Guys, we'll try to go easy on you. But like it or not, that
grizzly-bear pelt of yours is an issue that we have to address. The term
"manscaping" can refer to any number of body-hair removal techniques - today,
though, we'll keep things simple and focus on waxing, leaving you with a list
of check-offable tips to help ease you through the process. Relatively
painless, right?
The first rule of getting a guy's guy to do something he
considers even slightly feminine: convince him that other (straight) dudes are
doing it. Priscila Santos, an esthetician at Skin & Body Works (77
Holland Street, Somerville, 617.623.9100), has seen an uptick in male clients
over the past four years, with men making up 20-30 percent of her business
these days. The most popular service? "Definitely the back wax," she explains.
"And I would say eyebrows follow right after that." Kathleen Thomas, the spa's
owner, agrees. "I've been in this business for many years," she recounts, "so I
remember the times when a lot of male clients would come and they'd actually
ask me if I had a back door."
The beauty insiders we spoke with all stressed the importance of
soothing a waxing prospect's fears, as well as getting him in and out of the
treatment room as efficiently as possible. When it comes to hesitant clients,
Karen Golden, owner of Karen Golden Skin Care (308A
Harvard Street, Brookline, 617.738.4700), admits, "I baby them through it."
Golden is known to work quickly, provide pep talks, and, in extreme cases, even
advise against continuing if the discomfort is too much to handle. But "the
thing that makes me feel good," she explains, "is when a client will say to me,
‘That wasn't as bad as I thought,' or, ‘That was easy.' I know I've done my
job."
Every esthetician has a preferred type of wax, but regardless of
the method, it's still gonna hurt - a number of techniques have been developed
to minimize that pain, however. Santos applies a few shakes of baby powder to
the area pre-wax to offer protection, while Golden stresses the importance of
applying pressure immediately after the wax is removed. Once finished, a
disinfectant, a soothing gel, or even an anti-inflammatory agent may be applied
topically. Golden notes that the truly pain-phobic should also remember that
the hair follicle breaks down slightly with each treatment, easing the removal
process from visit to visit. Regardless, a seasoned waxer will have even the
most neurotic guy shrugging on his T-shirt in just 20 to 30 minutes.
Waxing Survival Tips
• If you’re really anxious, schedule an advance consultation with your esthetician. She’ll take you through the process, going over any options you might have day-of, and she’ll ikely even be willing to try out a quick patch test so you’ll know exactly what to expect. Says Amrit Ros, manager of Harvard Square’s Sasha Salon and Spa (23 Arrow Street, Cambridge, 617.497.4144), “I think the more information the client has, the more confident they feel.”
• Ensure that hair in the treatment area is long enough; three or four weeks of growth is typically recommended to prevent unnecessary pain and irritation.
• Pop a couple of Advil 30 minutes or so beforehand. Or, if you’re feeling super-stressed, down a glass of wine to help mellow yourself out.
• Arrive clean and dry. Moisturizers, as well as an overabundance of the skin’s natural oils, can prevent the wax from gripping the skin properly. Advises Golden, “A warm shower prior to coming in actually opens the pores a little bit,” resulting in a less painful treatment.
• Shower immediately upon arriving home. Baby powder can also be applied in the days following to keep the treatment area cool and dry, preventing bacteria growth and subsequent irritation.
• Three or four days post-treatment, begin a light exfoliation regimen to help ward off ingrown hairs or other blemishes that sometimes occur. Invest in a great back brush or a pair of washable exfoliating gloves. And it can’t hurt to have your girlfriend apply a bit of hydrating lotion to skin just after your shower.
• If irritation does occur, treat breakouts with a medicated body wash. Drugstore brands are fine, but look for a product that contains salicylic acid.
