Male waxing is becoming much more acceptable and popular now, with more salons offering it and more customers requesting it. Much of the hair removal training is concentrated on areas of the body for women, who remain by far the highest proportion of clients who wax. The back and shoulders is probably the most requested male hair removal treatment and if you have never waxed one before it can be quite daunting.

Preparation

When the client makes their appointment, ask them to bring a clean t-shirt or shirt to wear after the hair removal treatment. Some men with particularly hairy backs often trim or shave the area around the base of the neck to prevent hair from sticking to the neckline of clothing and for comfort. This can lead to those hairs being too short for us to wax, so when the client asks for an appointment, you can advise them to grow some hair before the appointment.

Begin with the client in the prone (face down) position on your treatment table. Now you can assess the direction of hair growth, there is usually a line from the base of the neck growing towards the waist and then inwards from either side towards the middle.

If the hairs are more than approximately 1 cm in length, they should be trimmed with a suitable set of razors. Grade 2 (6mm) is a perfect length for waxing; this provides a good length for the wax to adhere to and for client comfort. If the hairs are left too long, they may break off rather than be removed and will be more painful for the client.

Rub and clean the area to be waxed with a suitable Pre-Wax cleaning product. Perron Rigot’s Blue Lotion or Eau de Cristal Lotion are great products for this, and can also be used after waxing to remove any wax residue.

Make sure the skin is dry, wipe with a sofa roll or disposable towel, and then apply a very small amount of light oil to the area to be waxed. The oil should be used instead of talcum powder; it’s easier to use, it’s a lot less complicated, and it really makes the customer experience a lot more comfortable. The oil provides a lipid barrier between the wax and the skin, so the wax only sticks to the hair and not to the skin, making it much less painful. Perron Rigot or Berins Jasmin Oil are great products for this. It is important to remember that you only need a small amount of oil! If you apply too much and find the wax slips off, simply wipe with a wax strip or couch roll.

hair removal

Start by removing the center line of hair that grows down your spine towards your waist. Some therapists find it easier to do this using hot wax/no strips; use the one that is most comfortable and safe for you.

This will give you a nice straight line to wax now for the sides, remember not to wax around the corners. So I do each side in two or three sections, depending on the size of the client. Starting about 10 to 15 cm from the closest edge of the wax line, apply a thin layer of wax toward the midline. Start just above the waist and work your way up to the scapula (shoulder bone).

Remember to apply the wax in the direction of hair growth. Then, using strips of paper, remove the wax and hair, remembering to keep the skin stretched and stretched at all times. Then make another section, again about 10-15cm long down the back and continue until the nearest side is complete. Now move to the other side of the client and repeat for this side. Reaching the outer back, it is often easier to ask the client to lie on their side and raise their arm above their head.

If you find that the skin dries out as you wax, apply a little more of the oil at the beginning of each section.

It is important to bring the hairline below where the client wears their pants. Ask the customer to slightly lower their pants and trousers, explain why, and then follow the same procedure as above. Start by epilating the middle section first, then from the sides. This usually goes down to the top of the neckline of the buttocks.

Once that’s done, this is a good time to apply your after-wax products to cool and soothe the waxed area. I usually use a good quality Tea Tree based moisturizer, using a product that you can also sell afterwards is very helpful.

Ask the client to now sit at the end of the table so you can complete the hair removal of the upper back, base of the neck, and shoulders.

When waxing your shoulders, make sure to go above and down to your collarbone, as this gives you a natural line. For the outer part of the shoulder always ask the client how far they would like to wax, I usually follow the line of the deltoid muscle. If your arms have a bit of hair, it’s usually best to make sure the plucked area doesn’t extend past your shirt line.

Aftercare

As you complete the treatment, introduce the aftercare procedure to your client. Give them your aftercare tips both verbally and in writing. Also ask them if they would like to take home any aftercare products.

Men are pretty lazy, so products like Tea Tree based skin washes work really well.