There are two main types of wax that professionals may use for hair removal services. Hot wax is often referred to as hard wax and strip wax as soft wax. When should you use hard wax versus strip wax? How do you know which to pick? What is the difference between hard wax beads and the traditional brick packaging? Below are the answers to these questions and more! 

KEY DIFFERENCES 

The main difference between hot (hard) wax and soft (strip) is the way that the wax is applied and removed. Hot wax is applied against the hair growth, left to set, and then removed without the use of an epilating strip. Strip (soft) wax is applied in the direction of the hair growth and then an epilating strip, like muslin or pelonis, is placed over the wax, pressure is applied, and it is removed opposite to the hair growth, pulling the hair out. Both are effective ways to remove hair and allow for a smooth result. Additionally, hard wax is heated to a temperature of approximately 60°C (140° F); it should be a thick honey consistency. Whereas strip wax is heated to 70-75°C (158-167° F) and is a runnier in consistency. 

WAXCRAFT 

Strip wax is applied thinly and can be removed quite quickly with practice. As a result, it is advisable to use strip wax in larger areas such as legs, arms, back, and even the outer edges of the bikini (inner thighs). A good quality strip wax should not cause skin drag or leave any sticky residue behind. Hard wax is excellent for more sensitive areas such as the bikini or Brazilian area, underarms, and face. Hard wax can be applied in different size patches, which allows for more precise waxing around tricky areas such as the eyebrows and the lips.  

PRE & POST  

With all waxes, it is advised to use a cleanser before and after waxing to help cleanse skin of any debris, makeup, or lotion. Waxing opens the hair follicle, so it is important to ensure skin is clean prior to waxing. Applying the cleanser immediately after the wax will help close the hair follicle. Applying a pre-waxing oil with hot wax adds an additional barrier of moisture to skin, and a little goes a long way! With both hard and strip wax, applying an aftercare product after the service further soothes skin and reduces any redness or inflammation.  

WAX WISDOM 

When choosing which waxes to have at your station, it is important that you consider all factors, such as what areas you will be waxing most and whether you will need both a hard and strip wax always heated. If yes, you will need to look at how big your wax station is and whether it can fit a duo heater or two singles. Being able to have both waxes available allows you to tailor your services. However, ultimately, the most important factor is that you are comfortable waxing with the type of wax chosen as this will make for the most comfortable waxing experience for you and your client.   

Lindsay Miller is the president of LYCON Wax North America. Having first discovered LYCON Wax in the United Kingdom 10 years ago, she has dedicated her time to growing the brand across North America, including introducing LYCON to Canada. Training and product quality are extremely important to Miller and she prides herself on building a strong team around her that can offer the best customer experience possible. LYCON continues to be a market leader in hair removal wax and is used in top spas and salons around the world. 

Base Beauty Creative Agency, the New York digital marketing agency is pleased to announce the appointment of two new key hires: Erica Feldman as Business Development Manager, and Tina Falco as Director of Program Success. BBCA is projected to double its revenue this year and these two positions are pivotal for the continued success of the 17-year-old business and will be key to its growth.


Erica is a seasoned media professional with a passion for propelling client growth in the beauty, personal care, and wellness sectors. In her role as Business Development Manager, she will play an integral part in driving agency revenue, winning new clients and work, and ensuring the agency’s points of difference are in the forefront. Erica orchestrates strategic initiatives to align with larger business goals and actively seeks out target brands where BBCA’s capabilities can create a transformative impact. Before joining BBCA, Erica held roles at top digital publishing platforms and media agencies, including Conde Nast, Bustle, Vice Media Group, and Kyra. With a proven track record in the digital media landscape, Erica brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic insight, and industry expertise to her role at BBCA. She is dedicated to leveraging emerging trends and technologies to help brands thrive in today's competitive market.

