Warm wax solution is applied in sections over the hair/skin. The wax and adhered hair is then swiftly pulled from the skin.
Preparing for your waxing service
Waxing PRE and POST care is important to consider when booking your appointment.
The minimum hair length at time of appointment is 1/4 inch.
Waxing can be painful in sensitive areas. Some sensitivity and mild swelling may occur following the treatment. This may take up to 48 hours to completely calm down.
You may take an anti-inflammatory 30 minutes prior to your appointment to reduce discomfort and inflammation following your visit. This is specially great for those prone to ingrown hairs or major irritation.
Waxing Contraindications
Please review the following links before booking your appointment.
Medical history information is gathered to confirm that your waxing service can be performed safely.
Is Waxing Safe?
Waxing has contraindications and therefore we must take precaution to ensure your waxing service goes smoothly. Your waxing technician will gather some medical history information to confirm that your waxing service can be performed safely.
Waxing Contraindications- Medications
ACCUTANE– you must wait 12 months after last use before your waxing service.
Prescription acne medications– consult with a physician before booking your waxing service. Skin may remain compromised for 6-12 months after use.
Prescribed topical Retinols or Vitamin A– consult your physician before booking your service.
Waxing Contraindications- Health Conditions and Allergies
Some health conditions pose risks to waxing. As a result, certain health conditions will be treated appropriately.
Before proceeding, your service provider will review your health history. This form informs your service provider of allergies to ingredients that may be present in the wax. Typically, we use warm honey or pine resin-based wax.
First time waxing?
Don’t worry, here is what you can expect. Your esthetician will first prep the area by disinfecting and applying a protective barrier to the skin. Next, warm wax is then applied using a wooden spatula and covered with a cloth strip; this is referred to as strip waxing or soft waxing. The strip is then quickly pulled off parallel to the skin and voila your skin is left smooth and hair free!
Prior to booking a wax service ensure your hair is at least ¼ inch long, and has not been sunburned, treated with AHA/BHA, or prescription acne medications. Avoid caffeine for a couple hours before your appointment to reduce sensitivity. Results are visible for about 2 weeks, with 4-6 weeks before you are ready for your next visit. After care for waxing includes: avoiding heat, sun exposure, strong/fragranced, lotions, and washes for 24 hours and frequent skin exfoliation.
Moisturizers or creams as they are often called, are considered a core essential when it comes to a daily skin care routine. Along with the varying formulations and brands available, we also have the option of day and night cream. Let’s talk day vs night cream and find out what makes them unique to their time of day.
So, what is the difference between the two?
Day Cream
The focus of a day cream is to hydrate and protect the skin against environmental damage. Day creams are typically formulated with humectants such as hyaluronic acid that help boost hydration and prevent moisture loss. They will also feature natural antioxidants and UV protection to guard against oxidative stress and sun damage. They tend to be lightweight formulas that wear well throughout the day and under makeup.
We recommend:
Glo Skin BeautyOil Free Moisturizer – lightweight formula offers a healthy dose of hydration and won’t clog pores. Ideal for oily or combination skin.
Glo Skin Beauty Oil Control Emulsion – hydrate and prevent oil build-up throughout the day with this unique moisturizer perfect for even the oiliest skin types. Ideal for very oily/acne prone skin.
Glo Skin BeautyConditioning Hydration Cream –balancing hydration and protection in a silky formula. Ideal for all skin types but oily.
Night Cream
Night creams are your treatment moisturizers. They contain high concentrations of reparative ingredients and moisture. These powerful formulas are not ideal for day wear as sun exposure may compromise the effects of the product. The consistencies may also be thicker and therefore do not wear appropriately under makeup. Night creams deliver their results while you sleep.
When comparing day cream and night cream we can say that your day cream will sustain results and protect the skin, and your night cream will deliver a higher dose of active ingredients and therefore faster results or benefits.
Tips on how to groom and treat/repair natural lashes post lash extensions.
Let’s talk….lash extension care!
Have you ever considered what you would do in the event that your favorite lash artist moved away? Or if you became part of that small percentage of clients that begin to experience irritation? Or the unthinkable….a pandemic put a halt to ALL your beauty services?!?
Well if you haven’t considered the alternatives to lash extensions , or you would like some tips on how to groom and treat/repair natural lashes post lash extensions, read on.
We need a break….
