customers. Have you noticed everyone is checking out everyone else.

by Achtlandd Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 08:34PM Report as inappropriate

I almost for got to add that this is why in New Jersey they are trying to ban brazilian waxes! Because Estheticians out there are not trained properly...

by EstNPink Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 08:11PM Report as inappropriate

I don't know who this Esthetician/ waxer or whoever is, but she has it all wrong. It's not "icky" if you double dip. It's down right dirty and asking for a law suit. If the tech is double dipping then you need to find a new place. Even in this slow time and looking for ways to cut cost... I would never put my clients at risk. The pots are not hot enough. If they are then you will have burned them. Hmmm, is that a good idea? No. Most likely Estheticians are useing a warm heat wax because it's a brazilian. I would also like to add that you do not want to wax when you are on your period. There is a chance that the skin may lift. This includes even your eyebrows, arms, legs and whatever else you'd like to wax.

by EstNPink Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 08:06PM Report as inappropriate

In response to softsell: As an Esthetician, it is NOT disgusting to wax a client if they are clean and on their period wearing a tampon and if the choose to wear a pad, are a bit smelly, or sweaty, that is what hygienic wipes are for.. sweating of the vaginal area is extremely normal as it has one of the highest number of sweat glands in the body. Why would you make your client feel uncomfortable?? If they're super hairy.. excuse me but isnt that what your job is, to remove hair?? And if you dont like to do it, why offer it as a service at all? It is very unprofessional to discuss clients, they come to you in confidence, trusting you with such a delicate and private area. Anyway, it is true, wax is not hot enough to kill bacteria so make sure the waxer uses new sticks and wears gloves. Good article! :]

by Nigwee Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 12:06PM Report as inappropriate

this story was real interesting some of the things detailed really surprised me

by tqueens65 Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 11:47AM Report as inappropriate

Also? As someone in the industry it's disgusting if you have your period and are wearing a big pad (or a tampon during a Brazillian). Time your appointments better! It's bad enough to have to wax someone there (trust me, if I didn't have to do it I wouldn't). Trust me, if you do smell/are super hairy/sweaty...you will be discussed.

by softsell Friday, August 28, 2009 at 07:43PM Report as inappropriate

lies! the waxpot is NOT hot enough to kill germs. ALWAYS use a clean stick..it's half a penny if that to assure clean, hygenic waxing

by Pureskingirl Friday, August 21, 2009 at 02:45PM Report as inappropriate

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