BellaSugar

How-To: Banish Those Pesky Post-Waxing Eyebrow Bumps

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, Yum came to me with a dilemma. She had her brows waxed over the weekend, and much to her dismay, was left with reddish bumps as a result. She had done nothing different than usual, taken any medications out of the ordinary, or even gone to a new waxing lady, but still ended up with itchy, irritated skin. To find out my tips on helping Yum get her brows back to normal, just keep reading

Expectant Mamas Can Get Waxed, Too

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:00:59 -0700

If I were carrying a baby Bella inside me, I'd like to think that I'd have some pressing issues on my mind: Lamaze classes, proper nutrition, getting the nursery ready, that sort of thing. Pubic grooming doesn't make the list. (It's not like I'd be able to see anything below my bump, anyway.) But if you want to test your pain threshold before the birth, you could always go in for a bikini wax. Completely Bare spas have introduced a prenatal wax for pregnant women.

Developed with the help of a physician and esthetician, the service aims to make hair removal more comfortable for the bun-in-the-oven set. Since pregnant women frequently have sensitive skin and reduced maneuverability, the treatment incorporates special pillows, different positions, and a nipple cream to soothe freshly waxed skin. For women who love to be bare, it's a smart idea. But I have a feeling that if I were incubating Bella Jr., I'd probably rather splurge on a nice foot massage than deforestation.

Source: Flickr User daquellamanera

Another Way to Stop Body Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:00:01 -0700

As close readers know, my waxer keeps raising prices, and I've been looking for a new place for deforestation. A new waxing salon called Stript recently opened, and although its prices are too high for me, I'm intrigued by a service it provides. Along with regular waxing services, Stript offers Epilar, an add-on service that promises to permanently reduce hair regrowth.

Here's how it works: After your hair is waxed/tweezed/threaded away, an esthetician applies the Epilar gel on skin. (Unlike, say, laser hair removal methods, it works on all skin colors.) The enzymes in the soy-based gel break down hair follicles painlessly. This process needs to be repeated in five- to six-week intervals, but there should be less hair growth by the fourth treatment. The entire cycle takes one or two years, and depending on the body part, it can cost $25 to $175 a pop. I haven't tried Epilar, and it obviously doesn't fit in with my "spend less on waxing" plan, but it's intriguing to say the least.

Photo by wwworks

Wax On, Wax Off: The Best of Hair-Removal Posts

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

After last month's attempt at a DIY bikini wax resulted in spectacular disaster - we're still discovering particles of sticky wax on the bathroom floor - I have decided to splurge on a professional deforestation this month. Very exciting stuff, folks. If you're thinking of ripping out some of your hair, look no further. Behold, six wax-themed posts to help you grin and bare it.

Photo by Annabananabobaloo

Would You Get Your Nose Waxed?

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:00:24 -0700

I've had noses on the mind lately. First, I wanted to know what you think about nose piercings, and now, I want to know what you think about nose waxing. Say what? A few years back, my friend, who was a spa educator for a product line, volunteered me to be the guinea pig in one of her training courses, which involved a presentation of the procedure.

While it was a little strange to have someone shove a warm wax ball up my nose, pinch, and pull, it wasn't too bad. Surprisingly, I was pleased with the results, especially since she only removed the hairs closest to the surface, as opposed to the ones that, you know, are important for keeping bacteria and dirt away. How about you? Would you take the plunge into nose hair waxing, or is this service just snot for you? Ugh.

Getty

Reader Review of the Day: Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:05:35 -0700

Hair removal is the bane of many of our existences, but it doesn't have to be. A few months ago I dished on my experience with Bliss Poetic Cosmetic Waxing Kit ($45), and now it's Bluegirl81's turn. Here's what she had to say about this DIY home waxing product below:

This wax is amazing. I used to break out on my face when waxing at home or the spa, but this wax does not make me break out. It is virtually pain free compared to other waxes. I have been removing hair on my face for over 10 years and this is by far the best. I will never use another at home wax. Highly recommended.

Share your thoughts with us now on anything from hairbrushes to toothpaste on our Product Reviews website. Thanks!

Facial Waxing Can Be Scarring - Literally

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:22 -0700

There's a lot to snicker about in this local-news report on the dangers of waxing. The sound effects and video treatments are ubercheesy, and the alarmist nature of the reporting is a bit much. But still, it's worth watching, if only to be reminded of the potential hazards of sketchy waxing places.

A woman named Shannon Boruch went to a strip-mall salon to have her eyebrows waxed; the next day, she woke up to find her face swollen. Turns out, she had an abscess over her left eye. Doctors drained it, but the infection spread. Eventually, doctors were able to treat the infection, but Boruch retains a small scar from the incident. (To be fair, a doctor says that the bacteria could have come from anywhere, and the infection may or may not have been a result of the waxing.)

