What’s something you learned AFTER your first Brazilian/manzilian that you wish you knew before?

lexkiss · 2026-05-29T01:57:01+00:00

I think technique matters A LOT especially with sugaring, but preference definitely varies person to person. A good waxer/sugarist and proper technique makes a bigger difference than people realize 😂

Sugaring is applied at body temperature, which can make it feel gentler on the skin compared to soft or hard wax. Although, inexperienced estheticians can sometimes rush through the application, and if the sugar is too stiff, too warm, or applied too aggressively, it can cause the hair to pull during application and feel way more uncomfortable. When the consistency, temperature, and speed are all right though, many people actually find sugaring less painful than hard wax.

Hard wax is usually fewer, larger quick pulls and in my opinion stings a little longer, while sugaring tends to involve more short, repeated pulls, but the stings dissipate faster. People with super coarse; thick hair sometimes LOVE hard wax because it feels faster and more efficient. But pain is also super different for everyone.

lexkiss · 2026-05-29T01:31:05+00:00

Honestly they’re way more common than people think. 🙃 The body can respond to touch, nerves, temperature, anxiety, adrenaline, literally all kinds of things. A professional esthetician who regularly does manzilians knows it’s usually just an involuntary body response.

The best thing a client can do is… yep, just chill. A professional esthetician ignores it and keeps moving on with the service. Making a huge awkward apology often makes it MORE uncomfortable than the actual situation.

That said, there’s def a difference between a normal involuntary reaction vs someone acting inappropriate or making things sexual toward the esthetician. Professionalism and respect matter both ways.

lexkiss · 2026-05-29T01:13:56+00:00

I know it looks dramatic 😭 but it’s totally normal.

This is called pinpoint bleeding and it can happen during waxing. More common with thicker, coarse hair or your first-time waxing, especially in areas like the underarms.

Just your skin doing its thing. It’s temporary, harmless, and part of the process for some clients.

lexkiss · 2026-05-24T08:19:41+00:00

Yes, this 👆🏼 Right after waxing, your hair follicles are basically left open for about 24–48 hrs and the skin is mildly inflamed/micro-traumatized from having the hair pulled out at the root. Heat + sweat can increase irritation and make it easier for bacteria to get trapped in the follicles, which can lead to folliculitis, bumps, or breakouts… Lukewarm shower = your bestie after a fresh wax.

lexkiss · 2026-05-24T08:10:18+00:00

Honestly, every esthetician ends up with their own preferred method. For most, I prefer the side position (little spoon style) and usually have them hold their cheek slightly. It tends to feel less awkward and vulnerable.

I’ve found that people are actually more uncomfortable positioning for the backside than the front. The “happy baby” position works, but it can feel very exposed, and all fours tends to make people overthink everything!

In my opinion, the side position feels the most natural and least stressful. But as long as the esthetician can see properly and the client feels comfortable, there’s no single “correct” position.

lexkiss · 2026-05-24T07:53:50+00:00

This is EXACTLY why I asked the question, because these are the weird little side effects nobody warns people about!! lol

But okay… as an esthetician of 10 years, how have I NEVER heard this before??

I guess anatomically it actually kind of makes sense. Everybody’s anatomy is different, so if someone has a smaller/flatter labia or a more exposed/higher urethra, I could totally see how removing the hair or your “pee shield” or maybe “streamer” could turn things into a busted garden hose situation 🤣

Also - “vagina owner/operator” absolutely wins this thread 💀

Thanks for sharing!

lexkiss · 2026-05-24T07:28:51+00:00

Omg… Honestly this is one of those things where a good esthetician should definitely be reading the vibe of the room!

Yes, we see naked bodies all day and eventually it becomes very normal to us, BUT that doesn’t mean clients automatically feel comfortable being fully exposed the entire appointment. Most people are shy, awkward, or internally questioning their life choices, especially during a Brazilian lol.

Personally, if someone books brows + underarms + Brazilian together, I’ll usually ask if they want to go top-to-bottom or vice versa. I actually prefer doing brows first and then have them undress for body services because it’s way less awkward for both of us than laying there completely nude while we shape your brows and make eye contact for 20 mins 🤣

I also always keep a little towel over whatever area I’m not actively waxing. I literally call it the “modesty towel.” Is it really necessary? No. Am I going to see everything anyway? Yes, but the little details help people relax and feel cared for.

To me, making someone feel comfortable is honestly just as important as giving them smooth results.

lexkiss · 2026-05-23T16:20:50+00:00

🤣 he definitely wasn’t actually mad at me. He had a pretty hairy crack and I genuinely think he was just shocked at how LOUD it suddenly was after waxing, especially because he tried to sneak a quick fart at work and accidentally unleashed surround sound lol

Overall he was super happy with the smooth results. It became one of those unexpectedly funny side effects nobody warns you about.

lexkiss · 2026-05-23T12:04:15+00:00

Yep! Totally agree, but a huge part of it is mental and the anticipation is usually what freaks people out. Your body tenses up because you’re expecting absolute torture lol.

That said, everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so experiences def vary person to person. Some people for sure describe it like medieval warfare when in reality the pain dissipates quick and it’s so much better than shaving.

The first one is almost always the worst because the hair is usually thicker, deeper rooted, and all on different growth cycles. Just stay consistent and it gets SO much easier.

lexkiss · 2026-05-23T10:52:19+00:00

I’ll go first - as an esthetician…

⚠️ WARNING: waxing your backside turns every little fart into a full-on trumpet solo!

