brazilians

Waxing Girl + BOX Naturals

Drumroll, please............ BOX Naturals have landed in Hartland, Wisconsin! You can find us in the lovely Waxing Girl. Get to know more about this waxing boutique, straight from the founder, herself. We "sat down" (meaning we had an email conversation) with Pamela Reinemann to find out everything you need to know.

Q: How did you come up with the (distinctive and adorable!) concept of Waxing Girl? 

A: Thanks! The look and concept of Waxing Girl was a very easy concept for me. I absolutely love everything vintage and having met my husband, a huge world war II buff,  the concept of using a pin up girl  was easy to put together.  Their look for me is so simple and demure and beautiful and I think represents how beautiful we all want to feel.

Q: So… you wax men. We gotta know - who handles the pain better? We're thinking it's the gender that doesn't have to deal with childbirth. Are we right?

A: Tough question, on both men and women there are spots while waxing that are more sensitive. I can honestly say we are similar.

Q: Now that it's winter, what do you say to women who let waxing fall by the wayside? Any words of motivation to keep on waxing on?

A: Oh yes, In my eyes there is no time to let lady bits go unattended, think of it this way, you wouldn’t want someone to walk into your house when it’s unkept, you never know when company is coming so upkeep is so much easier than the panic of being caught off guard. For all women I think it’s like wearing a pretty pair of underwear, it just makes you feel pretty.

And the simple fact that when you maintain your wax the pain is nearly eliminated and the hair much diminished, because regular waxing slows and weakens the hair growth process making it much easier to pull out. My motivation: no matter whom you are, your shape or size, man or woman, smooth skin is sexy.

Q: What's the difference between soft and hard waxes? We noticed that you offer both.

AI offer a variety of waxes to be able to work with all skin types and hair types: Hard wax I use for smaller areas where the skin might be sensitive, such as face and in some instances inner bikini. Soft wax or strip wax is great for a quicker service and for areas where you need flexibility. I use soft wax on large body parts and for some Brazilian waxing as for me it allows me to move quickly with more detail.  It is important to have a variety of waxes to be able to work with different skin and hair types. I always choose the right wax based on the client’s needs.

Q: What's the number one reason why we shouldn't wax ourselves at home?

A: Gosh, I can think of A LOT but my number one reason? Ripped skin, bruises and the uncertainty that some wax kits carry waxes that may not be appropriate for all areas of your body.

Q: You are clearly an awesome entrepreneur. Tell us a little about yourself!

A: Thanks, I think I am just someone that is willing to try (even if I fail) to make a better life for myself & family. I would consider myself an introvert and as such, I am constantly thinking of things to do and improve about myself and my business.  I have always been creative, so I started as a cosmetologist doing hair, but quickly found that for me it was too much talking, so I moved to esthetics because it allowed me to focus more on one person and one thing, in one room. I honed that into just waxing when I realized I was the girl teaching all the staff how to wax, and clients were requesting me for just waxing.

At heart I am a bit of a free spirit, but I feel like a wear a conservative exterior.

Q: A lot of women are nervous about their first visit to get a wax. What advice do you have for them, and how should they prepare for their visit? 

A: I can completely relate to the feeling of being a first time waxing client. My best advice, visit the place you want to get waxed and a try and meet the esthetician to make sure you two are a personality match and that her skills are impeccable. I know that is harder than it sounds, but for me I think it makes a huge difference. She sees as much of you as your doctor does and If you connect with her you will relax more, be more honest about your needs, and trust her more.  I am a huge supporter of small business or single esthetic studios and I would recommend that if you are on the hunt for a new esthetician seek them out first. Why? Because these women probably have already worked for larger establishment and fine-tuned their skills and will treat you like gold because they KNOW you are what keeps them in business.

Q: What should they look for in a waxer? 

A: In my opinion the best waxers  are confident in their skills, have had multiple years of WAXING experience, are impeccable in their cleanliness and professionalism. If you are able to meet or talk with your potential esthetician, ask them how long they have been waxing? (you want to look for a year or more) ON average how many Brazilian waxes do they do a DAY? (you are looking for someone who does on a minimum 3-5 a day) What kind of wax do they use ( you want someone who responds by saying they have a variety of waxes and will choose the right one for you) ( avoid the esthetician who only uses One kind of wax, this can be a sign they are not familiar with what is out there or are uncertain that some waxes are not correct for certain skin types)

Q: What's the most popular style for summer, vs. winter? 