Lash adhesives and techniques have really come a long way since their early days. Reputable Lash Artists will use quality products and proper techniques to ensure your lashes are matched to the appropriate length/thickness to avoid damage while suiting your needs.
Although all precautions may be taken on both your artist and your behalf, extended wear and tear can alter the natural growth. A break from your lashes will help strengthen them up and restore before your next application.
Keep ‘em clean…
Keeping your lashes clean is important for proper lash extension care as it allows absorption of lash serums and natural moisture. Build-up on the lashes is also prime feeding ground for harmful bacteria that cause styes.
Use gentle eye makeup removers to break the bonds of your product and lift away build-up.
Follow up with a gentle foaming wash. A gentle facial cleanser or a lash foam and cleansing brush gets right down to the lash line. If you are choosing to use a brush, use soft pressure and small circular motions.
For lash extensions, use only if approved by your lash artist.
This process leaves your eyes feeling refreshed and makes for a squeaky-clean start to your makeup application.
**TIP** Stick to a gentle eye makeup remover if you have sensitive eyes.
Our picks for lash cleansing:
Glo Skin Beauty – Gentle Makeup Remover. This light formula removes even the most stubborn makeup and a little goes a very long way.
Glo Skin Beauty – Gentle Cream Cleanser Don’t be fooled by the name, this mild formula melts rights into your skin leaving a hydrated and clean surface.
Lily Anne – Eyelash Foam Bubble Wash ($29.90). This fine foam soaks right down to the base of your natural lashes and extensions leaving them clean and intact.
Lily Anne – Lash Cleaning Brush ($7.90) These soft bristled brushes are made specifically for the sensitive eye area and strip lash cleansing.
Treat and hydrate…
Keeping your lashes hydrated and enriched with nutrients will help prevent premature breakage and treat dry brittle lashes. Much like the hair on our head our lashes also benefit from added moisture.
Lash conditioners feed the hair strands with specialized nutrients that encourage new and longer hair growth. The lashes are able to rebuild and strengthen for better application in the future. Most conditioners are also compatible and recommended for use even with lash extensions.
Our top pick for lash conditioning:
EyEnvy – Lash & Brow Conditioner($69.95). Users report results in as little as 2 weeks with no side effects. The product is simple to use and can last months on end!
Keep in mind that if you have stray lash extensions hanging around, do not pull or cut them off. Contact your lash artist for recommendation for proper removal.
Hope this info helps ties you over until your next lash appointment!
*If you have other questions regarding lash care or other beauty matters, please submit your inquiries to bookings@dermica.ca. We may feature your questions in our next post!
Consider the following information when deciding to book dermaplaning vs waxing:
A FINE DIFFERENCE…
Waxing, unlike dermaplaning, is not able to pick up the very fine vellus hair.
Vellus hair is typically about 2 shades lighter than the natural hair colour or has no pigment at all. It’s really fine and has been eroding over the years through friction so its really hard for the wax (unless it is a specialty wax) to pick up these hairs.
MINOR TRAUMA
Also, waxing, although there are great formulas used in waxing services nowadays, there is still that minor trauma caused to the skin. That tug that happens isn’t always the greatest in really sensitive areas such as the eyes, the mouth, and the nose. While it does provide a bit of exfoliation, it does so in a really uncontrolled manner so there is a lot more chance of injuring the skin.
THE BRIGHT SIDE…
Dermaplaning delivers a very fine and detailed exfoliation surpassing the level of exfoliation delivered by waxing. For this reason, dermaplaning results is a brighter and even complexion.
We have listed a few bits of information to help explain what you may see for the first 15 days post-microblading.
1. Patchy coverage
This is normal to see in the first 7-10 days. The areas where you see dark patches are still in the process of moving the pigment up towards the surface and shedding the skin above. The lighter areas are those where the skin has already shed and has revealed fresh skin growth. They should even out by day 10.
2. Missing areas
These faint areas are covered with fresh skin cells. The new cells are full of “juice” and plumper than what we typically have at the surface of the skin.
Once the skin moves this layer of fresh cells (which contains the bulk of our micro-pigment) up to the surface they will dry and flatten. The strokes and pigment will then reappear and give us a proper measure of colour retention by approximately week 2.
3. Brows are lighter brown with pink undertone
While your skin is still in the recovery phase, it will have higher cellular activity at the site of repair thereby making the skin appear flushed. This undertone in the skin will temporarily alter the colour of the brows. The skin can take up 3 months to completely restructure, but you’re true colour typically shows before that around week 2.