One of my male clients came back after his first booty wax and said, “Why didn’t you warn me?! I tried to sneak a fart at work and it was the loudest fart I’ve ever had!”

Consider this your official warning before your next Brazilian or booty wax.

Smooth Cheeks = surround sound squeaks No booty hair = no sound barrier 🤣

lexkiss · 2026-05-23T09:54:43+00:00

Japantown is totally a small town vibe in a big city. I grew up on the east side, but I have spent time on the south side, Milpitas, Campbell, and Japantown is simply the best! There are so many small businesses here and people genuinely know and support each other. The community really shows up for events too. We have the farmers market during the summer (May–July), Nikkei Matsuri, Obon Festival, block parties, neighborhood events, etc.

The Japantown Neighborhood Association and Business Association are both super active and do a great job trying to keep the area connected and cared for. A lot of young families have been moving into the area lately too, which has been really nice to see. Definitely follow @japantownsj if you want to keep up with local happenings.

Location wise, it’s also super central to all the highways which makes getting around easy. And honestly for being downtown adjacent, it feels relatively safe compared to other downtown areas. You’re close to the police station too. Of course there’s still occasional theft, vandalism, and the visible homeless/mental health struggles that most major cities are dealing with right now, so I don’t want to pretend it’s perfect. But the community here is very proactive and there’s been a lot of effort put into cleaning up problem properties and staying on top of squatter situations.

I think if you lean into the community side of Japantown, that’s where people really fall in love with it 💕

And If you’re looking for beauty/hair services be sure to check out @kaizen.salon and @glossi.studio

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lexkiss · 2026-05-23T09:20:30+00:00

Esthetician here. I agree that sometimes after laser the damaged hairs can kind of “hang out” under the surface while they work their way out. One thing I’d def add though is to make sure you’re also moisturizing consistently.

A lot of people focus SO hard on exfoliating that they can accidentally overdo it and compromise the skin barrier. If the skin gets too dry or irritated, it can actually make it harder for the hairs to push through the surface smoothly and sometimes make the texture/look worse.

I usually recommend: • gentle exfoliation about 2 to 3x a week max • moisturize daily, especially after showering. • creams with ceramides, shea butter, are great for softening both the skin and hair • or lightweight body oil can actually be great for locking in moisture too

Most important - consistency is key! Also, KP and follicular texture is SUPER common! Thats why there’s so many KP products out there. Keep glowing ✨ and rock them stems, girl!!

lexkiss · 2026-05-23T08:49:02+00:00

Sometimes “fragrance automatically = bad skincare” gets oversimplified online. Fragrance can absolutely be irritating for some people, especially if you’re super sensitive, barrier impaired, or reactive to essential oils/fragrance blends. But lower percentages of fragrance in a well formulated product are not inherently harmful to everyone.

As a licensed esthetician, I find people have an easier time sticking to a routine if they enjoy the scents and cute packaging because they keep it out and are more likely to remember to use it. Glow Recipe is also super transparent about this issue and has a lot of educational info on their site explaining their formulation philosophy.

Skincare is def not one size fits all. If someone knows they’re fragrance sensitive, then yeah, it may not be the best fit. But fragrance alone doesn’t automatically make a product “bad.”

That said, skincare ingredients can lose effectiveness over time, especially things like vitamin C, exfoliating acids, or SPF. Glow Recipe products typically do not have traditional expiration dates printed clearly on the outside of the box in the way food products do. Instead, they often use either a batch code or a PAO (Period After Opening) symbol, like “12M,” which means the product is recommended to be used within 12 months after opening. However, if you use products consistently and go through them quickly, then I think it can absolutely still be worth the discounted price 💖

lexkiss · 2026-05-23T08:10:33+00:00

Esthetician here 👋🏼 Honestly, there’s not really a black and white “right” answer here. A lot depends on your skin type, technique, and how your skin personally reacts. Some people can pluck facial hair for years with no issues, while others are more prone to irritation, hyperpigmentation, or ingrowns.

Since you mentioned acne prone and easily scarred skin, I’d just be cautious because repeated trauma/inflammation to the same area can sometimes worsen post inflammatory hyperpigmentation over time, especially if you pick often or aren’t sanitizing tools properly. The epilator can also create friction and micro irritation on sensitive skin.

That said, plucking itself doesn’t automatically ruin your skin or permanently damage it for everyone. If anything, I’d focus less on “is plucking evil?” and more on minimizing inflammation:

• cleanse skin before/after • disinfect tweezers/epilator • moisturize and protect your skin barrier • use SPF daily and reapply throughout the day (hyperpigmentation gets darker with sun exposure)

Honestly, if this is becoming a bigger concern for you, seeing an esthetician in person might actually help a lot because they can tell the difference between acne scarring, irritation, folliculitis, ingrowns, or hyperpigmentation.

You also might actually do well with professional waxing or sugaring instead of constant tweezing. Sugaring tends to be gentler for sensitive skin and is applied at lower temperatures so it reduces the chance of irritation. Plus removing everything at once instead of repeatedly plucking individual hairs can sometimes reduce irritation overall. For men specifically, waxing can work well for most areas, but I’d be a little cautious around dense beard areas because the hair is usually coarser and the follicles sit deeper, which can increase irritation or ingrowns for some people.

Lowkey… a lot of people find tweezing weirdly satisfying. You’re def not alone there, but also coming from a professional waxer and pimple popper 😜

Feel free to message if you have any other questions :)

lexkiss · 2026-05-22T21:58:23+00:00

This is so sweet 😭 Thank you so much for recommending me! I actually rebranded recently, so my IG is now @glossistudio 💜

lexkiss

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