A: I love this question, there are popular styles and for summer I do see a lot of full Brazilians, and in winter it does change and often times people go to a modified Brazilian by leaving some hair on the top, or go to a regular bikini wax.

Q: What's the most interesting style request you've ever gotten?

A: Initials of their partner. Sometimes I can do this sometimes I can’t depends on how thick the hair is? I have also had clients request dying their pubic hair certain colors, for example red white and blue for July 4th.

Q: What are your thoughts on vajazzling, vajacials and similar services?

A: I think they vajazzling is cute and If the client wants one I’m all for what makes them smile. I can see the benefit of a Vajacials and of course I am in total support of what makes a woman feel beautiful.

Q: How often do you recommend a wax? And what about upkeep in between? (Is shaving in between waxes off limits?)

A:  I recommend waxing every 4 weeks and avoid shaving in between. Shaving only stimulates the hair growth and grows the hair back stronger and more deeply rooted, which makes your next wax FEEL like your first wax all over again. Upkeep in between?, embrace the slight fur in between waxes as par for the course and relax about it.

Q: If there was one thing you wish you customers could know, or would do before an appointment, what would it be?

A: The few  things I wish clients would know is that the for me, the longer the hair prior to waxing the better the waxing service. If you think your hair is too long ( 70’s bush) so what , come on in, if it’s too long I’ll trim it and we can go from there, still the longer the better… on all areas of the body.

I also wish that clients that are waxing for an event (and not regular waxers) would know to come in at least 3 time PRIOR to your event so that the service just before your occasion is perfect. If your first time wax is days prior to your special event, you run the risk of being overly sensitive on that occasion, and because you are being waxed while most likely stressed out, nervous or scared, you could run into a bikini break out…which happens occasionally on first time waxes. Probably NOT the vision you had in mind for your special day.

Q: What's the motto of your salon?

A: Be humble, deliver incredible service, and listen well.

BOX Naturals + The Birthday Suit, Las Vegas

Did you know, we've landed in Las Vegas!! And (if you couldn't tell by the exclamation points), we are really, really excited about it. Yes, we are at The Birthday Suit. So next time you're in Sin City - whether it's before a quickie marriage, after a win at roulette or to prepare for a pool party, swing by and let the amazing Stacey and her team of dedicated waxers help you fix your situation up. 

We had a chat with Stacey about her business, her philosophy, and everything she's seen as a waxer (ok, maybe not EVERYTHING). Read on to learn more about this incredible company. 

The first thing I think women ( and men) need to know about waxing, specifically the Bra/Bro-zilian is that your first visit is not going to be a unicorn and rainbows kind of experience but it will also not be a 40 Year Old Virgin/Kelly Clarkson moment. I canʼt blame anyone for being nervous! Letʼs start with the pants off in a brightly lit room (I donʼt care how cute and charming the decor is, at the end of the day there are spotlights above you pointing right at your nether region) in a butterfly or flamingo leg arrangement with a stranger who is about to apply hot wax to your most important parts! Wait, before you start to panic and rethink the experience, the hype you may have heard is just that, hype. Once you get over the awkwardness of the initial situation, it is a 15 minute relatively pain free experience with 3 weeks of hairless bliss to follow!

My best advice to first timers is unless your friends are already regular waxers, donʼt tell them. They will try to tease you and tell you that you are crazy! Letʼs see who looks crazy when you are in a bikini in the summer with zero razor bumps and no sign of hair! Gently exfoliate the area to be waxed prior to the wax. GENTLY. Avoid any type of harsh scrubs. The last thing you want to do is break the hair you have been growing out to have waxed or irritate your skin. Ahhh, this leads me to the most important part of your first wax... 3 Weeks of growth!!! Donʼt shave 3 days out and say itʼs been almost 3 weeks. This is what we do, we know how long it has been. You will have zero waxing results and will leave with 3 days worth of stubble. I know it can feel like an eternity but if you are going to subject yourself to this, make it worth your while.

