The Male Waxing & Shaving Blog

Author Archive

I read a rather interesting story recently about an award winning salon that specialises in treatments for pregnant women and new mums. Cupcake, a Professional Beauty Awards winner in 2010, is a London based spa and wellness centre. Their website explains how it came about – “… as our girlfriends made the journey from fun-loving singles to motherhood. They needed a place where they could reconnect with themselves and other like-minded women while experiencing the joys of being a new mum.”

And they have built up a great reputation and loyal following, but why am I talking about a spa for pregnant and new mums on a blog dedicated to male waxing and other forms of hair removal for guys? Well it turns out that the mums wanted it for their husbands and boyfriends.

“We introduced back waxing because one mum came to our monthly focus group and pleaded with us to introduce it so her husband could have it. I asked the therapists if they could do it and they could so that was easy,” says Karen Hastings, owner and founder of Cupcake.

And so, after a change meeting with Gentlemen’s Tonic owner, Olivier Bonnefoy, the two companies are now getting together to offer a range of male treatments with Gentlemen’s Tonic training the Cupcake therapists in their range of signature treatments.

Whenever possible I now always use Shaving Brush when shaving, I find it gives a much better shave and is so much more convenient to use and much cleaner. Once you have lathered the face with shave creme you can set the brush aside then shave. If you need to add a little extra or want to do a second shave for a really close shave then you can just pick the brush up and reapply without the need to lather up. And the bristles really help to lift the beard to give a great shave experience.

Here is my quick guide to using a Shaving Brush:

1. Rinse or wash your face to begin with, using water as hot as you can comfortably bare – or shave right out of the shower
2. Dip your brush into the hot water – just a second or two is fine, gently shake off any excess
3. Add a pump or squirt of your chosen Shave Creme into a small plastic bowl
4. Then with brisk circular motions build up a lather in the bowl
5. Now using circular motions apply the foam all over the face, scoop the foam out of the bowl using the brush and apply

If needed you can add a little extra water (usually just a few drops does the trick) to build a fresh lather for any touching up work. I usually use a plastic bowl to mix the foam up as its easier and cleaner then getting foam all over your hands – and it is super quick to rinse out.

Once you have finished shaving you must wash the brush out thoroughly with hot water to remove all shave cream and then place it in its stand with the bristles facing down so that the water can drain away. Don’t boil or put your brush in the dishwasher, treat it with love it will be your shave friend for a long time.

At the moment only 33% of salons offer Male Waxing, so why not build up your male client base before your competitor does? If you are already qualified in waxing you may not feel confident in waxing a man, they are generally a lot hairier then women and what is the best way of doing it?

Well now you can come along and spend a day with Mathew O’Marah, owner and therapist at Waxing for Guys, and learn from his years experience in waxing the male of the species. The training is very hands on, you will spend as much time as possible during the day waxing a male model while discussing tips and tricks to make it as positive experience for your clients as possible. The course covers A&P recap, trimming hair for those clients who don’t want to go all the way, and waxing. It includes using the latest types of hot non-strip wax for areas such as the Speedo line.

The training is also accredited by the Beauty Guild so you will qualify for CPD points, and will be fully insurable. For more information about our training please get in touch.

In July the Beauty Guild published the results of its annual Beauty Industry Survey, and it makes for very interesting reading. The survey was first undertaken in 1995, and has been run every year since to monitor the state of the industry. While the survey doesn’t include every business in the industry it does cover a lot, approximately 34,500 businesses which is a 3.8% increase on the previous year, and over 71,000 therapists working in those businesses.

One of the most interesting facts for me was the type of business people are running:

• 33% Home Based
• 31% Mobile
• 22% High Street Salon
• 7% Hairdressing and Beauty Salon
• 7% Other

Nearly two thirds of our industry doesn’t have a high-street presence, so while there is demand for the full salon experience this shows that a lot of clients like the privacy of a home based private practice or treatment within their own home.

The three most popular treatments continue to be waxing, facials and massage closely followed by manicures. Waxing also remains the most commonly available treatment with up to 70% of Salons offering some form waxing service, while 66% offer facials and 81% offering manicures. Waxing is still highly sort after, but only just over half that have waxing (36%) also provide Brazilian / intimate waxing services.

Within the survey male waxing and male intimate waxing are two separate treatment categories, and this really shows how the demand for this is growing the figures below show the 2010 availability with the 2009 ones in brackets:

• Male Waxing: 33% (36%)
• Male Intimate Waxing: 6% (7%)

The number of salons offering this as a percentage has decreased over the past year, but this may because their are more beauty businesses so the market share as dropped but the number of businesses offering these services may well have increased.

But this does go to show, that even with the press coverage on male grooming etc waxing services for men still remains a very niche market, particularly intimate male waxing. So if you own a beauty business should you be offering male waxing? Absolutely – there are many men who want to get rid of their hairy backs, and many clients who are actively looking for a salon to treat them. And to treat them with respect and offer and professional high standard of service. Male intimate waxing is a very specialised treatment, and those salons offering it are building up a very loyal customer base.

So yes, Male Waxing is definitely worth it and with price a increase of 8% from 2009 to 2010, and 11% for intimate waxing it is a very lucrative service to offer in the salon.

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any more metal into a razor it turns out you can! In American ShaveMate have just launched their Titan 6 … the first razor to include 6 blades!

With each new razor comes more blades. With each one the claims of a smoother, closer shave with less irritation make it better then anything we’ve had before. Surely more is better? Personally I don’t think so, the closest, smoothest and best shaves I’ve had and seen have all be done with a single straight-edge razor. Just to check I picked up the razor earlier to count the blades: One.

