Clearwater Center proudly provides body waxing, electrolysis & hair removal services to clients in
River Falls, Ellsworth, Prescott, Hudson, Roberts, Hammond, Baldwin, Somerset, New Richmond,
Spring Valley, Menomonie, Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Lakeland, Lake Elmo, Woodbury,
and the surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Body Waxing

Body Waxing?  Why won't you wax my face
for me?

On women, the facial hair (except the eyebrows) is under hormonal control.  Unlike the rest of your body hair, facial hair when waxed will come back thicker, stronger and bring friends!  Obviously we are in the business of helping you eliminate your hair problem, not making it worse.  Therefore we do NOT wax on the face.  Period.  We will happily tweeze your eyebrows for you and professionally sculpt them.  Perhaps you'd like to consider having them permanently shaped with expert electrolysis.


Is it safe to get waxed?  I heard you can catch diseases from waxing ick!
At Clearwater Center we utilize fresh hospital grade latex-free disposable gloves for
EVERY waxing service to minimize exposure.  We also NEVER double dip waxing
sticks as this transfers bacteria to the warm wax pot and allows it to breed there and
passes it to the next client.  

For strip waxing (where one uses a heated wax, applies it to the skin then rubs a
piece of fabric or strip on the wax then zips off the strip hence strip wax) we utilize the
patented PHD Waxing System.  It has disposable applicators that are changed for
EACH client and a one way valve in the applicator that prevents the wax from
"backwashing" like a roll on system does so the used wax and applicator never touch
the wax supply eliminating any chance of cross contamination of product.

For hard waxing of coarse hair such as bikini line or under arm hair, we utilize fresh
applicators for each application and NEVER double dip.

We clean the skin before each treatment with state approved antiseptics and utilize
hospital level disinfection and sterilization on all our non-disposable implements and
tools.  

Waxing is very safe with proper after care by the client and proper hygiene by the
technician.  If you have a doubt about your salon's waxing, see sticks left in their wax
pot, or they don't glove, don't risk an infection just leave immediately.


Really, you wax men too?  What kind of guys do that?
All sorts of men, especially one who wants to look great without any effort. Being hair free isn't just for women.  Many men are enjoying being maintenance free and riding themselves of unwanted back hair, eyebrow hair, and excess body hair.  Many very athletic men including bicyclists, body builders, swimmers, and runners find waxing far more esthetically pleasing and easier than shaving body hair before competing.  Unlike shaving stubble, waxed areas grow in finer and softer feeling and pass the "snuggle" test.  Is it easier to shave every day or wax once a month or so?


How should I prepare myself before getting waxed?
The best way to prepare yourself is to first relax and know you're in good hands.  Our
staff is very well trained and experienced.  Our goal is to make this treatment as
pleasant as possible and to help you be as comfortable with the procedure as
possible.  Trust us, we've seen it all before!  You can be confident in our hygiene
practices and in our skill.

You may want to avoid using harsh soaps or astringents for 2 hours before and after
waxing. Definitely avoid any tanning or hot water (hot showers, hot soaking baths, hot
tubs etc.) for 8 hours before or after treatment.  A normal warm shower to clean up
before waxing is appreciated.  Some clients choose to take an OTC pain reliever
such as Advil or Tylenol 45 minutes before their appointment.  We have also found
that clients that take an antacid or two 30 minutes before their appointment
experience less redness post treatment.


How often should I get waxed?
Your Electrologist will develop a custom treatment plan for you detailing how often you need to come in for best results.  On average every 3 to 4 weeks is the recommended or when the hair reaches 1/4 inch in length. The first wax it is ideal to have hair slightly longer, about 1/3" long.  We can always trim hair that is too long, but it is difficult to get smooth results if hair is not long enough!  Better too long then too short!


