Liquid Courage

Dear P. Willow,

I’m a little nervous about my first Brazilian. I know that it’s going to be great, but I think I might need some liquid courage before I come in. I’m new to Atlanta and was wondering where would be a good place to grab a drink before my appointment?

Yours Truly,

Don’t Judge Me

Darling, we here at WAX never judge. It’s in poor taste and we are nothing if not tasteful. I’m assuming you want to take in the glorious Spring weather here in Atlanta (pollen not withstanding) so I suggest you have a drink on one our many outdoor patios. I tend to veer towards to sunny ones (nothing beats a good lounge in the sun) so I have the following suggestions for you:

Fritti - Our neighbor and our dear friend. Go here when you want late afternoon sun and some good people watching. It’s located right down the road  from WAX at the corner of Highland & Elizabeth and the position is great for taking in all of Inman Park. Ask for a glass of Bellavista – (the best Prosecco you will ever drink), but be patient because they have to go next door to Sotto Sotto and get it…as it’s not on the menu…shhhh

Barcelona Wine Bar - My Sunday afternoon hangout. Yes, the food is decent, but the 1/2 price bottles of wine on Sunday are the reason I go. Take your Sunday NY Times, meet a few few friends and let the day linger on. Once the sun goes down the outdoor fireplace and heaters are there to take the chill off and and if you ask nicely, Sean, the manager will be more than happy to bring you a blanket to cuddle up in.

Victory Sandwich Bar - Our neighbor to the right, they have a newly built patio upon which you can perch and see the ongoing parade of skinny jeans and wire rimmed glasses this place attracts. Make sure to try my favorite sandwich the Victory at Sea (white anchovies, frisee lettuce and lemon mayo) and skip the chips. Save your calories for the Jack and Coke slushy. Too sweet for my tastes, but popular none the less.

P’cheen – What to say about P’cheen? It’s part bistro, part pub and part lounge. But my favorite part is the craft Moonshine. There’s always at least 10 flavors and right now I’m digging the jalapeño – just the right amount of kick you’ll need to march down to your WAX appointment with confidence.

Cheers!

 

Tan On, Wax Off

Dear P. Willow,

It’s finally spring and I am planning a trip to the beach in a couple of weeks.  Let’s just say, I have been in full hibernation this winter!  My skin is so pale, and I haven’t waxed in weeks…

Before I leave for my trip, I really need to schedule a full body wax and a spray tan at RAW! Should I get waxed before, or after I get my spray tan?

Sincerely,

Beach Bum

 

Dear Beach Bum,

First of all, I am so jealous of this beach trip!  Think about me when you’re catching those waves and indulging in endless crab legs…

At WAX, we are faced with this question ALL the time!  Thanks to our wonderful neighbors at RAW organic bronzing studio, clients can finally get a spray tan that looks natural and free of harsh chemicals.  We always suggest waiting at least 24 hours after getting waxed to be spray tanned.  This is to avoid irritating the skin that has recently been waxed.  Waxing after getting spray tanned will result in lifting the color, and nobody wants a splotchy tan (whether it’s real, or not…)!

xoxo,

 

Got a hot date? Better plan ahead…

Dear WAX,

I have never gotten a brazilian wax before, but I really want to try it out!  My boyfriend is coming into town tonight, and I would really like to surprise him.  This may be a little TMI, but how long after I get waxed should I wait to have sex?

-Ready to Get Busy :)

Dear Ready to Get Busy ,

Believe it or not, this is a very common question.  We’re so glad you asked!  We always recommend waiting 24 hours before doing any sort of physical activity that may cause friction in the area that has just been waxed.  This includes working out, as well as sex (sorry!).  When you get waxed, you are removing the hair (including the root), so your pores are left wide open and sensitive to bacteria.  Any excess perspiration or friction in the area can result in bacteria getting into the pores and causing irritation.

We want to make sure you have the best waxing experience possible, and that includes your experience POST waxing as well.  We hope this helps!  For best results, be sure to schedule your bikini wax at least 24 hours in advance of your hot date…. ;)

xoxo,

WAX

Misty gets RevitaBrow(ed)


For those of you who know our fabulous lead esthetician, Misty, then you may have noticed her beautifully sculpted brows.  However, even Misty will be the first to tell you:  It’s all smoke and mirrors.

For some of us, having thicker, fuller brows can feel like a lost cause.  Whether it’s due to years of over tweezing, or just plain ol’ genetics…having perfectly sculpted brows can be a struggle.   For Misty, all it takes is a little help from a quality brow powder and an angled brush, and voila!