Please donʼt take any type of muscle relaxer pre wax. If you seem out of it, chances are you will be turned away. Shower. Please shower. Your spa should provide some type of wipes for you to “freshen up” with. The Birthday Suit is proud to offer the Box Natural Cleansing Wipes to our Gals & Guys! Please take the 2 minutes to do so. We understand that plenty of our clients come straight from work or just life but please be courteous and use the provided cleaner-upper.

I promise though, there will be no tears, no blood, no screaming. You can do it!

When choosing a waxing boutique, first and foremost, your nail salon is not the place to go. They may do great nails but waxing is not their specialty. Look on places like Yelp and Google for reviews. Donʼt necessarily shop around for the cheapest place. Inexpensive is one thing but if a place seems like their prices are too low, it may be a red flag. Tell the reception if you have any concerns. I know with 14 Estheticians we have personalities to suit every type of guest. I for one am one of the chattiest waxers (like you couldnʼt already figure that out). We have chatty and quiet zen. The room will never be silent but our zen girls make very little small talk and let you lead the pace of the conversation as opposed to myself who may not let you get a word in. I would also look for experience. I know everyone has to start somewhere, but do you really want that somewhere to be on your chuckalina? I love the relationships and real life friendships I have made with Clients. Although, once we go out for coffee or a drink, you have to find a new waxer. Sorry :) There are 13 other gals in my boutique to choose from.

We get the question “what does everyone else do?” when choosing your end result look. Right now styles honestly vary by age. Our 17-40 somethings normally take it all off. Our ladies 50 and up tend to leave a “landing strip” or triangle. A lot of our guests will often do what their partner requests. They may not care but their other half prefers a certain “look”.
We have had requests for partners initials, $ sign, heart, X (as in X marks the spot) and an arrow pointing down. We fortunately donʼt do anything other then the standard “all off”, “landing strip” or “triangle”. When you get into detailed shapes there is quite a bit of tweezing which can be a bit more painful then the wax itself.

We donʼt do any type of “extra” like Vajazzaling, Vajacials (facials on your bikini area) or hair dye (yes, there is a company that has cornered the market of pubic hair dye). Most of the vajazzaling is overpriced rhinestone stick on tattoos. Donʼt get me wrong, there are some places that have made an art form out of it. Swarovski Crystals and intricate design. We are focused on one thing, waxing. And we are amazing at it. The Vajacials... no offense, I have no interest in giving your private area a facial. It never made sense to me. I think that type of thing is better done at home in the privacy of your own shower.

To achieve the best results, you want to maintain your waxing every 3 to 4 weeks. Again, 15 minutes out of your day. It is difficult to explain the results if you have never had a wax. The hair, because you are removing it in its entirety - root and all, will grow back like a hair. Thin, soft, like the hair on your arm. Most people notice about 2/3 of the hair does not grow back! But this is why you have to stay on schedule. The body is an amazing thing, if you say “hey, itʼs not all grown back, I will wait” you have now allowed the rest of the hair to grow in and your cycle is out of sync. The hair growth also slows down significantly. In between your wax, donʼt touch it! Donʼt shave, donʼt tweeze! You will break all that new thin hair and shave it back into a whisker. The new growth will be so thin you wonʼt even mind! Nobody is worth it!!! We have had so many clients come in and confess they shaved because they had a date. So not only did they sign up for an uncomfortable wax, yes, when you shave you are starting from square 1 again, they 99% of the time will admit, it wasnʼt worth it! The second wax is an entirely different experience then the first. You have all this thin fine hair, no whiskers, and minimal amounts. Breeze!!!

I guess if I could request one thing for a Guest to do/not to do during a service is to put the phone away. It is equally as awkward for us when there is no conversation but to be belittled like we are “the help” and you canʼt take 15 minutes out of your life to acknowledge us... it is slightly insulting and degrading. To talk to your boyfriend or girlfriend during a service and make crass “dirty talk” is honestly sightly offensive. And really, is candy crush that addicting you canʼt live without it for a few minutes? The other thing that both my OB/GYN have joked about is feet. In the summer it happens, we get stinky feet but our heads are right above them. When you are taking the time to clean up your “areas” use a wipe to wipe your feet off :).

