Keep caffeine out of your system about two hours prior to waxing. Caffeine is a stimulant thus making you more sensitive.

Avoid waxing the week before and of your menstrual cycle. You are LEAST sensitive the first two weeks AFTER.

If you use a numbing cream, like Lidocain, make sure you apply it one hour before you wax for it to be effective at taking a slight edge off.

For easier hair removal and prevention of ingrown hairs, black and whiteheads, exfoliate the area to be waxed with 2% Salicylic Acid 48 hours BEFORE you wax (except the labia for a Brazilian wax), AFTER you wax, and for twice a week in the interim. It is best to use a well-cleaned loofah or a washcloth in gentle circular movements going against the direction of hair growth.

Hair should be at least 1⁄4 of an inch long (2-3 weeks of hair growth) before waxing. Do NOT trim before you come in – it may be too short. If needed, I will do it for you.

For facial waxing, if you are using any topical medications or products that contain Vitamin A (Retin-A), AHAs or BHA, please avoid using the product for seven days prior to waxing or the wax will remove the uppermost layer of skin causing a ‘brush burn’ effect. And there is NO waxing for those on Accutane.

Avoid exercising and sun exposure for 24 hours after waxing.

For facial waxing, avoid cosmetics application for several hours or until the redness has subsided.

It is best not to schedule a waxing the day before or the day of a big event. It is best to give your hair follicles time to adjust. I suggest waxing two times (two cycles) to let your skin get accustomed…

How long before your hair grows back? It depends on you! Regrowth can be from 10 days to 3 weeks. Once you start waxing, we can establish a pattern for your own individual needs.

For any bikini waxing, no heavy petting 24 hours after! Friction causes irritation and inflammation – and that isn’t sexy.

For first timers:
It’s never as horrible as you think it’s going to be! The mind has a way of exaggerating fear…
Your first waxing is not always the perfect waxing. There are three stages of hair growth, and it will take that many waxing visits to get all the hair on the same cycle, thus coming out all together. Exfoliation helps this, too, for a much smoother wax.
Also, it’s most painful the first time, because that hair has never been pulled from the root before. It has had years and years to build up proteins and thickness. So subsequent waxings are MUCH easier. Breathe!

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Sheon Ladson, who decides which lucky N & O readers who apply will come in for total makeovers, asked Julie to help Grace Danuck get out of her style rut.  First, Julie shaped Grace’s brows to add definition and polish, then she added fresh spring makeup colors to brighten her face. She also styled Grace’s hair to give it more modern sassiness. Fresh face, hair and then of course—new clothes!—and this makeover model felt like a new woman.

Read more about this Spring makeover in Sheon’s News & Observer article.

Clothes styling by Sheon Ladson and photos by Juli Leonard.

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Pretty things

Welcome to February, and to an array of colors and aromatherapeuticness.  First, I want to announce we have a new light fixture in the shampoo room that has rainbow shades on it. It’s the little things.  Moving on.

Second, the other day Megan put some temporary shiny honey blond halo highlights around my face and oh my goodness, I’m glad more people weren’t around to see me preening and prancing around after.  See because they look all glittery up close, but when brushed through very natural, because they have been professionally applied, so you get this very cool thing, and you will be in front of the mirror staring at yourself for a long time, just touching your hair, going “Ohhh, who’s a pretty lady?”. Megan’s special for this month is $25 for these temporary (they shampoo out) halo highlights, any combo of colors (light blond, honey blond or auburn). Email her at megan@beautyethics.com because you know you want them.

And to add to the fun, Molly is doing another pre-booking special where if you sign up for a relaxation facial, you will get a free bottle of custom-mixed-for-your-olfactory-needs essential oils. Essential oils are awesome.  Not on your face, of course–bc they are never to be applied directly on on skin (yes, some places do this but they need to stop, it’s so so wrong!), but when their scent fills a comfie room, while you’re all relaxed and stretched out getting a facial with Paula’s Choice products and pressure point (no rubbing) massage, essential oils are simply transporting.  Click HERE to book online.  She is also still doing the $10 off any bikini waxing special too, because she’s just a very nice person.

Finally, my special is 20% off all body products (the lotions, and body butter)! What, you thought I only cared about your facial skin looking glowy?  Come on now.

My senses are saying this is going to be a smooth, rainbowy, delicious smelling month at BE.

xoxo,
Julie

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Read more about the fashion show in the News & Observer article by Samantha Thompson Hatem.

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“It’s tempting to crawl into bed without taking off your makeup or washing your face, but don’t do it, says Julie Hafer. The owner of Beauty Ethics…” Read article here.

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