Anyone qualified to do bikini wax?

[ViaRia01]

So there’s strip wax (using strips to pull off the wax) and hot wax (Where the wax hardens and can be pulled off without a strip). Is that right?

My beauty therapist uses hot wax, then applies a strip before removing. She doesn’t appear to wait for the wax to harden. The wax seems to be applied more like strip wax too, ie quite thin and she doesn’t do the sort of swirly technique others usually do with hot wax.

I just wondered whether this is a legitimate technique (hot wax applied like strip wax and pulled off with a strip)?

The first time she did this I questioned what wax she was using and she said it is hot wax but she just prefers to use the strips. It was extremely painful (usually I find hot wax much less painful but not this time!) and also she seems to miss bits but this may or may not be due to using the strips.

Can anyone advise?

yabu - it’s a perfectly legitimate technique, let the expert get on with her job.

yanbu - that’s not really how to use hot wax and she shouldn’t be charging for hot wax if she’s not going to do it properly.

It's fine. She's just using regular hot wax, and using strips to remove it. That wax will not harden the way you describe. And it is the more painful option.
The nicer alternative I'd chocolate wax, which is sifter, but hardens enough, so you just pull the actual wax--not strip. That is the preferred version at my salon, but either option can be used

No she's using warm wax and as it's heated she's calling it hot wax. She probably isn't very knowledgeable and has forgotten the terminology.
Hot wax is also called hard wax or stripless wax.
What she's using is called strip wax, warm wax or soft wax.

For Brazilian you do want hard stripless wax as it'll be far more comfortable for you.

The missed bits won't be because it's strip wax. Unless you mean very short hairs weren't removed? As hard wax can take shorter hairs.
Lots of people do strip wax for Brazilian but it's much more comfortable for the client to use hard wax.
If it's just a basic bikini then strip is just as good.

Thanks the replies.

@Krumblina TBH I’m actually a bit more confused now… so how many types of wax are there?

@GiveUsACoffee when you say she’s using regular hot wax and using strips to remove it… I’m just confused, why would she use strips to remove it if it’s designed to harden and be pulled off without strips.

Also just to clarify… it is for Brazilian and I’ve specifically requested hot wax.

I agree, I don’t think the missed bits are due to the choice of wax or even technique. I think she is just not very perfectionist about it and also that she doesn’t enjoy doing waxing.

You're comparing soft wax (stays soft and removed with strips) and hard wax (hardens and is pulled off). Both are hot (well, warm).

I think you need a different beautician!

There's 2 main types of wax.

1. Hot wax which is also called hard wax or stripless wax.
2. Strip wax which is also called soft wax or warm wax.

A therapist who isn't very knowledgeable may take you saying hot wax very literally and say it's hot because it goes in the heater even if it's strip wax.

I'd say stripless hard wax for clarity on what you want.

Thank you. Think it makes sense. Hot wax/ strip wax is the terminology used by their own pricelist, with hot wax (hard wax) being only for intimate areas and slightly more expensive.

@Krumblina I don’t think it has anything to do with what I’m asking for. I think it is very clear as (1) I pay the higher price (2) she does my legs with strip wax and then switches to the hot wax for Brazilian (3) I asked her what wax she is using and she explained it is hot wax but she “just prefers to pull it off using a strip”.

@PenCreed Yes, I do think I should stop booking her. I prefer her colleague (as she does the hard wax properly!) but she is sometimes unavailable.

Anyway, thanks again for replying - I think I’ll just avoid this one beautician for now. A bit of a shame really.

Can I ask you knowledgeable posters why the hard wax is less painful than strip wax? Presumably they both pull out the hairs from the root in the same way, at tge same speed and with a similar movement?

Oh I see didn't realise they specified on their price list. Many salons don't as most clients don't know the difference.
That's very bizarre. Sometimes people using a strip or spatula just to get an edge up on the wax in order to grip. But to lay it down like strip wax I'm not sure that would work well at all.

Grips it better. It's also what they use if people have thick, bristle-like neck/chin hair thanks to PCOS, compared to standard facial hairs. Using strips to remove hot wax is also used in that circumstance by some, as it can mean a better 'pull' with softer/plumper/looser skin even when stretched/less bony areas.

You can't pull off hot wax with a strip. She's using the cheaper warm wax and charging you for hot wax.

It's because hot wax doesn't stick to the skin. It just shrink wraps round the hairs.
Strip wax is very sticky so more like removing a plaster. You're getting the sensation of the hairs being pulled out plus the skin being pulled on. When that skin is in areas where it is looser/thinner such as with a Brazilian then it's more painful.