I started The Birthday Suit out of the desire to be able to provide for my family and have something my husband and I could do together. No, he is not waxing. He is actually rarely there. He handles the boring stuff; bills, insurance, permits, pretty much anything that requires paperwork is all him. He was the driving force in getting The Birthday Suit opened, literally, he did all the finishing work, painting, design for the interior. We, as parents wanted a family friendly place. Somewhere that a mother would not feel uncomfortable bringing her child at any age or a place a man would not feel uncomfortable in. Our interior is what we like to call Chicago Loft looking. With cool browns and tans and brick faced interior. Our walls are covered with art work from local artists using us as gallery space. We love it. It is a constant change in scenery and I feel like we are encouraging people to use their creative side! We also have a “Childrenʼs Lounge” aka a playroom. Oversized pillows and kids comfy chairs. We encourage them to color pictures so we can hang them on the wall. We also have Netflix streaming child friendly shows all day. Makes coming in for a service so much more convenient when you know we can accommodate everyone! I guess I really just want my brand to recognized as a luxury that everyone can afford. We use THE top of the line custom hard wax and have an amazing line of skin care from The Birthday Suit but nothing is too expensive to make someone feel they canʼt afford it.

We joke, The Birthday Suit is like Cheers, just with your pants off. We are a family. Dysfunctional as that may sound, every guest that walks through that door is now part of my family.

I wish we could say we had some crazy stories but I donʼt. Aside from the requests for boyfriends and husbands wanting to watch (No Way!) we are so “mom and pop” that everything is pretty vanilla in there. Again, the way we wanted it so at no point anyone would ever feel uncomfortable being there. We were actually approached to do a reality show and they let us know after observing us that they would have to script the crazy and the drama because it was just a lot of laughter and hugs and if you didnʼt know that 99% of our clients were taking their pants off behind the doors it looked like a reunion of friends. Which is exactly the tone we want to set in there.

I have had the pleasure of having the same 19 girls on my team for almost the entire 3 years we have been open! That says something about my company. That they are happy and believe in me and The Birthday Suit and all it represents. I have seen 2 marriages, 5 babies, 5 first time home ownership, 8 new cars and a sense of pride on a team of women that I cannot describe. They are truly my family and I will do what I can to continue being a source of not only financial stability for them but pride in what they do!

We are in the early stages of Franchising our brand to make The Birthday Suit a nationwide house hold name synonymous with quality, affordability and very community involved. We have decided to look into opening a second Vegas location first though. We are currently vying for “Mission Main St Grant” from Chase Small Business. They will award approximately $3.5 million dollars to small business around the country to help them expand their business. We have been accepted into the search and it is multiple stages. The first stage is acquiring 250 votes to nominate us to be considered for the second round. The first round is a FB voting only round. If you feel like checking out The Birthday Suit on Facebook, feel free to click the link and cast a quick vote for us!

And at the end of the day, my best advice is #GetYourWaxOn Twitter/IG @thebdaysuitlv www.TheBirthdaySuit.com

Get Smooth: A Waxing Expert Tells All

At BOX Naturals, our clients are the best and the brightest of the waxing and sugaring world.  So, we thought we'd tap into our network and ask the questions you always wondered about.

First up:  Nickie Janes, owner of Smooth, an *amazing* and very popular skin and waxing boutique in Norfolk, Virginia.  We fell in love with her vivacious personality and infectious energy - read on, and you'll see why.

Q: A lot of women are nervous about their first visit to get a wax. What advice do you have for them, and how should they prepare for their visit? 

A: It's completely normal to be nervous or embarrassed when getting your first Brazilian wax. Exposing your half naked self to a complete stranger that may inflict pain on you isn't anyone's idea of fun! There are plenty of things you can do to ease your nerves and discomfort. First, remember that your esthetician has probably seen more bushes, bumps, lumps, scars, and stretch marks than you could ever imagine. Yours aren't anything to be ashamed of and your waxer won't even notice them, so put that out of your head! It's a good idea to take 2 ibuprofen 30 minutes before your service to help with the discomfort and lessen any irritation.  There are creams on the market that can help ease the pain as well, but they won't completely numb the area. These are normally applied about 30 minutes prior to your wax. 

