Spa Canada Magazine

Ahhhhh those nasty little hairs !!!

It is our job as aesthetic professionals to help the men out. In fact it is important we be honest with our male patrons and let them know what we see and how we can assist. Sometimes the matter at hand is not the back wax or body wax but those nasty little hairs we find in men’s ears, nose, and out of control brows. Some of us in this industry have never learned how easy this is to remove, these unsightly irritants all men wish we never had. As men age we suffer loss of hair from places we do not wish, and to no end grow hair in places we never wanted!

How many of us have gone to a meeting or you are sitting in your bank manager’s office and you cannot believe what you are seeing across from you – this man with hair growing out of his ears so long that he could
braid and brow hairs that look like tiny bean pole plants reaching for the crescent of his forehead. Perhaps we are more inclined to notice these men because we really would like to show them what a small visit to a spa could do to alter their appearance in a most attractive way.

Ears:
Of all the unsightly hair growth patterns on the male body this one takes the prize. Sometimes men were never taught how to groom this patch of hair, others cannot see them (especially if they are without a caring partner), some cannot take the pain of plucking them or the horrible noise created by trying to clip them out. Once men get to experience a proper waxing of this area they are grateful and return often. The method is simple; you require a premium hard wax. Have the client inclined or laying down and tilt their head to one side and begin to mold the wax on the skin you have
cleaned. You create a “pull tab” with the wax, let it sit for a tiny while and pull in an upward or side direction and all the hairs are removed at once. The process is fast and it hurts less than when pulling one or two hairs. There will be times you might aid the pull of the wax with the use of a wood stick especially when the hairs are course and thick.

Nose:
First of all I have heard of horror stories about spas or private aesthetic studios performing this service and doing it completely wrong causing unwarranted pain and removal of hair that must be left alone to assist with the normal function of the olfactory system. I have had clients tell me that the hairs were removed up to an inch or more inside the nostril. The only hairs we remove are at the very tip of the top of the inside of the nose – approx 3 to 4 mm into that top corner where the hairs stick out. The steps to rid the client of these hairs require a tiny placement of hard wax on the end of a small narrow “coffee stir” type wood stick. Simply target the corner of the top of the inside of the nostril and turn the warm wax slightly and gently. Hold it in place and then you can let go as it dries. Only 30 to 45 seconds is required and then you pull straight and down in one force bracing your thumb and index finger of the other hand on the bridge of the nose for stability before you pull. Results are instant and almost pain free. If you pull one hair out of the nose with a set of tweezers, this will cause more discomfort than pulling 15 hairs with the wax method described. Your
client might appear to look like a walrus for a moment with the wood stick inserted, so try to engage him in a little humor. I often tickle the ear lobe just before I pull to create a welcomed distraction.

Brows:
Let’s face it; guys can be very apprehensive when it comes to brow waxing. There is a stigma for men that this service is a dangerous risk because they are afraid of being feminized in the process. Even as a male
aesthetic professional I have had to convince men that I am only trying to clean up the area to establish a masculine clean look. Often to help them through this process I invite them to hold a mirror while I apply a tiny sum of micro-talc powder using a small brush to the areas I want to harvest. This places him in the driver’s seat and once they have that power they become more trusting and engaged. Many older gentlemen prefer just trimming the brows with scissor and comb and the results, even with this procedure can make a world of difference.

The Wax and Other Helpful Hints
To avoid breakouts when implementing these services make sure you have a good strong but elastic hard wax. Use both kinds of wood sticks so you are able to tackle different shapes and curves depending on the man on the table. To avoid redness around the brows use a sensitive skin wash. Not only does the wash and the warm towel feel good, a toner will close the pores and the chances of irritation is minimized. I have worked with numerous waxes over the years, but I currently have the greatest faith in Epylliss Wax. Try out their NOVATHERM hard wax for the three procedures mentioned above. They also produce a Chocolate Lukewarm wax that can execute excellent brow work where the traditional cotton strip is used.
This wax has a creamy texture and contains caffeine from the coco bean providing a vascular-regulating quality that will reduce redness and irritation to the skin.

TIP: Offer your male clients a package including the brows, nose, and ears for $30.00. This is a great “icebreaker” for him and gives you the opportunity to discuss things like his skin, especially if you treat him to a wash with a good cleanser before you begin the work.