Tina is a seasoned marketing professional with vast experience with beauty brands. As BBCA’s Director of Program Success, Tina will play a vital role in driving the success of programs by focusing on customer satisfaction, effective program management, stakeholder engagement, problem-solving, data analysis, continuous improvement, and accountability. Her efforts will contribute to achieving program objectives, delivering value to stakeholders, and ultimately driving organizational success. Prior to her role at BBCA, Tina grew her client service and integrated marketing expertise at Saatchi & Saatchi and Zimmerman and Ogilvy. In her most recent role as Executive Director, Global Marketing and Creative Operations at Estee Lauder, Tina successfully launched the Lab Series for Men brand creating a global program that was disruptive, ownable, scalable, and adaptable. Tina has led Global 360 campaign projects and processes for Creative & Marketing teams and is highly regarded by her clients for balancing business goals and performance while delivering best-in-class creative.

With the expanded leadership team at the helm, BBCA is poised to accelerate agency growth and continue delivering exceptional results for clients. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any further information.

  https://www.basebeauty.com/

Over the years, the various aspects of the beauty and skin care business have completely evolved into their own entities, and hair removal leads that pack. Schools and states alike have created licensing requirements and education that are specific to hair removal practices, such as waxing, laser, and the long-forgotten electrolysis.

Every form of business related to hair removal has done the same. There are now product manufacturers, distributors, spas, salons, and clinics dedicated solely to hair removal products and services. The unique part of this niche of our profession is that it continues to evolve in and of itself –  ever changing new products for pre-, post-, and removal, new applicators, new equipment, and new techniques. All things that allow for continued growth of a service business. What was once a focus on removing hair from the legs, bikini area, and face has evolved into every inch of the body including nostrils, ears, and custom designed bikini areas for one and all! 

This month’s issue will serve as a hair removal bible for any hair removal expert. Take the time to explore each page and keep yourself open to new offerings of products. What makes one different from another or different from what you currently use? Where does the product come from and what is the level of both customer service and equational support? Dive into new ways of doing what you are currently doing. You may find yourself surprised that your finely tuned skills can get even better – making your business even better.

I remember the first time I experienced the joy of my skin being smooth and hairless. Like most women, this was during puberty and the result of my own hands with a common razor. I remember feeling like I had brand-new legs, and no one had ever felt that silky before. While that certainly was not true, it reminded me of the power professionals have to make the biggest difference in the lives of many.

Waxing, sugaring, threading – hair removal is seemingly simple. Wax on, wax off; the hair is gone until next time. It is so easy, anyone can do it! But if that were true, would professional hair removal be a billion-dollar market? 

Although there will always be those who prefer to take hair removal into their own hands or to forgo it completely, one thing remains: if you build a quality hair removal business, they will come – and keep coming every four to six weeks. This is a testament to the expertise and finesse that professionals bring to the table, elevating hair removal from a mundane task to a rejuvenating and skillful art. This issue is dedicated to the nuances of hair removal, offering insights, tips, and tricks to elevate skill sets and provide a working guide for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. Until next time, enjoy the smooth journey ahead!

Cannabis is all the rage. As humans we like to think we discover things on a regular basis. We think we discovered continents even though they existed before we knew how to traverse them. The aesthetics and cannabis industries are not immune to that trend either. While cannabis has been legally gracing retail shelves and treatment rooms for a handful of years now, we think we discovered it. Newsflash, it’s been around for millennia! Cannabis was first documented in ancient China around 6,000 years ago. This plant has graced central Asia for generations, growing wild and robust. It is nothing new. What is new is the scientific evidence and fervor we have for the plant, and its magic compounds, as a country. 

THE MANY FACES OF CANNABIS

On a daily basis, the medical community is expanding clinical uses for cannabis based on scientific evidence. The United States government recently proposed reclassifying the plant from a schedule I narcotic to a schedule III, meaning that it would be a recognized substance that has medical benefits and uses. That may sound like a minor detail, but it is historic in the continued reintegration of the plant into our society. Cannabis was very legal in the United States up until the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, and it wasn’t just used recreationally. It was and still is a major industrial crop. From fibers used in clothing, concrete in building foundations, and food sources as a supplement and complete protein source, cannabis sort of does it all. Henry Ford’s famous Model T car was not only made in part with bioplastics containing hemp, but the prototype even ran on hemp oil.

