Men doing a brazilian wax

[JesseDavidNailDesign]

Hi everyone,

I'm just finishing the end of skincare apprenticeship and getting ready to take my exam. I've been training with the girls on bikini and brazilian waxing. Do you think I should be concerned about offering this service? Like in a legal way, with out a female witness.

And would you let a man give a standard bikini wax?

Not expecting this to be a big part of the services I do, but just would like to hear your thoughts?

 

[Zo Zo]

Good question. If you are offering treatments to women, you are good and they like you, there is every chance word will spread and you will become very popular.

I personally would have no problem having a standard bikini wax done by a man. A Brazilian is another matter but if I felt comfortable, then yes, I would.

Now the other matter is a bit more tricky. If your treatment is totally professional with gloves and no unnecessary touching, then I don't see how anyone would have cause for complaint. (Although there is obviously a certain amount of 'necessary' touching.) HOWEVER, there are nutters out there. Maybe you could have a chaperone for each first and second appointment, then if you and the client are both comfortable, away you go.

It is a treatment that can generate extremely good client loyalty, so hopefully you will have happy clients begging for an appointment rather than nutters running to the police saying you did something you shouldn't.

Maybe you could speak to your insurer and your lawyer to come up with a plan to keep yourself safe. One idea is that when carrying out the consultation you could agree with the client that if at any point they are uncomfortable or want to end the treatment, they say so straight away. Or you agree a code word if that's less embarrassing for them. That way, after the event how can someone say something went wrong. The code word can be on the consultation and signed by the client. Hope this doesn't sound too far fetched!

 

[Apex73]

hmmmm,

I suppose I would only be ok with a gay man giving me a bikini/brasillian.

(because obviously I'm so fantabulous that a straight guy would'nt be able to resist me...lmao)

It would just make me feel less shy etc.

:hug:

 

[Thompson1]

Hi guys

Im a male therapist and dont do any bikini waxing at all. I had my first customer make a complaint that I had touched her etc cutting a long story short this went to the police etc as she accused me of more or less raping her!!! even though im gay. After a medical examination and DNA tests etc there was absoultuy NO evidence! and the nutter had had a previous allegagtions about other things similar.

It knocked me and I guess thats why I never do them anymore. If i did in the future I would have someone with me. My current insurance actually states i need to have a shaparone with me if i did do them again, which is not cost effective really as it would be two therapists doing one treatment.

My opinion would be to air on the side of saftey.


Aprex 73 - ALOT of women are the same as you lol, so much so when the girls in my salon used to say your treatment or spray tan is with Me they used to hum or har and be unsure so all you used to hear from the phone is "oh its ok he is gay" lol and people where fine, and like its stated above people asked for me as some ladies would rather stand in front of a gay man than a beautiful slim, blonde haired therapist.

 

[shedunlop]

In an ideal world you could offer whichever treatment you wanted and only the sane would take you up on it. However, we live in a far from ideal world and you may just end up as a nutter magnet! I would just play it safe and not offer these treatments until, maybe you have built up your clientelle and know them and trust them. Then, possibly, a while down the line, when one of your regulars asked you for a bikini wax, you would know that you were safe.

It would be disastrous for you to go through the process of being accused of anything, it would ruin any reputation you had built up or ruin you before you even get going. Not worth the risk, I would say. Let yourself be able to look forward to each days work, not having to be too careful, or, something that hasn't been mentioned so far, having to watch out for the jealous boyfriend, husband etc. Minefield, absolute minefield!! xxx

 

[cro-mari]

It's a shame when something like that happens (thompson)... but, this is not you, it's someone else's issue

Looks like people still have issues with intimate waxing and therapists, being them male or female... I'm the only one in milion people city that does male brazillians... but that needed soooo much text on my web site and soo much talking on the phone and soo much talking when they actually come here...

... I am always very strict about underlining that intimate, or any other waxing is a service, and just that, and that for me that is only hair and skin, and that it's all it should be, hair and skin!

So I think the male therapist should point out - and ask if the feel comfortable about it - I'm a male, I'm a professional, I'm doing that service... my God, and what about male gynecologists? I bet women don't have that kind of issue with them!

With new clients (intimate m/f, or first time males) I always say - I know it's uncomfortable being naked, or almost naked, it's uncomfortable to lie down and have someone touching you places. Especially because he is boy and I'm a girl. While I'm waxing, I'm not a girl, I'm a person who removes your hair. You're not a naked boy who 'presented me with his stuff', you are a person having that service done. I will have to touch you places, intimate places. But I have to, to perform the service. So I'm touching the skin, not 'your bits'. If you are not comfortable with that, then I don't have to do it against your will and comfort...