Will the treatment hurt--I've seen waxing in movies...will I die?
It will be uncomfortable but tolerable.  The first time you wax is always more uncomfortable than later waxes.  After all, you have allowed those hairs to grow for years in some cases and they can be extremely coarse.  As you continue with waxing the treatments will be more and more comfortable as we are dealing with new smaller hairs and you will be able to space them out a bit more.  Removing hair directly from the follicle is never super comfortable, but our staff is professional, fast, and highly experienced.  If you can remove a band-aid you can wax just fine.


What should I wear?
This of course depends on the area to be waxed and your personal comfort/modesty
level.  A few suggestions:

Avoid wearing clothes that will fit tightly over the area to be waxed.  This can cause
uncomfortable chafing or rubbing after your waxing.  For the back or chest wear a
darker colored soft shirt as wax can stain lighter colored fabrics.  For the underarms,
you may wear a tank top or remove your shirt.  For most hair patterns, ladies may
keep their bra on.  For leg waxing you may wear looser fitting pants or skirt and for full
leg waxing an old swimsuit or underwear.

For all bikini line waxing, during the treatment you can leave your underwear on or off.  
Depending on what hair you would like removed, select appropriate underwear styles
(i.e. a thong if you want the derriere waxed).  We prefer to provide disposable
underwear for those having bikini line/genital waxing done as there can be some wax
residue and we'd hate to ruin your favorite pair.  With the Playboy or the full Sphinx
wax it is easier for us if you are comfortable without your underwear and instead use
our disposable pairs but we respect your modesty.


How long will it take?
That depends on the area and how much hair you have. We never upcharge.  For
bikini waxing plan up to an hour, for legs and bikini up to 90 minutes.  For a back or
chest plan up to 60 minutes.  For underarms or arms plan 15-30 minutes.  If you are
an electrolysis client we simply charge by treatment time.  We will only charge you for
the time we use and we will do our best to estimate the worst case scenario for you
ahead of time so there are never any surprises when it is time to pay.  Generally,
virgin waxing takes longer then subsequent waxes as with subsequent waxes there will only be the active
growing hair present so there will be less of it.  If you are a waxing only client please
see our fee schedule below.


What kind of wax do you use?
We utilize many different types of both hard and soft wax depending on the area to be
waxed, they type of hair growth and the client's skin.  We do not change any
additional fees for hard waxing and tend to use hard wax (a.k.a. stripless wax,
European wax or Brazilian body wax) on underarms and bikini lines as a rule as
these tend to have very coarse hair.


I've heard there are different types of Bikini Waxes or patterns, what will you do?
Great Question!  We offer four types of Bikini Wax Treatments for men and women:
Regular Bikini, Brazilian Bikini, Playboy Bikini and the Sphinx (a.k.a. the Full Monty,
the Bare All Bikini and incorrectly as a Brazilian).  I will present them in order from
least hair removed to most:

The Regular Bikini Wax - Removes all hair outside of the brief style panty line.  This is
a very conservative wax, perfect for your first time bikini wax.  

The Brazilian Bikini Wax - Is really a very modest wax and is all about the backside!  It
leaves a vertical stripe or triangular shape in the vaginal area, two to three fingers in
width. Hair is not removed from the labia (outer folds of the vulva also called the lips).
Hair is removed from the derriere (buttocks) and in the cleft between them.  Named
for the look made famous by Brazilian women that wear tiny thong Bikinis, as you
could never spot any hair when looking from behind. With the Brazilian it's not what
you leave up front it's what you don't leave as viewed from behind.  Picture what is
covered by a thong, we don't remove what would be covered.  

The Playboy Bikini Wax*  - Basically we will removal all the hair from the genital
region leaving a small
triangle of hair in various shapes on top of the pubic mound.  All hair is removed from the labia; and the derriere. Named after the famous Playboy Playmates featured in the magazines because that's what you'd see on the models.

This is an excellent choice if you tend to have the dreaded "swampy" condition or
suffer from yeast infections.  From a hygienic perspective, this can be the best option
for easy cleansing and drying of the genital area.  Genital hair tends to trap moisture
creating a perfect warm moist environment for a host of bacteria and fungal
infections.  If you happen to have psoriasis in the genital region, this is the wax I would
recommend, you'd be surprised how quickly it seems to clear up once waxed.  