Antonia Schreiber is a New York State licensed massage therapist, cosmetologist specializing in aesthetics science, and electrologist. With over 16 years’ experience in the industry, Schreiber’s work has brought her everywhere from the classroom to her certified green spa, the Windham Spa, to the United States Olympic Training Center and beyond. Outside of the treatment room she is a writer, speaker, and consultant with the New York State Department of Education, leading education firms and industry magazines. Her current passion projects include treatment research and development for burn patients, and assisting in the development of the United States Paralymic Bobsled and Skeleton Team.

2023 saw the rise of many skin care ingredient trends. There was hybrid skin care, faux freckles, skin minimalism, also known as skin streaming, inclusive sun protection, and clean beauty, just to name a few. However, there was one skin care ingredient that consistently delivered thousands, if not millions, of views on social media platforms last year – rice water. On TikTok alone, #ricewaterforskin resulted in over 99 million views with claims that rice water relieves itchy skin from atopic dermatitis, improves barrier function, delivers glass skin, and more. 

GRAINS OF HISTORY

While rice water is trending, it certainly isn’t new to skin care. In fact, the use of rice in beauty has deep roots in Asian cultures. In Japan, rice water has been used by court ladies for their hair since the ancient Heian Period (794 to 1185 AD), and Geishas used to bathe in rice-bran water to exfoliate and soften their skin. In Korea, the practice of rice washing dates back to 1392 at the start of Joseon dynasty (1392 to 1910), when the Gungnyeo, otherwise known as the palace women, discovered that rice water made their skin feel noticeably softer. In China, as early as the Qing Dynasty (1644 to1911), women used the leftover water from washing rice to cleanse and brighten their skin.

Lila Castellanos has focused her energies into the beauty industry for the past 19 years, specializing in skin rejuvenation. As a licensed aesthetician, she has lent her expertise to several different environments, including working as a paramedical aesthetician in the medical spa field as well as in both day spa and mobile spa business models. It was through these varied experiences, along with the interactions with her loyal clientele, that she honed her passion for improving and maintaining the health and integrity of her clients’ skin. Castellanos thrives on being able to use her extensive knowledge to customize each treatment to help her clients achieve the results they are searching for. Her adaptability and versatility are equally impressive in providing antiaging facials, treating acne, minimizing the appearance of scarring, or addressing skin conditions that arise as a result of hormonal changes. 

Business insurance is important for all businesses as it provides financial coverage for the costs that are associated with property damage and liability claims. It helps reduce risks that come with operating a business by providing monetary coverage in the event of an unforeseen circumstance such as theft, an injury at the spa, water damages, fire, or an interruption in business operations. Business operators inherently assume a level of responsibility for the safety and well-being of a range of people, including clients and employees. They are also financially accountable for other aspects of the business such as the equipment used in the spa, supplies, and other contents, like computers or fixtures. Business insurance helps mitigate the operations risk for a business owner by providing ongoing financial security.  

GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE 

This type of insurance is the foundation to a business insurance policy and provides general coverage against third-party claims for accidental personal injuries and property damage caused by others. General liability insurance covers a range of incidents, including slip and fall accidents, property damage caused by your business operations, and claims of false advertising.

The coverage provided by a general liability policy can vary depending on the type of business or industry. For example, an insurance policy for a wax bar will not look the same as one designed for a construction company, which may require higher limits of liability coverage. Overall, general liability insurance is an important component of risk management for a business as it can provide financial support and peace of mind in the event of unexpected events or lawsuits. 

Lindsay Miller is the president of LYCON Wax North America. Having first discovered LYCON wax in the United Kingdom 10 years ago, she has dedicated her time to growing the brand across North America, including introducing LYCON to Canada. Training and product quality are extremely important to Miller and she prides herself on building a strong team around her that can offer the best customer experience possible. LYCON continues to be a market leader in hair removal wax and is used in top spas and salons around the world.  

Have you ever sensed a bit of hesitation from clients when you first connect with them – specifically clients with melanin-rich skin? What if you could read the minds of your clients with deeper hues? What might you surprisingly discover, and what might not surprise you so much? Skin care professionals may wish we had the inherent ability to read minds and then put clients’ concerns and questions at rest with just the right answer and solution, but that is not possible. 

