SCHOOL OF HAIRDRESSING & APPLIED THERAPIES
NVQ Level 2 Beauty Therapy
B6 – Carry out Waxing Services
Course Notes
Student Name: ____________________________
Introduction
Waxing is the temporary removal of body hair by pulling it out of the skin by the
root, using some form of bond. A hot, warm or cold wax product is spread over the
hairy area, and a cotton or paper strip is then removed in a quick, single movement.
It should leave the area clean and hair-free. Hygiene, client care and lots of practice
are necessary, which may mean this unit takes some practice to learn, but it is very
rewarding for you and the client.
Waxing treatments always form a large part of any salon’s business, as many
women in western society dislike body hair. However, some cultures, such as
eastern Europeans, do not dislike it. Waxing tends to be a steady source of income,
with peaks at certain times of the year. With the first rays of sunshine, clients wish
to show off hair-free legs, so spring is always busy. Christmas is another busy time,
when more revealing party outfits are worn and bodies need tender loving care and
that extra bit of maintenance.
Before you can give the client a full consultation, then plan and prepare for the
treatment, you need to understand:
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hair facts
wax facts
other methods of hair removal
This knowledge will allow you to make the best treatment decision for your client,
based upon a sound understanding of the choices available to suit their needs.
Benefits for the
client
Quick and
effective
method
Immediate
results
Minimal pain
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Lasts 4-6
weeks
Good hygiene practices
All good hygiene practices should be continuously carried out to ensure that no
cross-infection takes place – starting with preparation of the working area,
throughout the treatment itself, through to leaving the work area and equipment
clean and tidy ready for the next treatment. The client will then have total
confidence in the salon and it ensures you are following all the required health and
safety regulations.
Client
consultation
Salon hygiene
Protection
against
possible risks
Client hygiene
Good Habits
for Hygiene
Immunisation
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Personal hygiene
Good hygiene
knowledge
Code of practice for waxing
As the popularity of waxing increases, the code of practice has been
developed to protect clients and therapists and to ensure that high levels of
service are maintained. Any therapist working within the industry should
follow the codes of practice as a minimum standard – this is what is required
to meet acceptable health and safety guidelines. With an increase in waxing
treatments and with intimate waxing becoming more popular, it is now more
important than ever for therapists to protect themselves against legal action
from unhappy clients.
The Habia Code of Practice for Waxing can be divided into three main areas:
1. Client prep and consultation
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It is good practice to perform a patch test on all new clients, prior to the
consultation or treatment, to ensure there is no sensitivity to the
products you are using.
Every client should receive a full consultation before any waxing
treatment commences.
Information recorded during the consultation may be stored
electronically or filled manually.
Information must be kept confidential and must be kept for up to three
years.
During the consultation the client’s health and lifestyle will be discussed
as well as current methods used to remove the hair.
Contra-indications and contra-actions will be discussed as well as
aftercare for the client.
It is very important that the client signs the consultation form, to say
they agree with the information that has been recorded and that they
understand the aftercare advice given and will follow this advice.
2. Hygiene
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The spread of organisms which may cause diseases must be controlled
during waxing treatments.
All metal equipment must be sterilised using the appropriate techniques
(e.g. autoclave).
Each client needs new, disposable equipment such as spatulas.
Therapists should ensure that their personal presentation is to the
highest standard possible.
Therapists may wear aprons to protect their clothing.
They should put on disposable gloves directly before the waxing
commences and change the gloves between every client.
The therapist also needs to ensure that the client’s clothing is suitably
protected to prevent damage from products.
Every beauty therapy business should check with their local authority for
the methods of waste disposal required in their area. This is because
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some waste will be contaminated, (e.g. by client’s blood from blood
spotting).
3. Techniques during treatment
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One of the main injuries to occur during waxing is burns from the wax
being heated too high.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for guidelines on heating.
Therapists should test the wax on the inner part of their own wrist first
and then apply a small amount of wax to the client, to make sure the
temperature is tolerable for the client.
Therapists must ensure that clients are in the best position possible for
the area being treated to reduce the risk of bruising.
For first-time clients it is advisable to apply and remove a small amount
of wax first, so the client can experience the sensation before a large
amount of wax is applied.
For more information on the codes of practice, visit the Habia website:
www.habia.org.
Hygiene and Sterilisation
The importance of attention to detail with regard to hygiene and sterilisation
practices in the salon cannot be over-stressed. It is therefore important to realise
not only the skin being treated, but also everything that is likely to come into contact
with the client.
The two main conditions against which the therapist must guard are AIDS and
hepatitis, both of which are transmitted through blood.
The aim is to avoid cross infection from one client to another and from the client to
the therapist or vice versa. This can be achieved easily by:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Carrying out thorough sanitation of treatment rooms.