However, for that little extra fullness, Misty decided to take on a RevitaBrow challenge.  We documented her progress over 5 weeks of using this hair growth serum, and here’s what she found:

Likes:

  • Convenient tube
  • No smell
  • Fuller throughout base of brows
Dislikes:
  • Caused occasional break out in applied area
  • A different applicator would be more effective

“I like the conveniently small tube!  It’s great for travel.  There’s no smell, and the serum dries rather quickly.  I have definitely seen an improvement in the thickness of my brows throughout, however, there hasn’t been much growth on the tails.  Also, something I would change about this product is the applicator.  I feel the serum would apply better with something more like a mascara wand.  That way, it can comb through your brows and coat more effectively.  Overall, I would say I am a fan of this product, but there is definitely room for growth!”

A Not So Hot Date…

Dear WAX,

I recently got my brows waxed at my regular nail salon. They looked great right after but the next morning I woke up with what looked like burns on my face. The wax didn’t feel too hot…I don’t know what happened – now I look ridiculous and I have a date in 3 days!!! Help!!

Smoldering Mad

Ewww….unfortunately we’ve all been there. Trying to get it all done in one place, thinking that everyone knows what they’re doing and that all wax (and waxers!) are the same. Since you mentioned that the wax didn’t feel hot, my instincts tell me that it’s probably some sort of reaction to something you are using on your skin or a medication you are taking. If you are using any type of Retinol’s (Retin A) or Acids (Glycolic’s, Salicylic) or have recently had any Microdermabrasion or chemical peels you want to avoid waxing. If you are taking any type of medication (especially Accutane) that can cause thinning of the skin (typically medications for diabetes) then avoid waxing. You are safe to go back to waxing after a minimum of 2 weeks away from the over the counter stuff, 4 weeks after the prescription and 6-12 months after taking Accutane (yikes!).

Any esthetician worth their weight in wax should have asked about any of this before waxing you. Next time you’re in a rush and aren’t here at WAX, make sure the place you go is asking the right questions so that you can get the best result. In the meantime, put some aloe on the area, use sunscreen to make sure it doesn’t darken and most important of all – don’t pick!!

photo courtesy of spabeautyschools.com

Can Everyone Get Waxed?

Dear WAX,

I’ve been contemplating getting some waxing services, however I am concerned about the effects on African American skin. Are there any side effects I should be worried about?

Nope! That’s the great thing about waxing – it doesn’t discriminate! Actually often times African American clients will get a better wax due to the thicker nature of the hair – the wax can really grab hold. You do however have to watch sun exposure before and after waxing just like everyone else – you can be prone to hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) if you head out too soon. Especially for the brows. But we know you wear sunscreen regularly anyway….

Hard wax really is better.

I recently went on a trip without getting waxed prior to leaving. It’s usually top on my list, but it was a busy week and even I couldn’t get an appointment! I found a place in NY that specializes in waxing and so was excited to see what the competition was up to. The place was nice enough but for some reason as soon as I walked in I felt more like I was in a cattle call. Names & services were being yelled out from the front desk while a constant flurry of nameless estheticians hustled clients through an unmarked door. Read More

To trim or not to trim…

Dear WAX,

It’s been a while since my last wax (I’m embarrassed to say how long!) should I trim before coming in?

Hairy Situation

It’s up to you and what you feel comfortable with. We find that most times when people trim they end up trimming the hair too short and we can’t wax it. If you do choose to do some trimming make sure not to trim too much – 1/4″ is the minimum we need to wax. Waxing is our business and we have all the tools for a “haircut” so if you feel comfortable enough we’ll totally handle it. No need to be embarrassed about how long it’s been- those winter months can sometimes get the best of all of us!

Pre-wax Prep

Hi, WAX,

I was interested in knowing if there is anything that I should do before my appointment to prepare for my Brazilian waxing service?

Thanks!

Ready and Willing

Well, Ready and Willing, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your waxing service. Most important thing to do is exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! This can be done while you’re in the shower with a scrubby glove or a body scrub. Alternatively we offer a product called PFB which is a liquid exfoliant you can apply in between waxes to help with ingrown hairs.

The other thing you can do is relax – we’re experts at what we do and we promise to take great care of you!

Best,

WAX

Where did you get that wallpaper?

We often get asked about our wallpaper in the studio. Finally wallpaper is making a comeback and I for one am super excited! I LOVE wallpaper and think it’s a great way to add a design element to any room. In my former life as a stylist I would use it to line the back of a bookcase or even frame it for a one of a kind piece of art. The possibilities are endless. There’s a ton of modern wallpapers out there these days, but the lines featured in the studio are two of my favorites.

In our waxing rooms we have wallpaper designed by Biba founder and fashionista extrodinaire Barbara Hulanicki. The wallpaper in the bathroom is by Ferm Living.