I’m trying to imagine (and not laugh out loud – ha!) right now how many at-home hair removal “oops!” like these occurred last weekend during Valentine’s Day. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m not going to lie when I say that at-home hair removal can be quite easy but let’s make sure we’re not pulling strips off in heart’s like this – ugh!

Love Gone Wrong

Here are some main tips to use when waxing at home, if you are desperate and HAVE to!

- Make sure you have all the necessities such as baby powder, tongue depressors, hard wax, strip wax, pre-cut waxing strips
- Make sure skin is exfoliated so that all hairs are totally accessible to the wax

- Be sure the area is completely dry – shake some baby powder on the area to dry up any anxiety sweat that may be there

- Check that the wax is at a honey-like consistency, if it is too thin it is too hot and vice verse if it is too thick

- Next take the tongue depressors and dip into the wax and glide this in the direction of hair growth

- Then take the strip and apply firmly and tear off quickly in the opposite way of the hair growth – the same goes for the hard wax pull off once it hardens on the area in the same direction

- Lastly, this is optional but may help, you can soothe the area with a towel dipped in milk and toss in the freezer. The cold will help soothe and chill the area from inflammation.

GOOD LUCK!
xoxo Cindy

Hey, here’s a question from one our Facebook fans that pops up a lot, so wanted to blog about it:

Good morning Cindy, I have a couple of questions… Does laser hair removal work on all skin and hair types? I am an African American female tired of getting ingrown hair and it doesn’t mater what type of hair removal I use. Will this system remove the hair permanently? Also I heard that with darker skin you have to be much more careful. Thanks Dawn.

Hi Dawn, thanks for reaching out. Hair removal works on all skin types, except for when the hair is lighter than the skin tone. If you are African American you need to go to a hair removal specialist for darker skin to ensure that they are using a specific machine and parameters. The specialist should depict darker skin as a 5 or 6 on the Fitzpatrick skin scale. Have them do a test patch to make sure you don’t have any contraindications. Before you do this, make sure you’re not tanned, you don’t have any oil or moisture on your skin and you are not taking any light sensitive medications. Also, just so you know, darker skin will need more treatments than the standard 6 treatments for lighter skin. You would need 10-12 depending on the area. As for the problem with ingrown hair, laser hair removal is the only method that solves this problem.

At cb we have specialists that safely and effectively treat all skin types including skin type 5 and 6.

xo cindy

When I opened completely bare, I answered a need that plagued New Yorkers: permanent hair reduction, done in a chic setting by the experts in the industry.  I know, however, all you ladies in blog land might not be able to make it to CB to meet your hair removal needs. That’s why I’m providing some helpful tips and questions to ask when choosing an effective professional hair removal spa near you:

1. Always ask if everyone at the spa have received treatments themselves. This includes the person that has answered the phone. You wouldn’t eat at a restaurant where the waiters haven’t tried the food.
2. Ask how the treatment worked for them. Everyone is different and will respond to treatment differently. This may give you a good indication of how the process varies for each person.
3. How long have they been in business, and how many locations do they have?
4. Do they offer a complimentary test patch? You need to know how the treatment feels before you commit to it.
5. Also ask how many laser services they perform per day. The more they do, they more experienced they are with different skin types. I like to use and example that everyone can relate to: when you get your hair done, each blow dryer is pretty much the same wherever you go. The difference is, one stylist has the talent and experience to give you a better blow out than the next.

Don’t ever feel like you’re asking too many questions. A service as personal as this is all about your comfort level.

There is innocence left in New York. Today, while coordinating at our downtown location, I assisted the sweetest girl getting a completely bare wax for the first time. In fact, she was getting waxed in general for the first time. She was terrified; not only about the pain, but about how she would “look” to her technician. This is a concern I hear a lot. I assure all of you, our technicians do this all day long; they’ve seen it all. They would never judge or make fun of anyone they are performing a service on. As far as the pain goes, I have to say it’s not too bad. I’ve been getting waxed for years, and CB is truly the least painful. We also have the “relax” wax, which involves a numbing cream applied to the area about 15 minutes prior to your appointment. It really takes the edge off. If you’re still concerned, I usually tell clients to take some Advil before you come in.

I also know some of you wax virgins out there are concerned about the actual process of waxing. I’m going to take you through it so there are no surprises. Once you get into the treatment room, you will take everything off from the waist down, and will be given a pair of disposable panties. Your technician will position you to be able to give you the best, most thorough wax. Don’t be shy! The position may seem awkward to you, but I assure you, everyone goes through the same thing. After your service, you technician will leave you to dress, and you will walk out with a smile on your face!
Are there any other question you guys have about waxing?