The Playboy pattern the derriere and the backside cleft are optional but recommended for the most esthetically pleasing results.  We know what you are thinking, and you will be surprised how little sensation that backside will have, after all its built to be sat on and used...

The Sphinx or Bare All Bikini Wax - Hair is entirely removed from the vulva area,
labia, and from the derriere. Just like the name says, it's bare all. Sometimes this
treatment is referred to as "The Full Monty" Bikini Wax and in these parts incorrectly
as a Brazilian bikini wax.


So um, it's due to be "that time of the month" when my bikini waxing appointment is
scheduled should I cancel?
We realize that hair removal doesn't always coincide with your most convenient
moments.  Although you will be feeling "not so fresh" really it doesn't impact our job at
all or bother us in any way.  Feel free to keep your appointment as generally unless
you are telling us we'd have never known.  We would recommend you utilize a tampon,
 If you are a tampon user you can tuck the string up and we will be all set to wax away.  We respect your comfort level and if you would rather reschedule of course we understand.


I have just tons of hair...I feel like sasquatch...really can you help me too?
Absolutely, remember what is a lot of hair to you and what is a lot of hair to us in our
professional experience, are two very different things.  Trust us, you aren't alone, and
every day we assist people just like you in eliminating years of embarrassing hair
from virtually anywhere.  No one has too much hair for us to deal with.  
How much does it cost?  Please check your consultation package for the current rate card!
If you are also an electrolysis client then we charge only for actual treatment time for waxing and electrolysis.  What that means is if you have a 15 minute appointment you will not be in and out in your car in 15 minutes.  You will be in the treatment chair for 15 minutes.  We book additional time between each client to ensure you receive your full time.  If you are squeezing us between your other appointments allow us about a 30 minute window for your 15 minute appointment.
If you are a waxing only client then our fee schedule is as follows:
Under Arms
$25
Full Back (includes low back to the belt, full shoulders, nape of neck, top of
arms)
$60
Nape of Neck
$25
Hands and Fingers
$30
Feet and Toes
$30
Arms (wrist to the top of shoulder both arms)
$45
3/4 Legs (top of the knee down to ankle both legs)
$45
Full Legs (top of thigh down to ankle both legs)
$70
Full Legs with Standard Bikini Line
$90
Standard Bikini Line (see pattern explanation)
$30
Brazilian Bikini Line (see pattern explanation)
$45
Playboy Bikini Line (see pattern explanation)
$55
Full Sphinx/Full Monty/Bare-All Bikini Line
$60
Chest (includes tops of shoulders to the belt line)
$65
Abs only down to belt line
$45
We also offer pre-paid treatments savings:
                          Prepay for 5 treatments and save 5%
                          Prepay for 10 treatments and save 10%
What forms of payment do you accept--do you send a bill?
We accept cash, checks, Visa or MasterCard at the time of service.  We are happy to provide a receipt or statement if you need it for your FLEX spending plan, income tax returns for deduction as an un-reimbursed medical expense, or your records.


Ideas To Make Your Treatment More Comfortable

-
Avoid caffeine 6 - 10 hours before treatment.
-Don't smoke 2-4 hours prior to treatment.
-You may want to try taking your favorite OTC analgesic, such as Tylenol, Advil, or
aspirin, 30 minutes before your treatment.
-Practice using deep breathing and other relaxation techniques.  Remember it will be
over very quickly.
-Consider using one of the topical anesthetics (numbing agents) we offer before you
arrive for your treatment.  
-Try taking an antacid (Tums, Rolaids etc.) 30-45 minutes before your treatment, it
helps reduce redness double quick!  
-Waxing services are not recommended for those clients using (or have used in the last six months) Acutane or Retin A products.  If you have utilized these or similar products please be aware there is a very real risk of loosing skin if you wax as these products by nature thin the skin!

-We are also unable to wax if you have tanned on the day of your waxing appointment, or if you have a visable sunburn or other non-intact skin issue for your own safety.