Advice to give clients before their first Brazilian or Hollywood wax

Q: What advice should I give clients before their first Brazilian or Hollywood wax?

The terms Brazilian and Hollywood are often used interchangeably by clients but there are subtle differences between the two that they need to be aware of.

A Brazilian wax leaves a small strip of hair on the front, with all hair in-between and through to the backside removed. A Hollywood wax involves complete removal of all genital hair, resulting in an entirely bald zone. For therapists, this is the easier wax to perform.

Some clients believe they need to prepare for an intimate wax by trimming the hairs, but they don’t. Giving the area a little hair cut prior to a Brazilian doesn’t minimise pain or aid you in performing the treatment.

With more hair, you can comb and detangle to ensure better grip of the wax, which aids in removing hair from the root. This keeps clients smoother for longer and reduces ingrown hairs, so make customers aware of this on point of booking.

Another common waxing misconception is that women can’t wax during their period. Menstrual cycles are a part of life and waxing services needn’t be put on hold due to a once-a-month event.

However, women generally experience more sensitivity during this time and it can be experienced all over the body. Advise clients to avoid booking treatments on the first day of their cycle, scheduling them towards the end instead.

Holly Hayes is international training coordinator for waxing brand Caronlab Australia. She teaches therapists the skills and confidence needed to perform professional waxing treatments.