Gorilla Warfare!

Axiom

GORILLA WARFARE - MALE WAXING UNCOVERED!

Okay… so ripping hair out of fellas isn’t strictly related to nails, but waxing is one of the most common grooming services for men that fellow Geeks email me about, so I thought the following hints and tips might help those of you venturing into this territory for the first time!

With more men up and down the country finally realising that the werewolf look is not a good one, male waxing is gaining in popularity as a salon service. The back, shoulders, chest and eyebrows are the most common areas chosen for deforestation, although some clients – especially athletes, swimmers and bodybuilders – will also have their legs, underarms and groin areas waxed.

If you never worked on male clients at college, the prospect of slathering hot wax over a hairy back or chest might fill you with trepidation. Or it might fill you with utter glee (you know who you are!). Either way, a little inside knowledge goes a long way in making the whole experience less painful for both you and your client.

So grab your trusty spatula, whack up the temperature on that wax pot, and join me on a magical mystery tour through the unchartered seas of Manscaping!

GENERAL TIPS

If you are new to this waxing malarkey, a good place to start is Katelisa’s excellent tutorial: clicky here!

Your basic waxing technique will stay the same regardless of your client’s gender or body part, but there are some extra considerations you should bear in mind for male clients…

When pricing your male waxing services, consider a flexible tariff that allows you to pitch your price according to how hairy the client is and how long the treatment takes you. I recommend quoting the maximum rather than a minimum price on your service menu – this prevents any nasty surprises for the customer when it comes to totting up the bill.
If this is your client’s first wax, take time to explain the procedure and answer any questions he may have. Remember that most new male clients will have no point of reference and are likely to be feeling nervous (especially if their girlfriend or mates have got in there first with the teasing and tales of terror).
Trim long hair with clippers or scissors before you start – you’ll be able to see the direction of growth much easier and his hair won’t get matted in the wax.
Tell him what you’re doing, every step of the way. You know when and why you need to cleanse the skin, powder up and apply after-wax lotion, but most first time waxees won’t know any of this, so don’t leave him guessing what that stinky gloop you’ve just slapped all over his red bits is for.
The hair growth patterns mentioned below are generalisations – some chaps have circular “whorls” of hair or growth patterns that defy all logic. Stay vigilant and you can’t go wrong.
Finally, a plea on behalf of the brotherhood… Please be nice to us! Men make a song and dance about pain at the best of times, so it doesn’t help if our first waxing experience is performed by a demented dominatrix determined to exact her revenge on the male species. Despite our tough exterior, we’re actually big softies at heart and a little tea and sympathy goes a long way in keeping us coming back.

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