So what should you look for if you're going to get waxed? Here are three of my tips:

Make sure the esthetician is licensed. Should be a no-brainer, but don't let someone near your skin if she isn't properly trained and licensed.
Don't double dip the stick. Each Popsicle stick should be dipped into the wax only once, then disposed of. Otherwise, your germs mix in with everyone else's in a bacteria-laden pool of hot wax. Not good.
Do judge a book by its cover. If a salon looks skeevy or doesn't smell right, keep on walking.

Any other suggestions on assessing a salon or spa's safety levels?

Source

Three Simple Things to Remember Before Eyebrow Waxing

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:59:30 -0700

Since I've been trying to stretch the time between waxes with tweezing, my postrecession scheduling earned me a "long time!" exclamation at the salon door. Call me extra aware but chatting with my esthetician revealed these three easy things to do before waxing . . . that can be equally easy to forget:

Lightly exfoliate. Some skin is sensitive to this process and you may see tiny pimples postwaxing. Before you go in, lightly exfoliate the brow area. This can help clear impacted follicles and remove dead skin cells for a clean slate.

Bare before beautiful brows. If you know you're going in for facial waxing, avoid wearing foundation or any liquid products that can interfere with the working wax. (I stopped in after brunch and my makeup needed to be removed – oops!)

Powdered down. You may notice your esthetician powdering your brows as she starts. The reason? It absorbs any excess oil or moisture. The drier the skin, the better the wax will adhere to it. So show up with clean, dry skin or lightly powder it yourself and save that step.

Source

How to Have (Nearly) Pain-Free Bikini Waxing

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:00:40 -0800

At the risk of taking the bullet train to TMI City, I loathe bikini waxing. It is the Sisyphean task of my beauty regimen: I wax, the hair returns, I wax again. On and on it goes.

For a while, I got a $35 wax from a really sweet lady... until I noticed that she was double-dipping the waxing stick. Since I'm a clean freak, I've decided to wax less often but go to a better place. Ergo, I de-fuzz with the bikini wax at Bliss spas, where double-dipping is strictly verboten. Plus, it's shockingly not painful to be waxed here. Bliss has its own special wax that is the closest thing to pain-free ladyparts grooming that I've experienced. It doesn't stick to the skin, but it grabs even the smallest hairs. So one quick rip, and that's all you need. During my weekend bikini wax, at one point I literally didn't feel the wax pulling my hairs out. Score!

If you don't live near a Bliss spa, or you'd like to save a few bucks, check out the waxing kit ($45). It contains the same wax and tools that the pros use, and I've had success using it at home. (Not for Brazilians, though; there are some things that are too tricky for me.) Along with the Completely Bare kit, it's the best at-home option for a minimally painful wax.

What to Expect From a Brazilian Bikini Wax

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:48 -0700

After looking at these cute retro swimsuits, you might be inspired to hit the beach. If you're going to do that, you may want to trim your lady forest - or, like some women, you may want to lose your hair completely. As I've said before, there's no right or wrong way to groom your nether regions but if you're curious about Brazilian waxing, it can't hurt to try it. Well, actually, it can and will hurt - but that's why I've created this guide to your first time.

First of all, let's get our definition straight. A Brazilian wax removes all of the hair from front to back, usually (but not always) leaving a thin "landing strip" of hair a few inches below the belly button. Expect it to cost anywhere from $40 to $80. To find out how much pain to expect, read more.

Read these tips for a painless wax before you head to the spa, and at the very least, take Ibuprofen an hour before your appointment. At the spa, you'll be shown to the waxing room to change out of your pants or skirt (including underpants). For a more modest bikini wax, you'll sometimes get a paper thong; for a Brazilian, you'll more likely be naked from the waist down. If you're like me, you'll feel ridiculous standing around half-naked.

Your waxer will ask you to lie down on your back. That's a good time to ask any questions so that you're both clear on what you want to have removed. After that, she'll probably dust your hair and skin with baby powder, which keeps the wax from sticking to your skin. Most waxers will ask you to assist by holding your skin taut or moving your legs a certain way; some will even ask you to kneel down and stick your bottom out so she can remove all of the hairs there. After the waxing is done, the esthetician will probably tweeze any stray hairs.

As for the pain, I won't lie: It's intense, but it's also fairly brief. It usually hurts more to have the hair on your pubis removed than the hair near your vagina, so be prepared for that. Your hairlessness should last for up to four weeks, at which point you can go back in for another round of waxing.

Source