The question has sparked a debate, regluations not to be ignored, truly do you glove up prior to waxing or not.

Our safety regulations do not require us to wear gloves- I however consider that I am a relatively smart individual that has my own and my clients health in the forefront so when waxing intimate areas or underarms I generally don gloves.

Typically when waxing a lip or brow, I do not draw blood and am comfortable enough with my techniques that I feel safe as do my clients. Waxing clients are usually well informed and have their service done by professionals who have trained in safely performing this service. With the reports in the news of skin infections and what clients should be looking for in terms of salon cleanliness, I am confident about my methods, however if a client requested I don gloves for their protection I most certainly would.

Intimate area waxing is an entirely different scenario. The hair is rooted much more deeply, they are coarser, stronger and in a highly sensitive, well vasculated area. The changes for drawing blood are much much higher. I am more comfortable with gloves in an intimate area, clients also seem to be more comfortable with gloves for intimate areas. The service with gloves seems more clinical and loses the personal space invasion feeling that can accompany being waxed in an area that few people are ever invited to see, let alone touch. Gloves are an essential barrier that reduces embarresment for some clients, prevents possible infection from bacteria left on our hands even if we have washed and used a hand sanitizer, and serve as protection from bloodborne pathogens.

All in all, areas that are exposed and do not require undressing, chances are, I'm not wearing gloves....I'm most likely not going to end up with a blood spill either. If they have to undress, then I dress up...in gloves that is!

I couldn't have said it better myself.

It's funny how some people turn a blind eye if say a nail tech draws blood when doing cuticle work or catching the skin with their nippers or file.........or when you see therapists squeeze blackheads and spots..........all without gloves.

Also, there are some people who say they wear gloves, but don't. Probably the same ones who say that their wax pots are spotless when in fact they're filthy.

These comments are not directed towards any particular geeks........I'm referring to what I've seen in some salons over the years. xxxxx

I would use gloves for intimate waxing. I use them for black head/spot squeezing as then you can really go for it!! LOVE IT!

i use gloves for all waxing except legs even tho i dont draw blood on hardley any clients brows,lip or under arms its just become second nature to me.

And oh my god i would never touch anyones spots without gloves (maybe my hubbys)

Also on that note i have been to a therapist who did me an underarm wax made me bleed as it was my first time dint have on gloves and even at the sight of blood dint put any on.

I seem to remember replying to a thread like this before and upset the geek who started it
Didn't mean to, she misunderstood me, but I'll give the same answer every time.
As a customer if I go for a treatment that involves working on my skin, be that a tattoo or waxing or anything else I want to see gloves, it just strikes me as being more hygienic.
Its not even a case of drawing blood, we all know how things get under the finger nails and in the process of removing hair I don't see how you can avoid removing skin cells, so if I see a pair of glove being put on I know the only skin cells around are my own, sorry if I'm a bit OTT on this but I want to see gloves and a tunic and disposable everything

i dont think that its OTT at all as a customer i think its your right to make sure the procedure what ever it may be is done safe and hygienic especially for more intimate things

No offence, it's your preference that your therapist wear gloves, works for me- if you show up in my school (new students are needing wax models next week) when the student does your consultation and after care they are supposed to ask if you would prefer they wear gloves. The training video we have shows both ways, so they know that it can be done(I won't garuntee they remember too, but most clients who prefer gloves usually mention it at some point)

I'd rather have a happy comfortable client with all expectations met than one who left unsatisfied. (you can be OTT, I am about cleaning the area around the waxing station and any implements used)

LOL I find that very reassuring

I hope it never comes to the stage where i have to wear gloves...I don't.I feel like i lose the control i like, and to be honest with those people i know very well, (they dont bleed ) i put my hand down on them after removal to take the sting away.

I would wear gloves if i were to do intimate waxing and i mean real intimate waxing ,because of secretions and also as a modesty barrier.

As far as im concerned unless you see blood you or your client are at no more risk than if you were performing a massage and you cant do that in gloves.

I rarely have blood .If i do its on underarms and i dont touch area, simple as that.
Blood spotting from waxing tends to be just that, spotting and you can wipe area and its gone.

My hygiene is... before every client i wash my hands with a hot anti bacterial soap
Wipe client with pre wax

rub my hands in front of them with a gel alcohol wash before and after treatment and then after i hot wash my hands again.

All my pots and surface areas are wiped over with surgical spirit and everyone gets clean towels, spatulas,rollers and couch roll.

To be honest unless we are bleeding all over eachother what are we supposed to get.
Its surely common sense that if you have a cut cover it the same as anyone has to in food prep.

I agree with everything you have said

Again spot on

My opinion is as always:

Follow any laws or H&S etc if applicable
Use common sense
Take into consideration your clients needs and wants
Do not take any unnecessary risks!

xxxx

I only wear gloves if I have any open wounds on my hands. Other than that, I do not wear gloves for any waxing service. My clients watch me wash my hands before and after their service. As a body piercer, I have a very extensive understanding of how blood and all the diseases that go along with it work, and so I work within my comfort level, and provincial laws. That said, every client is different, and if I needed to, I have no problem putting on a pair of gloves.

I like to wear glove for almost all my waxing. I don't for Face waxing. But I'm pretty sure I don't want my hands on someone's "Naked Bits"! Plus if I get wax on my hands it super easy to just rip off a glove and put on a clean one. Than I don't waste time trying to get wax off with oil then having to get all the oil off... It just takes too long.
So gloves most of the time for me!