There are many reasons people have their hair removed:

• Some religions require men to be smooth under their arms and around their intimate areas.
• Many athletes prefer to be smooth not just to be more aerodynamic but also to aid healing after injury to the skin.
• Some feel it to be more hygienic as pubic hair can absorb sweat (and over time, body odour)
• Lastly, some men/their partners prefer to be smooth because it makes their penis look bigger, what is sometimes referred to as “the optical inch”.

With each of the above, there are of course alternative methods of hair removal. But many feel that hair removal creams not only risk dermal irritation, but also have a “prickly” regrowth within 24 hours. Similarly, while shaving can seem attractive because it is comparatively cheap, few men are fully confident in shaving their genitals due to the risk of cutting themselves. Additionally, most people can’t reach their own backs.

Waxing is one of the oldest methods of removing unwanted body hair. Typically, we use two types of wax nowadays:

1. Strip Wax – hot wax is applied in the direction of hair growth, then a cloth or paper strip is placed over the wax, then the strip is pulled off (fast) in the opposition direction
2. Non-Strip Wax – slightly cooler wax is applied in the direction of hair growth; this then sets and can be peeled off (fast) without the need for a strip

There are pros and cons to both waxes, but typically non-strip wax has a lower melting point and grips better to coarse hair. This makes it the industry standard type of wax to apply to intimate areas and sensitive areas such as the face and the underarm areas.

Regardless of what wax is used where, the processed is largely the same:

• A pre-treatment consultation going over the key bits of information given at the booking stage
• I will leave the room while you remove the necessary clothing
  • If you are having an intimate wax I will leave you with a sanitising wipe and show you where you may dispose of it and where you can wash your hands
• the skin is sterilised and prepared
• the waxing procedure is performed
• after-wax products are applied to sooth, cleanse, and moisturise the skin
• Post treatment guidance is given

All wax can permanently damage clothes. While every effort will be made to protect your clothing, please be mindful of what you wear when attending an appointment. For this reason, also, even when only getting a back wax, some clients ask if they may remove their trousers and underwear also.

I am proud to be a stockist for Ashmira Botanica. This brand is very close to my heart and Tracey Smith has developed a sustainable, vegan, UK-made, high-end range of products and honestly, it turns a wax service into a piece of aromatherapy heaven for me! Please feel free to check out the range in more detail at www.ashmirabotanica.com.

Ashmira boasts clients such as Harrods, Champneys, and Bannatyne’s to name a few and I think it’s only fair to bring a little bit of luxury to Derby!

Please note, I also incorporate products from the Just Wax Expert range from Salon System which is a popular brand created in collaboration with the brilliant Andy Rouillard who founded the Axiom Wax Academy.

There are some conditions that mean a person shouldn’t get waxed at all without a medical referral and some conditions where we would simply avoid waxing a certain area.

Please reach out to me prior to booking your treatment if you are affected by any of the following as I will probably need a medical procedure

• You are diabetic (please visit Waxing and Diabetes for more information)
• You take anticoagulant medications (“blood thinners”)
• You have Von Willebrand disease
• You have Haemophilia
• You have Oedema
• You are undergoing Cancer Treatment
• You have undergone significant medical treatment or surgery within the last 6 months
• Any skin conditions you feel you have even if you have never had a formal diagnosis

Please be aware that if you are affected by any of the following, we won’t be able to wax those areas:

• Bruises, cuts, blisters, insect bites or grazes
• Varicose veins or other capillary damage
• Non-infections skin disorders (such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis)
• Recent Piercings or tattoos
• Recent scar tissue (less than 6 months old)
• Infected ingrown hairs
• Raised moles or skin tags
• Recently shaved hair (if you have shaved or used hair removal creams within the last 3 weeks) it will most likely mean the hair is still much too short to be caught in the wax
• Vitamin A skincare products (things that contain retinoids such as tretinoin, retinal, retinyls)
  • Usually, it is sufficient if you stop using these products 3 days before a waxing treatment. However, waxing must not be undertaken on an area being treated with prescription retinoids for 3 months after the product was last used.

