Wounds from waxing, please help

[swan]

:sad: Hi everyone, I am new to this site and would like some advice.

I have had the odd experience where I have taken a bit of skin off an eyebrow shape or a brazilian. I make sure that the wax is not hot by testing it on my inner arm and I also use a dip a spatula in wax first and then take what wax I need (for eyebrows ). and I always stretch the skin.

Last week it happened again, and I am horrified, again.
Please can someone advise me. I love my job, but when this happens I feel so incompetent and upset that I wonder if it's worth carrying on with beauty.
My collegue has also experienced this and has had a terrible experience, though worse for client, but where client is suing over a bikini wax that left her with skin taken off, (client had to seek medical help abroad on hols.)

It seems that every beautician I know has experienced this except for my boss, who has been waxing for 24 years, ( I use her tip about dipping spatula in wax first, and using what I need off it)

So there must be an answer, I am so desperate to find one as I can't stand this anymore, knowing it may happen again. I have used hard wax but it doesn't work as well removing fine hair. I have also learnt to thread but I can't get speed up, it will take me a long time, plus I work in a very busy salon.
If I have a client that has a wedding I only tweeze the hairs as I worry that it may go wrong.

Please help, I would appreciate it so much,
many thanks, Swan

 

[ukfaye]

Hi hun, try not to stress about it, it does happen to lots of people, and it will just make you a better therapist, as you will try your hardest every time, my advice is, you are really stretch the skin, and apply a really light bit of oil to the area and to apply the wax as thinly as possible.
I am sure other geeks will give you some other ideas i havn't thought of.
Chin up hun.:hug:

 

[Lynne Baker]

I rarely wax eyebrows because the skin is so fragile in that area, and if I do I most certainly use one of the modern non strip waxes. It's much kinder to the skin and I've not experienced it not removing the finer hairs. Au contraire - I've found strip wax not that efficient with very short/fine hair. As for bikini waxes I always use non strip wax and have never caused any injury as a result. I have a client who had tried bikini waxing and always bruised really badly, and even grazed on one occasion. I quizzed her on what sort of wax it was and sure enough, it was strip wax. I persuaded her to try non strip, et voila! No bruising, no grazing, no pain.
Perhaps you can ask your employer for non strip wax training, and make sure you recommend one of the modern generation non strip waxes like Berins or Perron Rigot.
There are a couple of people on here who are world renowned wax trainers: Kim Lawless, and Andy Rouillard (username Axiom). Drop them a private message and they will be sure to help you.
Decent wax and decent training, and you'll be fine!

 

[Teebster]

Whatever wax you have to use in your salon, as I should imagine that is your employers choice not yours, I would aslo sugguest using a very small amount of oil on the skin first to act as a lipid barrier to protect the skin as previously said. It makes a lot of difference. x

 

[Ruth Mills]

I'd second the use of Berins or Perron Rigot. As a waxing client who has also modelled for training courses, I can vouch that both brands give a more comfortable, less traumatic wax than other brands I have been waxed with (although some of that may be due to the excellent technique of both Andy Rouillard [Perron Rigot] and Lori Nestore [Berins] who were waxing me with those products)...
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[cabinkel]

I feel for you hun as I know how awful it makes you feel:hug: Recently, I bruised someone on a bikini wax, the first time in my life! I was mortified. She was 8 1/2 months pregnant, and I told her she would prob be more sensitive, and advised against a bikini wax. She insisited on going ahead, (she is a therapist herself). It was the second strip I pulled, instant bruise. I refused to do the other side! It made me feel sick all day, and after 8 yrs of waxing, I feel like I dont ever want to do a bikini again!
All I can advise you, is to maybe go and have some training with Kim or Andy if poss. This is def what I want to do, just for a confidence boost! Or even see if your boss could let you "sit in" with her when doing brazillians etc to watch technique? Good luck hun, and I know how you feel:hug: xx

 

[shedunlop]

Hi there, I have 15 years waxing experience as a therapist and have used all of the waxes mentioned here already. I think part of your problem may be your technique in removing the wax. I would, as has already been suggested, put the tiniest amount of oil on the skin before applying the wax but make sure that you pull parallel to the skin, whilst stretching it. I see so many things on TV etc where therapists pull upwards and away from the client instead of along and parallel to the skin, pulling upwards will bruise and possibly tear the skin just as easily as not supporting the skin.

Where I lived in Bristol there was a salon who kept small bags of frozen peas in their freezer, why would they have a freezer? for the frozen peas of course. They kept these because they bruised and tore the skin so often and they had also managed to convince many of their clients that this was normal!

You will be fine, we all use different waxes and swear by them, none of them should remove skin so it is down to technique and you can fix this.

I am sure Kim will be along soon to give you some advice as well.

Chin up sweetie! xxx

 

[Kim Lawless]

If I were you, switch to non strip wax (hot wax) as a good brand such as Perron Rigot, only sticks to the hair and not the skin. You apply a tiny amount of oil underneath the wax.

If you only have strip wax on your salon, still apply the oil underneath and make sure that your wax isn't oo hot or too cold. Hot will burn and cold will tug at the skin and bruise. Also, remove the wax in small pieces and not in one go. xxx

 

[swan]

I'd like to thank everyone for their advice, I'm going to talk to my boss about top quality hard wax and if she doesn't buy it in, I'll get it myself and in the meantime I'll do as suggested, using a light oil, make sure wax not too hot or cold, spread thinly and take off in small bits, I stretch skin correctly pulling parallel, but will check my technique.

My boss will let me use hard wax, but I was at a previous salon that would'nt let me use my own hive hard wax, the reason was that clients didn't like it, they said, but prior to that salon I was at a salon that swore by it. I use mine on sensitive areas, bikini or brazilians or loose mature skin, but didn't have success with eyebrows, as in getting all the hairs, but I will purchase Peron Rigot or Berins, even though more expensive, I don't care about that if it works I would pay even more then £13 or £14 pounds just for that piece of mind.

Just in writing this reply I have decided to order Perons asap anyway,
which type of Perins would be better?

thanks again everyone, and have a great day, I feel so much better!

xxxx

 

[Lynne Baker]

I use Perron Rigot's Euroblonde. It's v good on coarse, stubborn hair, and very gentle on the client.

 

[Kim Lawless]

Perron Rigot, Euroblonde will become your best mate for ALL sensitive areas and your clients will love you forever. xxx

 

[Katykitten]

I'm a Perron Rigot Euroblonde fanatic aswell

I'm also in Cardiff, so if you want to pop along to my salon to have a go with it beforehand, just give me a shout xx

 

[philip]

I second Perron Rigot Euroblonde, best ive found, you cant go wrong with it, regds Phil

 

[gillian w]

Wounds is a very strong word one i would hope never to associate with waxing

I wax eyebrows with my clean and easy small roller using a honey strip wax with muslin strips and can be very precise,ive never ever burnt or grazed anyones eyebrows.I always finish with tweezers taking out the odd hair to get things just right
I personally think strip wax is more precise in the eyebrow area it may be sensitive but its generally not strong hair so use your strip wax thinly support the skin properly and its fine.