Avoid drinking caffeine and waxing the week before your period. These will make your skin much more sensitive! It's best to stop shaving at least two weeks prior to your appointment. If the hair is too short it may not be able to be removed. If it's been a while since you've shaved, it's ok to do a tiny bit of trimming, but don't go crazy with it! 

Q: What should they look for in a waxer?

A:  Finding the right person for the job is probably the most important step in ensuring a good waxing experience. Do your research! When looking online, choose an establishment that specializes in waxing. If you look at a website that lists hair, nails, massage, and then somewhere at the very end in tiny print lists waxing, that's probably a sign that it's not their specialty. Chances are someone inexperienced will be doing the job. It's also a good idea to call and ask what type of wax is used. Hard wax is preferred for the Brazilian wax because it doesn't adhere to the skin, which is more comfortable and leaves less irritation. Some waxers may use a combination of both hard and soft wax, which is also good, but stay away from someone that only uses soft or strip wax for the entire Brazilian. This type of wax has a tendency to stick to the skin more, leaving more of a chance of unnecessary yanking of your pliable lady parts! Another REALLY important question to ask is "How many sticks do you use during one Brazilian?". This is sort of a trick question, because a good esthetician may not know exactly how many she uses but the answer should be "a lot!" If the waxer answers  "huh?" or "one or two" then RUN! This means hygiene is not of importance to them and they've been double dipping the wax sticks. This causes cross contamination and is just plain dirty! You wouldn't double dip your chip at a party, so why would you do it in your wax? Nasty!

Q: What's the most popular style for summer, vs. winter?

A: At Smooth, our most popular service by far is the full Brazilian wax. That's every stitch of hair removed from the front to back. Most clients wax year round because they feel cleaner and more comfortable with the hair removed, especially around that time of the month. It's not just for summer, ladies... no need to become Sasquatch in the cold months! 

Q: What's the most interesting style request you've ever gotten?

A: In previous years I'd been asked to create shapes and colors in the hair. Lightning bolts, pink hearts, Christmas trees, even boyfriend's initials. Now, since going completely bare is the trend, most clients just say "take it ALL off!"

Q: What are your thoughts on vajazzling, vajacials and similar services?

A: Oh, Vajazzling...this trend started and died years ago and I was surprised when it returned. I'm a big believer in doing whatever makes you happy and if putting a little bling on your thing makes you happy, go for it! Personally, I'd be more worried about losing a crystal down the toilet...or someplace worse. Plus, if my man turned it down because there wasn't sparkle on it, I'm afraid I'd have to find a new man that was ok with twinkle free lady parts. As far as the Vajacial, I'm a believer! We get tons of clients that have come to us for waxing because the irritation and ingrown hairs from shaving have literally left their mark in the form of scars. This leaves the client embarrassed and self conscious. Vajacials can be a good way to even out the skin tone and prevent ingrown hairs. One of our top selling products is an at home ingrown hair solution called Get The Bump Outta Here! It works like a charm on preventing and getting rid of those ingrowns that can cause scarring. 

Q: How often do you recommend a wax? And what about upkeep in between? (Is shaving in between waxes off limits?)

A: Waxing is a process that, if done correctly, will result in smoother skin, finer hair, slower regrowth and fewer ingrown hairs. The magic tricks : Toss the razor for good & wax every 3 to 4 weeks to start. By your third waxing session, you should notice a great improvement in the texture of your hair and skin. Hair will come in slower and finer. Then you should be able to wax every 4 to 6 weeks. Just make sure to never go past 6 weeks or shave because this disrupts the process. 

Q: If there was one thing you wish you customers could know, or would do before an appointment, what would it be?

A: By the end of your appointment you will say "Hey, that wasn't so bad!" You will feel empowered, sexy and smooth. You will be bad ass. One other thing...everyone has butt hair. 

Q: What's the motto of your salon?

A: Our motto: Break up with your razor. You won't miss it. We promise. We also promise to give you the cleanest, most comfortable wax you will ever have! 

Q: And can you tell us a little about yourself and your salon?

A: I'm Nickie Janes, a licensed esthetician and the owner of Smooth, located in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Started as a tiny one room shop in 2011, Smooth now services thousands of clients each year, has won numerous awards and created their very own hard wax specifically for Brazilian waxing. 

For more detailed information on waxing, skin care and Smooth, visit www.smoothdowntown.com