There is going to become a time when ShaveMate, Gillette, Schick / Wilkinson Sword won’t be able to fit anymore blades into a disposable head. What will they do then? They’ve spent millions on telling us with each additional blade comes a better shave … can they really turn around and say “oops, sorry guys turns out we were wrong … this new razor with less blades is even better!”

There are some interesting quotes from Mark Sproston of Shave Doctor in this post in the Seattle Times and this one in the Washington Post. Mark has surveyed approximately 14,000 men on their shaving habits so has learnt a thing or two along the way.

In the article he says that multi blade razors peaked at three, and I agree – personally I only use a three blade disposable for everyday shaving. The only difference I notice about those with more blades … they cost more.

I was recently asked for some advice with regards Chest waxing by someone who regularly shaves their chest and finds they have a lot of acne outbreaks. They actually live in Chicago so not really a potential client – so if you are looking for some advice on getting waxing done near you this may be of interest.

The chest can be one of the most painful areas to be waxed … more so then the infamous back, sack & crack in a lot of cases, though many think it won’t be as bad as nose hair.

To get it done well, with the least discomfort and for the best result you should get all waxing done by a professional! Too many of my own clients have tried home waxing and tell tales of horror. Stories of two hours of agony for a back wax is not uncommon. For reference it takes me less them half an hour to do a back and shoulders.

One of the big influences in client comfort when it comes to male waxing is hair length. If the hairs are too long the wax won’t grip properly, it will just tug at the hairs and then break them rather then remove them. For a first time wax check that the therapist trims the hair down first if it needs it – I always trim to a grade 2 clipper length (6mm) before waxing. And recommend clients return when their hair reaches that length.

When looking for a waxing Salon, ask them which wax they use. There are so many on the market with big differences in price and quality, the better the wax the better the experience. I now use Perron Rigot waxes exclusively (often called Ceripil in the USA) which I believe are the best waxes you can get. Another excellent brand I recommend is Berins (see the UK and USA sites). The cheaper waxes sometimes aren’t as effective as removing the hairs, and often do have the new styles of hot / non-strip wax that make a real difference to waxing sensitive / tough hair areas.

For a first time waxing don’t be surprised if you get acne afterwards, this is quite common on a chest wax. With repeat waxing it will get less and after two or three most don’t get it. But it is better than shaving – no stubble or itching.

Post waxing highly recommend a good Tea Tree based skin wash and lotion to keep the area clean and free of bacteria etc which can cause acne.

Finally, you can see my full aftercare advice on my website here: www.waxingforguys.co.uk/aftercare

Perron Rigot, manufacturer of all the waxes I use for my treatments have recently launched a new product. This new non-strip wax is part of their hypo-allergenic range, and is also great for working in warm treatment rooms as it sets super quick.

A creamy non-strip wax that delivers outstanding results on all skin and hair types. The natural colophony (rosin) found in most other waxes has been replaced with a synthetic resin, offering exceptional tolerance for even the most reactive of skins. Non-fragranced and colorant-free, this new wax melts at a low temperature for increased client comfort on all parts of the face and body. Cirépil Pure’s fast-setting formula makes it an ideal choice for hot and humid summer weather, and where speed is of the essence.

Features & Benefits

1. Rosin-free, hypoallergenic formula.
2. Non-fragranced and colorant-free.
3. Melts at a low temperature for increased client comfort.
4. Fast-setting – ideal for hot and humid summer weather.
5. Easy to use – applied in economical single layers, in the direction of hair growth.
6. Contains elastomers – wax stays flexible as it dries and will not break during removal.
7. Ideal for fragile and reactive skins, and for sensitive areas such as the face, underarms and bikini line.

Recommended Use

1. Cleanse the area to be waxed with Blue Lotion or Eau de Cristal Lotion.
2. Apply a few drops of Jasmine, Pearlescent or Natural Moistursing Oil.
3. Apply wax in fine, single layers in the direction of hair growth and allow to dry.
4. Once fully set (30-60 seconds), lift a corner of wax and remove in the opposite direction to application.
5. Follow with Blue Lotion or Eau de Cristal to cleanse and cool.
6. Finish with a gentle massage using Refreshing Gel or Moisturising Milk to calm and nourish the skin.

For more information about Perron Rigot waxes, see their website or request a product catalogue from Thalgo on 020 7512 0872.

I’d like to introduce you one of my favourite and most popular products … Australian Bodycare Hand & Body Lotion. I introduced this fantastic range of products this year as the perfect aftercare product range.

I now use the range every day in all my waxing treatments, and the Hand & Body lotion is the perfect after wax lotion. It is a a gentle non-greasy water based lotion that is suitable for all skin types. Used every day it works as a great fast and effective hygienic skincare lotion to help maintain soft supple skin. It has a fantastic cooling effect on the skin which makes it very popular when used in treatments. The antibacterial effect of the tea tree helps to prevent acne, keep pores clear and aids the prevention of ingrown hairs.

Tea Tree Oil is a natural essential oil steam extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree grown in Australia. It is well known for its natural antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Hand & Body Lotion contains 5% tea tree oil which gives it a light fresh & clean aroma.

Australian Bodycare only use Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil) which out of the 110 different varieties of Tea Tree Oil has been proven to contain the most beneficial natural properties for healthy skin and hair.

That’s right! You will soon be able to learn the art of Male Waxing with me! Details of the courses are being finalised, but I’m really excited about them and you’ll see the dates and more information announced here in good time.

Wax on!