It’s heating up
Eyebrows are the frame to a face, so of course it’s important to help your clients keep them intact! The experts explain the top tips to remember when carrying out an eyebrow wax.
Jade Smith, Lash Technician, Brow Stylist and owner of Jade Carla Beauty in Southport, North West UK.
“For me, the most important thing when getting ready to wax eyebrows is making sure my client is comfortable and we have discussed what they are wanting, whether that be an eyebrow shape or just a tidy up.
“The first thing I do is make sure that there are no reasons which would prevent someone from being waxed. For example, there are certain medications which thin the skin, causing it to become damaged if waxed.
“Hard wax is extremely popular amongst brow stylists right now, but I love to use a soft honey wax. Whatever wax you use, you must of course make sure it’s the right temperature before applying it to the brow area. A great way to do this is to test the wax on your own forearm first, and then the client’s forearm making sure it is comfortable for them.
“What you must remember is that the shape of the client’s eyebrows is very important, and not everyone will suit the same brow shape. The eyebrows should be shaped so that they flatter the client’s face. Where the brows start, arch, and end must be taken into consideration in order to frame the face correctly.
“The client can also do their bit to prepare for the treatment, you should ask them to arrive to their appointment without makeup on the eye area. As a brow stylist, you should have some makeup remover on hand just in case though! I also like to use a pre-care gel before waxing. Clients should also try not to pluck their brows in between appointments as the brow hairs need to be long enough to wax.
“After the brow wax, you should apply a soothing aftercare lotion to ease any redness. There are also things that the client will need to keep in mind after the treatment. You should provide your client with a list of aftercare instructions before they leave, such as: do not apply any perfumed products to the area for 24 hours as the skin may still be sensitive, avoid spray tanning and self-tanning products for a couple of days, and ensure you tell them to inform you immediately if they experience any swelling or rashes after the treatment.
“There is one thing that the client and the therapist both want to get out of this journey: the perfect brows, so communication is key. Make sure that your client knows what to expect from the treatment, and that you’re confident and passionate about your skill.”
David Sneddon, Marketing and Operations Manager at HIVE of Beauty
“Communication is unbelievably important. As a professional carrying out treatments every day and continuing to keep your knowledge current, you should be in a position to advise clients of what shape will suit them best and what results are possible. This should all be discussed and agreed prior to the treatment beginning.
“The results achieved will be prominent for all to see on your client for a number of weeks, so taking extra steps to ensure your client gets what they want will go a long way. Using a brow pencil during consultation to demonstrate shape suggestions or simply as a guide for applying the wax and applying Petroleum Jelly to protect areas not to be waxed, will help create even better results.
“The most important thing a client can do prior to their appointment is to have a clear but realistic idea of the look that they want to achieve. No waxing procedure will transform blonde eyebrows with a thin growth into Cara Delevigne’s comparable fullness. Shaping a client’s eyebrows should first and foremost suit their face shape, framing the face in a manner that flatters their features.
“You should always take into consideration that the face, and especially the eye area, is particularly sensitive. The wax must be a workable consistency for you to carry out the treatment, however this should be at a lower heat level than would be used for treatments such as a leg wax. The consistency of the wax should continually be checked throughout the treatment time.
“To achieve the perfect eyebrow wax it is for the best to avoid… Perfection! It may sound silly but attempting to have absolutely perfect symmetry in the eyebrows will more than likely lead to over waxing and ultimately a disappointing look. Whilst altering the shape of the eyebrow to suit your clients’ needs, the effect should still appear natural.
“Immediately after treatment, clients should have an after-wax lotion with skin calming and moisturising properties applied to the area. After-wax lotions can be retailed to clients to use ongoing after the treatment to use as a moisturiser.
“There are a number of types of wax that can achieve fantastic results on eyebrows. As a therapist, you may feel far more comfortable using a warm strip or crème wax, formulated to be used on sensitive skin.
“However, Hot Wax does provide excellent results as it is particularly adept at gripping very short hairs and also provides a thin application, giving greater control on small areas. In addition, no wax strips are required during removal providing a clean and efficient procedure.”