If they get erection, and apologize, I say - that's perfectly natural, because it's all adrenaline and nervousnes, and people react in different ways. If they say nothing, I don't say anything either. And always am comfortable saying names of the intimate parts... without saying hmrm.. urgh or so.

And never have someone else during the service. Why? Is someone affraid? Of what? If so, they shouldn't go there! If they feel that being a man implies that he cannot control himself if seeing bikini line, or what? I'm looking at male bits all day long and to be honest, I don't give a damn, I'm not imagining things about them! They are clients with hair and skin to take care of.

If I'm comfortable, they will be too. At least, in your countries you have consent forms they can sign and you can wash your hands of any guessing afterwards...

 

[Zo Zo]

Excellent post Cro-mari x

 

[cro-mari]

Thanks I just strongly feel that if someone cannot look at someone's 'bits', or have their 'bits' looked at, then they shouldn't go there...

 

[Zo Zo]

You're dead right.

 

[JesseDavidNailDesign]

Thank you for your replies!

I wish everyone could just see it as hair and skin, as you say. But in my spa, some clients don't even want a man doing a massage.

I do think once I build a reputation and regular clients with other waxing services, maybe those women would be ok. But really, I think I would have to have skill that they can't find anywhere else. I mean if you have the choice (male or female) both equally skilled, you would choose the women I think. I'm just trying to picture the phone call.

"Well Jane, we have a male esthetician who can do your brazilian?"
"Are you sure, he's gay you know?"

Even when I started nails, I soon understood I would have to be better than the female techs to get a chance and respected. Looks like skincare will be no different. Doesn't bother me though. As I am gay, I'm used to fighting.

I'm not sure about emphasizing my sexuality either. What does it have to do with it? It's saying, "Well I'm a man, I can't control myself, lucky for you, I like guys!" And we have a female esthetician who is a lesbian. Should we give clients that info? Slippery slope. But maybe if I can find an advantage in this world to being gay I should use it. Just feels weird to me.

Chaperone wouldn't make sense in a business sense. If there is a female who can stay in the room, she might as well do the waxing

 

[JesseDavidNailDesign]

One idea is that when carrying out the consultation you could agree with the client that if at any point they are uncomfortable or want to end the treatment, they say so straight away. Or you agree a code word if that's less embarrassing for them. That way, after the event how can someone say something went wrong. The code word can be on the consultation and signed by the client. Hope this doesn't sound too far fetched!

This is a good idea. Code word is kind of funny though. :lol: Like an S&M session. "I will whip you until you say the code word".

Seriously, thank you all!

 

[cro-mari]

I see your point... as it's said in the Good book, no one is a prophet in his own willage. Especially if you say that male therapists are still not something that feels normal to all the clients.

But emphasis on someone's sexual orientation is also something that is not of anyone's business! Now it's nobody's business if someone has a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a Clingon alien! Maybe I'll sound harsh, but if someone has a problem with therapist of the oposite sex, how come it makes a whole lot of difference if that person is gay? I mean, that implies that, if they weren't gay, they would abuse you? Uh...

Sorry for this rant... maybe I'm just looking at the world with big naive eyes...

 

[PolishedAussie]

Personally I think that there will always be some people that will be horrified about going to you for waxing, and there will be some that will very comfortable. I think beauty therapy is a funny business. Client trust is a huge thing for all therapists, male or female!! There are lots of people that feel funny about very basic things and others will get there kit off without a second though whether it be a spray tan or bikini wax.
Personally I would go to a male therapist for a bikini wax if I knew he was professional i.e., excellent hygiene standards such as gloves etc, knowledge etc. I can't see it is anything different from a doctor.
I think also some people are uneasy about going to female therapists for intimate waxing because the female therapist is uneasy about doing it. I think that if you are comfortable with it, it will also show.
I think it may not be the first thing they come to you for but over time it will be something that they will add. :hug:

 

[Kim Lawless]

If you're qualified and your clients know that you're male before they arrive for their appointment, I don't see the problem.

It's a funny one as us women wax mens intimate parts with no thought of that, but I see where you're coming from. My friend and fellow waxer has found that on occasions, women would not want a man.

As I say.....just be up front about it and check with your insurers to see how they feel.

Good luck. x

 

[bexi]

This thread has really got me thinking! Its a crazy world we live in and I can't believe that someone would accuse someone of doing something when they hadn't but I guess thats the world we live in!

I think I'd be shocked if I turned up for a wax and it was man and I hadn't been told. But I don't think I'd care if I knew it was a man. I would be more embaressed by a girl of my own age, us women are so b*tchy!

Becki xxx

Ps. Good luck with it all