Correct sterilisation of tools.
Correct disposal of clinical waste.
Personal hygiene and safety.
Hygiene within the salon is easily achieved and the procedure should be a routine
matter. All equipment, hard surfaces and washable floors should be cleaned daily
with an antibacterial cleanser.
‘Sterilisation should not only be done,
it should be seen to be done’
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In other words, not only should the salon be as completely sterile as possible, but
also some of the processes should be carried out in front of the client for confidence
to be assured.
Warmth, moisture, darkness, and food are needed for germs to multiply. Disease is
spread by:
a) Direct contact – with infected person.
b) Infection by droplets in the air – sneezing.
c) Indirect contact – touching an infected towel, unsterilized tools.
Three micro-organisms that cause infection are:
a) Bacteria.
b) Viruses
c) Fungi
Methods of Sterilisation
The main methods of sterilisation are heat, chemical and radiation.
Sterilisation – destruction of micro-organisms.
Disinfection – some destruction of micro-organisms.
Method
Boiling
Autoclave
Suitability
For towels and headbands that
are suitable for machine
washing at high temperatures.
How it Works
Use at 60° to 100° as
the majority of germs
are destroyed at this
temperature.
Similar to a pressure cooker.
Distilled water only is
Ideal for metal instruments e.g. used and is heated
under pressure to a
cuticle knife, nippers, scissors.
temperature of 121°C.
Always follow
manufacturer’s
instructions for use.
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Liquid sterilisation
Ideal for immersion of small
tools to maintain sterilisation
e.g. tweezers.
Ideal to place the tools
in once they have been
sterilised in the
autoclave. ‘Barbicide’ is
a trade name used in
the salon.
Follow manufacturers
instructions for correct
dilution.
Ultra Violet cabinet
Not suitable for items with
body fluids on them.
Wash tools first.
UV waves travel in straight
lines and tools must be turned
over to ensure both sides are
completely sterilised.
Grease is a barrier to
sterilisation therefore the UV
cabinet must be kept very
clean.
Activated
Glutaraldehyde
Solutions
The UV cabinet is fitted
with a mercury vapour
lamp that emits uv
radiation, visible as uv
light at a wavelength of
254 nanometers. When
the necessary does is
delivered for a specific
length of time then
bacteria become
inactive. Lamps must be
changed after 2000
hours use.
Not very powerful.
Always follow
manufacturer’s
instructions for use.
Effective in destroying bacteria,
spores and fungi.
Glutaraldehyde has an
expected lifespan of 14
– 28 days.
Always follow
manufacturer’s
instructions for use.
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Assessment techniques and questioning the client
This is a vital part of the therapist’s role, all treatments and services are based upon
what you discover within the initial consultation. The only way to make correct
diagnosis of the client’s needs is through questioning and then tailoring your plan to
the information you receive.
The consultation also provides the initial bonding process between client and
therapist. You can get to know your client better as well as gaining a clear picture
of them for the treatment, including, contra-indications and what they hope to gain
from the treatment or service. Managing the client’s expectation is often a hard part
of the consultation – an eyebrow wax shape can only enhance the eye area and
remove hairs following the natural shape, but it will not change the natural shape
and turn them in to the client’s favourite celebrity!
A good therapist will use all the skills mentioned and follow the client’s body
language to help maintain the information required for a good effective treatment
plan. It must be gained mutually that the time and money involved and the results
suit both the client and the therapist. If the plan is unrealistic, the client will not
stay with the salon; they will go elsewhere.
Observation skills
Technical
knowledge
Clarification
techniques
Professional
Consultation
Treatment and
product knowledge
Questioning
techniques
Contra-indication
awareness
Effective
communication
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Questioning techniques
Asking questions is a skilled task. If you really want to find out what the client
thinks and needs from you, you need to ask them. How you ask, what you ask and
the type of question will dictate the reply you get. So, it is important that you give
some care to your questioning technique.
If you ask the right question and listen carefully to the answer, the treatment almost
plans itself! All information should be included on the record card, which you will be
filling out as you discuss details during the consultation. Use the record card as your
guide.
Closed questions
Closed questions usually need only one-word answers. They do not allow
conversation to flow, but they are good for confirming information so they have their
place, e.g. ‘Have you ever had high blood pressure?’ will enable you to confirm or
eliminate information when the client responds with ‘Yes, I have’ or ‘No, I have not’.
Sometimes you have to use a closed question if you just require facts, but try to
keep them to a minimum.
Open questions
Open questions provide a hook for the other person to respond to in more detail
than simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, e.g. ‘How did you get to the salon today?’ requires
the client to give a more detailed answer, so such questions are good to break the
ice. They help build a rapport with the client and out them at ease.