The following will not prevent anyone from receiving a waxing service, but it is still important to disclose to me in order that I’m best placed to facilitate a great experience for you. It may simply be the case that I allow more time for the treatment.

• If you have Joint or mobility problems, broken bones, sprains and other injuries.
• If you have Epilepsy. The is no such thing as “one size fits all” with epilepsy but if you are prone to seizures, it would be useful for me to know what form these take in order that I can be prepared to know what to do in the event you experience one during the treatment. It stands to reason if you’re aware of any triggers for seizures to make me aware, too.
• If you have an increased (or decreased) sensitivity to heat due to nerve damage, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia
• If you are easily bruise or have sensitive or highly reactive skin
• If you are pregnant

Having received the very best training from Axiom Waxing Academy I take a great deal in pride in preparing my environment to be scrupulously clean for my clients. Spatulas are used for 1 x wax applications then discarded, there is no “double-dipping”. As you can imagine then, a waxing studio burns through consumables at a rate of knots. Sadly, all this is for nothing unless the client meets me half way and takes the aftercare advice seriously.

During the active grown phase known as “Anagen”, the hair shaft is connected to your blood supply. When this is removed, either by plucking or waxing, you are essentially creating a mini wound that unless treated carefully is prone to infection.

To that end, I would advise that in the first 24-48 hours you religiously still to the 3 Cs and keep the areas:

Cool

Calm

Clean

No saunas (where you need to take a bath or shower please use only cool or lukewarm water)

No tanning (either the real thing or via sunbeds or spray-on tans)

No sport, swimming, gym or other vigorous exercise

No scratching or scrubbing the treated area. It can be hard not to want to touch the silky smooth skin of your waxed body, particularly if you are new to waxing, but believe me, it’s super important to hold off for the first few days.

No sexual activity (if an intimate wax)

No deodorants, body sprays, make-up powders or lotions on the waxed area unless advised by me (no deodorants can be a bit antisocial so if getting an underarm wax think about where best this can fall in the week until your skin recovers and you can start using them again).

Do wear clean, loose-fitting clothes

Do use fresh bed linen

Do use clean towels after bathing

Do apply an antiseptic cream regularly for the next few days to soothe and protect the skin (but always wash your hands thoroughly using antibacterial soap beforehand)

Do apply sunblock on exposed areas of waxed skin before heading outside

Please note: once you’re through the initial “danger zone” it’s time to move on to prevention of ingrown hairs. I would advise you to gently exfoliate the skin up to 3 times a week using a body mitt, brush, or exfoliating scrub. Moisturise the areas every day to keep the skin supple and help new hairs grown through normally.

Please note: the first few times you get waxed, you might notice a small amount of regrowth after a week or so. It can take several treatments for your hair to get on a cycle that gives the best results and keeps you smoother for longer. Hair needs to be at least ½ cm long for me to wax, so please don’t shave, tweeze, or use hair removal creams between appointments. To maintain your smooth appearance, I recommend regular waxing every 4-6 weeks.

Please be advised I do not perform any waxing procedure on under 18s. Much like retailers of alcohol I operate a “think 25” policy and will require some form of ID on your first appointment if you look under 25.

I will make every effort to ensure your boundaries and dignity are respected at all times. It’s understandable that people will be nervous before their first treatment, especially if it’s their first intimate wax etc. However, as this is my home, I do not permit more than one client to be in the premises at a time.

A question everyone asks: “what happens if I get aroused during the treatment?”. Honestly, it happens from time to time as it is often a biological response to external factors, and it is nothing to worry over or feel embarrassed about.

If this happens, I will typically work around it or start working on another area in the meantime.

However, please note: inappropriate comments/behaviour will not be tolerated and I reserve the right to terminate the service. A terminated serviced will be charged for in full as oftentimes other clients will have been turned down to reserve your slot. I will be soley focused on your wellbeing but trust and respect work both ways.

In due course I am hoping to introduce a loyalty scheme for my regular customers. However, as I’m currently offering a substantial 50% off until my waxing studio is complete in Spring 2025 – it is not possible for me to further discount treatments at this time.