Fortunately, skin professionals don’t need to have the magic power of reading minds in order to best support the needs and wants of their clients. Due to the prevailing misconceptions and underrepresentation in the skin space around melanin-rich skin, there’s still much work to be done. Many qualified skin professionals experience hesitation and skepticism from some clients as it pertains to entrusting their own skin to them.

The question remains, how do you handle that? Are there ways to even circumvent them? Or perhaps, we are asking the wrong questions and should, rather, seek a deeper understanding to the hesitations themselves? 

C.R. Cooper is a connective, knowledgeable, and compassionate educator who has been a skin enthusiast for over 24 years. As the education manager and master educator for a renowned global institute of learning in the skin health industry, Cooper values organizational and individual industry standards, professional and personal brand integrity, but most importantly the inherent worth in every skin professional.

Last year, SkinSpirit appointed Harvard and Johns Hopkins-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Sachin Shridharani as its Director of Aesthetics Education to augment its practitioners’ training and expertise on new modalities and technologies while raising the bar on the medical spa category. This year, this focus has evolved into the inaugural Elevate and Illuminate event sponsored by SkinSpirit and Allergan Aesthetics, which opens access to this top-drawer training for all aesthetic providers.

The first of its kind for any medical aesthetic brand, the event is positioned as a unique opportunity to raise the bar across the aesthetics industry, providing access and advanced education from established medical aesthetic trainers while elevating the safety and training level for the whole aesthetics industry. 

See more details below - we'd be happy to connect you with principles at SkinSpirit and Allergan as needed for coverage, and can also provide a comped ticket for anyone who’d like to attend.

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SkinSpirit, a leading provider of aesthetic skin and body care in the U.S., in partnership with Allergan Aesthetics, has announced the launch of a new educational symposium for medical aesthetics professionals, Elevate and Illuminate, An Evening of Aesthetic Innovation, with an inaugural event planned for March 22, 2024, at The Westin Crystal City Reagan National Airport in Arlington, VA.

Elevate and Illuminate will offer medical aesthetic professionals the opportunity to learn from national industry leaders, including Manhattan-based plastic surgeon and newly appointed SkinSpirit Director of Aesthetics Education Dr. Sachin Shridharani, while also networking with likeminded peers.  

"As leaders in the industry, we want to help build community across the country and elevate the medical spa category overall," explains SkinSpirit CEO and Co-Founder Lynn Heublein.

The educational line up for the inaugural event includes Manhattan-based plastic surgeon Dr. Sachin Shridharani, MD, FACS, as well as medical aesthetic luminaries, top expert providers and national trainers including Erika Barry, NP-C, MS, one of the nation’s top aesthetic injectors and co-founder of Aesthetic University, Dr. George Baxter Holder, DNP, MBA, APRN, CANS, Doctor of Nursing, a RealSelf Most Loved Injector, and pioneer of the “Northwest Natural Look” and Denisse Seranno, MS, PA-C, founder of a national training company, speaker and trainer for Revance, Galderma and Allergan.

The agenda will include live demos as well as presentations on Advanced Topographic Assessment, Patient Planning, Rheology and more, followed by a cocktail reception. Tickets for one attendee and one guest are $500, and can be purchased here. 

From Practice to Profit: Who Will Buy My Aesthetics Practice?

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With management services organizations (MSOs) and private equity groups becoming more active in the aesthetics industry, practice owners face a surge of offers to purchase or partner with their business. But how accurately do these offers reflect the true value of a practice? Whether a business owner is aiming to grow or sell within the next five years, learn strategies to maximize a practice's worth and secure the highest possible offer. In this webinar, attendees will learn about how aesthetics practices are valued, how the growing amount of buyers affects the market, the options of selling, and tips to receive the highest valuation for a practice when selling to an MSO or private equity group.

MEET THE PRESENTER- Josh Swearingen

Josh Swearingen has over 15 years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry, most recently serving as the CEO for Vesper Alliance, an MSO located in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Prior to that, Swearingen was director of corporate development for a national dental consolidator and quarterbacked several of their largest transactions during his tenure there. He is also the co-founder of Reverse Aesthetics, a medical spa and antiaging practice in Columbus, Ohio. Swearingen received his Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University.