Help! Freaking out! Wax and double dipping

[SanguineParadise]

Hi,

I just went and got a wax (Hollywood & upper lip and chin). The salon I went to is owned by one lady, who seemed to be a very experienced beauty therapist - she has tons of 4 and 5* reviews all over google and Treatwell.

When I got there she was very nice, but she was double dipping and using the same wax for both my lip, chin and Hollywood! I was extremely uncomfortable and wish I’d said something at the time but I didn’t because I don’t like confrontation and now I’m freaking out that I could catch some sort of infection. What’s the worst that could happen? Have rushed home to immediately wash and shower both face and vagina. Help, I’m so so worried

@SanguineParadise you’re not being unreasonable because you’re right, she shouldn’t have been double dipping. Even more than 10 years ago, the wax places in NYC were all told to stop doing this and to use multiple wooden spatulas for each client. So they may go through about let’s say 4 just for a lip wax depending on how many times they have to apply. For larger areas like armpits, chin or pubic areas — definitely lots more.

I understand your worry and that is gross that she wasn’t clean about the wax. For now I’d try to take a few deep breaths and monitor the area closely but don’t let your mind wander and catastrophize too much. :) Keep notes in you need to contact a doctor for any irritation that may arise later. For now, just keep your privates reasonably clean with a gentle soap in the morning shower and cotton underwear. Break out the comfortable and breathable granny panties! :)

The people saying there's no concern here are clearly not the brightest of people which is ironic because they're mocking your concerns. This is really bad practice you should be switching spatulas and never double dipping no matter what type of body part is being waxed. This is to stop any cross contamination of skin, blood and body bacteria into the wax. The wax is kept at a temperature that is perfect for breeding bacteria and since the same wax is used between clients that bacteria can be carried over to the next person. Realistically though folliculitis is probably the worst that could happen I believe but I certainly wouldn't go back to risk it again. Also of course you can shower straight after a Hollywood as long as it's not too hot and you moisturise after.

Well 18 months on they may well have made improvements.

I used to work in a salon, and no your not over reacting OP, your therapist should not be double dipping the spatula after it’s touched your skin. Lots of opportunity for cross contamination.

The wax is not hot enough to kill bacteria, if it was it would cause 3rd degree burns 🤨

And the same pot of wax will be used for multiple people. Don’t go there again OP and review to warn other people not to either. Double dipping spatulas is really bad practice! 🤢🤢🤢

My bigger concern is that this wax was used on other women’s body parts - where she would have presumably also double dipped. She used a spoon / spatula with absolutely loads of old wax on it to stir the wax and I think even apply it to my skin at one point?

Well, that's awful. I understand your concern. Don't go back there.

Yes, that is why the practice of reusing wax was stopped and the price of a wax went way up (in reputable practices). Concerns about the potential for transmission of HIV, Hep C, and Heb B, which are all blood-borne viruses.

That's probably not reasurring, if you are already anxious. It doesn't mean you will automatically become infected by one bad waxer's bad practice.

Quite ironic to insult others’ intelligence when managing to pull up such an old thread.

Well done you.

Oh, yet another thread resurrected from the dead. Why do people do this?

The people saying there's no concern here are clearly not the brightest of people which is ironic because they're mocking your concerns.

Says the person who's resurrected a thread from eighteen months ago