A professional therapist will use open or leading questions to help put their new
client at ease and draw them out ahead of the consultation, e.g. the following open
questions could be asked as she greets the client at the door.
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What’s the weather doing out there now?
How far have you come?
Where did you manage to park the car?
How did you hear about us?
It is better to use open questions than closed questions, such as:
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Is it still raining?
Have you been here before?
Did you get the bus?
Is this your lunch hour?
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Preparing the working environment
Preparing for waxing is essential. Most wax needs preheating so that the client is
not kept waiting. All equipment and materials should be in place to avoid leaving
the client alone.
Your Position and
posture
Wear suitable PPE
(Personal Protective
Equipment)
Check list!
Disposing of
hazardous waste
Minimising wastage
and ensuring the
treatment is cost
effective
Ensure client’s
records are up-todate and accurate
Consulting the client
You should use appropriate consultation techniques, including visual, questioning
and manual checks, to establish the treatment plan for the client. Remember that
you should record all details on the client record card and that the clients must give
their signed consent before the waxing treatment is carried out.
Remember that your consultation should be carried out with sensitivity and tact to
give the client confidence. You should conduct the consultation in a polite and
friendly manner to find out what the client’s particular needs are.
Once you have conducted the consultation, you should be able to decide on the best
treatment plan to meet the needs of the client. You should also agree your
approach with the client before you begin.
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Contra-indications and contra-actions
Before carrying out each waxing service, you will need to carry out a full and
detailed consultation with the client. Checking for contra-indications is a
necessary part of the therapist’s role – being able to identify
contraindications will mean that you can treat clients successfully without
making conditions worse and putting your clients at risk.
Contra-indications
Contra-indications can be classified into those that restrict and those that
prevent treatment:
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Restrict means you can adapt your treatment around the contraindication.
Prevent means you cannot treat the client until the condition has cleared
up or until they obtain a medical referral letter.
Contra-indication
Effect on treatment
Infectious skin
disorders/diseases
PREVENT – Risk of cross-contamination between therapist
and client
Open skin
RESTRICT – Wax cannot be applied over the affected area
but it can be worked around
Bruising
RESTRICT – Care must be taken when working around the
bruise in case it is still tender for the client.
Thin, crêpey skin
RESTRICT/PREVENT – Clients with diabetes will often have
thin skin that can be slow to heal. If in doubt refer the
client to their GP.
Sunburn
PREVENT – Due to skin being hypersensitive, you cannot
wax on sunburned skin.
Moles
RESTRICT – Can be worked around. Petroleum jelly may be
applied to the mole to prevent wax from accidently
adhering.
Recent scar tissue
PREVENT – New scars cannot be worked on because of the
delicate nature of the skin.
Excessive ingrown
hairs
PREVENT/RESTRICT – Depending on the severity of the
problem, ingrown hairs may be worked around. But if there
is a large number of infected follicles, the area should be
avoided completely until the infection has been treated.
Skin tags
RESTRICT – Similar to moles – these can be worked around
with petroleum jelly being applied if therapist requires;
commonly found on underarms.
Reactions from
previous treatments
PREVENT – Until the source of the reaction has been
discovered, more patch tests may be required to identify if
a product is responsible.
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Contra-actions
These may occur during the treatment or after it has taken place. It is
important to give your client full and detailed aftercare advice to help
prevent these reactions.
Contra-action
Action required
Erythema
Common after waxing, this should go down within 24 hours.
The client should avoid perfumed products or hot baths until
redness has faded.
Blood spotting
Common on areas of strong hair growth such as underarms
and bikini. The area should be cleaned with cold, damp
cotton wool and waste placed in the contaminated waste bin.
Bruising
Common on bikini line area. The client should be informed
and cold compress applied. Bruising should start to fade after
24 hours. Some clients are more prone to bruising – in this
case, ensure that you and the client stretch the skin
thoroughly. Note the occurrence on the client’s record card.
Allergic reaction
Clients may react to products at any time. If you suspect a
client is reacting to a product, remove all traces of the
product immediately and apply a cold compress. The client
should be encouraged to do this again at home. If the
reaction has not reduced after 24 hours they should seek
medical advice.
Diminished hair
growth
This is a positive effect of waxing. Over time the client’s hair
may become weaker and some areas may have patches with
no hair at all. No action is required.
Broken hairs
Strong terminal hair can sometimes break during waxing,
meaning there will be a quick regrowth. This can occur due
to poor technique or inappropriate wax products being used.
Hot wax may be more suitable for the client.
Swelling in
the are
Recognised as the area being tender and the skin
having a puffy appearance, swelling is caused by the
wax having too high a temperature or by the strips
being lifted off in an upward motion rather than back
on themselves.
