TO the uninformed, the term “bikini wax” may be mistakenly referred to as something that’s used to make one’s swimwear shine. Hardly.
A bikini wax is actually a procedure that involves the use of a balm to remove unsightly hair around a woman’s V-zone that would otherwise render the wearing of a bikini unappealing.
The idea is nothing new, waxing of the sort has been prevalent for centuries in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, Arabia, Turkey and Persia. Historically, the waxes used in those days were usually made from sugar and lemon. Today there are several types of bikini wax.
For instance, there is Brazilian bikini wax. In the Philippines many people probably haven’t heard of this but it has been popular since 1987, when Brazilian women began wearing thong bikinis. It was introduced in the US in the same year, when J. Sisters International Salon was opened in Manhattan, New York, by seven Brazilian sisters (Jocely, Jonice, Joyce, Janea, Jussara, Juracy and Judseia Padilha). With a Brazilian wax, much of the the hair from V-zone and the buttocks is completely removed. A strip of hair (in the shape of a strip or triangle) may be left on the front. The skin is always left feeling silky and smooth. Those who wear bikinis and thongs will instantly realize the benefits of having a Brazilian bikini wax and the resulting confidence brought on by decorative or complete hair removal.
For some, the process of getting all of that hair removed with hot melted wax is as painful as it sounds. In fact, the Brazilian wax job has been criticized by many women because of the pain involved, although the women in Brazil seem to have no problem with the procedure. This is probably why Filipinos are more receptive to a regimen of shaving, tweezing and plucking.
Five years ago, Lay Bare Waxing Salon—a local establishment that offers bikini wax to its customers (www.lay-bare.com.ph)—added a new definition of “Brazilian” to the Filipino vocabulary. Aside from Brazilian, they offer a wide selection of body waxing services for almost every part of the body, from eyebrows, upper and lower lip to arm, chest, even the entire body if you so wish. From a small shop with only two technicians, Lay Bare has now 31 branches nationwide.
During its fifth anniversary, which was held at the Hard Rock Café in Makati, Lay Bare Waxing Salon showcased the beauty of waxing with a fashion show, dubbed Strands Out, featuring GMA heartthrob Aljur Abrenica and Ornusa Cadness, one of the hottest models in the country.
Since opening their first branch in 2006, entrepreneurs Fiona and Monique Hilario sought to capture their niche of the hair-removal market by offering a special set of services not available from the usual all-around beauty salons. The Hilario sisters conceptualized a “waxing boutique” that would concentrate solely on providing customers with a stress-free hair-removal experience by offering a full-range of professional body-waxing services.
“Hair removal is part of our beauty and hygiene regimen, something that different people do in different ways—some prefer shaving or plucking, while others prefer painless depilatory creams. What Lay Bare offers is a convenient hair-removal alternative that better matches today’s lifestyle trends. Ours is an easily accessible professional waxing service that gives you two to six weeks of smooth, fuzz-free skin and no more traumatic experience,” said Fiona.
In place of the scalding wax and the quick rips of hair from the skin that are typical of body-waxing procedures, Lay Bare has pioneered the use of cold wax jelly and an innovative patch-waxing technique. Made from all-natural ingredients that suit extrasensitive skin, Lay Bare’s cold wax jelly virtually eliminates incidents of nicks, cuts or burns, and is a relatively comfortable procedure. Combined with the patch-waxing technique, skin trauma is further reduced by removing a small section of hair at a time.
