The Male Waxing & Shaving Blog

Archive for the ‘Information’ Category

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 was recently lucky enough to experience an amazing treatment at the Mandarin Oriental Spa in Barcelona. They use the fantastic product range from british company Espa, one of the best range of professional skincare products available in my opinion.

At the end of my treatment I was discussing some suitable products for my skin with my therapist and she gave me a small brochure outlining the full product range. One of the products was the Skin Balancer: 24 Hour Balancing Complex which has the description below:

A light and non-greasy cream/gel moisturiser which helps to calm and purify oily, congested or combination skin. White thyme, sage and lemon actively work to soothe, cool and correct the effects of skin imbalance leaving your skin feeling clean, smooth and hydrated. Even skin prone to oiliness can become dehydrated, so it is important to use a balancing complex in order to regulate oil production and keep the skin healthy and supple.

Having had this used in my treatment the description really did sound wonderful, and I considered buying it … but at €53 I decided against it. I was looking through the brochure, and in the general (ie for women) section there was another product that looked interesting, a 24 Hour Balancing Complex:

A light moisturising blend of natural skin balancers and antioxidants which calm irritation and rebalance congested skin. Lavendar oil helps to regenerate and repair skin cells, whilst sage oil stimulates blood circulation and tones the skin. Essential oils of chamomile and Vitamin C-rich lemon soothe, purify, nourish and reduce stress. The perfect treatment for purifying oily, combination or slightly dehydrated skin.

Both of these products are a 24 Hour Balancing Complex, but they have just been described very differently to appeal to the different markets. The first would immediately appeal to guys, those with razor burn / irritation would be interested. They may not think so much about toning or reducing skin stress, whereas for women more detail about the individual ingredient benefits. It is a really good example of how to describe products and treatments to appeal to guys.

Another example of this comes from The Shave Doctor products, unlike most shave ranges this doesn’t include a Moisturiser product. Instead it has a product named as a “Moisturazor” as a lot of guys may not like the idea of moisturising but using a product as part of their shaving routine wouldn’t be a problem.

You can now follow Waxing for Guys on Twitter! You’ll automatically get to see when a new item is posted here to the Blog, and we will also post news, stories, and maybe even some giveaways! So if your on Twitter please feel free to follow us. And you can of course become a Fan of Waxing for Guys on Facebook too!

This is a new blog that I hope will be updated regularly with news, features, advice for both consumers and those in the industy all about hair removal. It will be concentrating on waxing and shaving … since those are the areas that I specialise in.

As the blog grows I also hope to invite some guest authors to make contributions – if you would like to make a post please get in touch!