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Ensure client signs consultation
form, to say they agree with
information and will follow
aftercare advice given
Wear disposable
gloves and change
between clients
Dispose of single use
items – for example,
spatulas, cotton wool
– after every client
Check temperature
of wax before
applying to client
Aprons may be
worn
Industry codes of
practice
Keep client records
for three years
Complete full
consultation on
every client
Ensure client is positioned
correctly to reduce risk of
injury to therapist or client
Sterilise equipment using
appropriate techniques; for
example, autoclave
Perform patch
test on new
clients
Medication
Ethnic background
Hormones
Factors affecting
hair growth
Hair strength and
texture
Number of hair
follicles
Illness
Emotion
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Ensuring the client is satisfied with the finished result
The client will appreciate it if you discuss the finished result with her. You
can make sure the client is satisfied, and that the agreed treatment plan ahs
been met.
Carefully check the area over. If necessary, tweeze the odd hair away using
sterilised tweezers.
Check the results before applying the aftercare lotion, as this makes the skin
quite slippery so the odd hair is more difficult to pick up with the tweezers.
A mini-massage while applying the aftercare lotion is always very soothing to
the nerve endings, and finishes the treatment with a pleasant feeling for the
client.
Once you have completed the treatment, take time to complete the client
record card.
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Where there any reactions during the treatment that will affect the
future treatment plan? Remember, it may not be you doing the
treatment next time.
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Did the client express any preferences or dislikes for waxing
mediums?
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Would you leave anything out next time?
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Did the client feel much pain? An over-the counter-painkiller could
be taken prior to the next treatment.
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Were products purchased?
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How was the skin reaction? Were there contra-actions?
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Products used in waxing
The table below identifies the different products used within a waxing
treatment. It also highlights the different types of wax available and which
type of client each wax is best suited to.
Products used
Function and description
Pre-wax lotion
● A cleansing lotion applied to the skin before wax.
● Removes any dirt and grease that may prevent wax
from adhering.
Warm wax
● The most common type of wax.
● Melts at 40–43 degrees Celsius.
● The quickest and most convenient wax to use.
Cream wax
● Melts at a lower temperature than warm wax, 35–43
degrees Celsius.
● More suitable for sensitive skins.
Hot wax
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Sugar paste
● Difficult to master as no strips are used.
● Works at body temperature so is more suitable for fine,
unpigmented hair.
Strip sugar
● Similar to warm wax but not as effective.
● More suitable for fine, unpigmented hair.
After-wax lotion
● Soothing lotion applied after waxing to calm the skin
and reduce redness.
● May also prevent open follicles becoming infected.
Pre-coated wax strips
● Available in paper or fabric – each therapist often has
their own preference.
● Can be cut smaller for different areas of the body.
● Used cold so not as effective as warm or hot wax.
More suitable for strong terminal hair.
Commonly used for intimate waxing.
Melts at 48–68 degrees Celsius.
Unsuitable for some skin types because of the high heat
involved.
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Provide aftercare advice
It is important that you discuss aftercare and homecare with your client
during the consultation, so that skin reactions and contra-actions can be
explained and understood.
A leaflet to take away is ideal for your client to refer to, as they may not
take in all the information, especially if they find the treatment painful.
Immediate aftercare
Your client should realise that the waxed area will be red abd there may be
some blood spots, especially where the hairs are strong, i.e. on the bikini or
underarm. The after-wax cleanser should be applied to remove any sticky
remains on the skin followed by after-wax soothing lotion to help cool the
skin and keep it moisturised.
Home care
You may like to devise a home care card like the one below
Aftercare – for a period of 24 hours
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No sunbathing or sunbeds
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Avoid tight clothing
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Avoid bathing in sea or swimming pool
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Do not use perfumed products on the area
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Do not take a hot bath or shower
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No make-up or self-tanning preparations
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Do not use deodorant/anti perspirant
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Do not keep touching or picking at the area
Long-term home care advice
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Encourage your client to look after the skin on her body as they
would the skin on their face.
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Lots of moisturiser will stop the skin becoming too dry, especially in
the winter months when legs are kept under trousers and tights.
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Sloughing the skin with a loofah in the shower will help keep the
blood circulation stimulated, bringing lots of oxygen and nutrients to
the skin to keep it in good condition.
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Massage will help remove the build up of toxins in the skin and keep
the area both nourished and smooth. Instruct your client to always
work towards the lymph nodes to help the body’s natural lymphatic
drainage.
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Exfoliating the skin will help to stop the hairs becoming ingrown.
Before leaving the salon, the client should be encouraged to make a repeat
appointment, usually in 4-6 weeks. However, this will depend upon the
colour and density of the hair and the area. It is important to stress to the
client that for effective waxing the hairs should be at the correct length.
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