Hello,

I am an esthetician student, and have a question.  I am curious about whether it is essential to do Brazilian waxes in this industry?  

Do most spas expect you to do them in order to be hired?  Or is it optional because other estys will gladly do it?  What are your experiences?

Also wondering how this applies to living in Miami?  

Thank you in advance for your insight.

Tags: brazilian, wax

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Well this won't be a very popular answer, but as an esthetician,  we are trained to do a number of things...not just provide skin care services.  Even if we have our own business (I have owned my own business for 17 years) it just makes good sense to be proficient at as many things as you can that you are licensed to do.  Why would you want a client coming to you for one thing and then going down the block for another service that legally you can provide?   Any time one of your clients visits another esthetician, THAT esthetician has the opportunity to offer other services to them.  If they have good personal chemistry and that esthetician happens to be great at Brazilians and also gives a fantastic skin care treatment, why wouldn't the client give that person all their business AND refer their friends?  I was terrified of doing brazilians 5 years ago and now they are fast easy money for me and it's yet another service I can offer to my existing client base.  I've also had people find me initially for Brazilians and I've turned them into phenomenal full service clients who buy every product I recommend and do packages of skin care treatments and peels.  Until this year I never carried a makeup line because doing makeup wasn't a real passion of mine.  But I paid attention to my clients and knew they were purchasing it elsewhere so it make perfect sense to bring in a line and start practicing smokey eye, etc.  Now I have another reason for my clients to pop in and purchase product or get their makeup done.  Unless you're independently wealthy or have such a huge clientele (like Laura the Acne Specialist) that you can make a phenomenal living off just one service, then go for it.  But if you're looking to make money, it just makes sense to do more than one type of service or you will struggle over the long term.  As far as being an employee for someone and interviewing for jobs, I can tell you as a business owner, I won't hire someone that's not willing to do certain things.  If they aren't super proficient at something I will train them or send them for a class, but I will make sure they get proficient otherwise it makes zero sense for them to work for me.  Skin Care still is and will always be my passion but my income has increased quite a bit since getting over my fears and discomfort and becoming proficient at things like Brazilian waxing and makeup.

I agree so much about the scope of practice and the risk of clients bringing all their business to another esthetician.  I've had clients who were getting one thing done at one place, came to me for something different, and now come to me for both services.  Frankly, the more estheticians are highly specialized, the better for my business, as I'm able to provide an ever-growing menu of services.

thats cheap $25! im slow so would take hour no matter what- i knocked braz and bikini off services off but still do legs-facial and chest- that area just makes me nervous. if someone really needed one or wanted- i would do it but not pushing/promoting! I would want my employee to wax though but would not force anything they didnt feel comfortable- guess when you the boss the rules change

I get it from your previous posts that you just don't want to wax, which I completely respect.  Nevertheless, I think it's worth pointing out that those prices are way too low, for any market!  If you are in a market with a lot of franchise wax salons (Miami comes to mind) that price this way, it is probably not even worth it to offer them.  BUT if you are in most US cities, you can and should be charging around $60 for Brazilian, $35-$45 for bikini, and able to do a Brazilian in less than 30min and a bikini in less than 15min.  That's where we who enjoy offering these services make the money - the supplies are cheap, and once you can do them fast, you can squeeze them into a schedule that is predominantly composed of facials and skin treatments, and see a nice bump in revenue.

For me it's also a break from sitting, and an opportunity to have a more chatty session (versus facials where I have to let them sleep).  The variety keeps me at a nice pace throughout the day.

I charge $50 or $55 for my brazilians and it takes me less than 15 minutes to do.  I also charge $20 and up for a basic bikini and it's a 5 minute service if that.

It's super fast easy money.  No one gets out of school EXCITED at the thought of any waxing for the most part, let alone Brazilians.  Being so closed minded isn't going to open a lot of doors for you.  When you get to where Christine is and have a successful busy spa and staff members to do the services you don't prefer to do, then you'll be in a good position to be able to pick and choose what services you are willing to do.

As a spa owner, I hate it when service providers tell me they are comfortable doing a service that they really don't want to do, and don't know how to do well!  I would MUCH rather have an interview answer truthfully about something she is reluctant to do.  Ordinarily I would accomodate that preference.  Possibly, if I had posted the job opening due to an overwhelming demand for one particular service, I would determine that it was not a fit.  I would prefer either of those outcomes rather than having clients receive a service from someone unwilling to perform it.

I wouldn't say it's essential but it is still good for you to know how to perform a Brazilian Wax. Personally I hated doing Brazilians in school I just felt like it wasn't my strong suite. I perform laser hair removal treatments and honestly I prefer that. it's a lot easier ,less messy, and a lot of day spas and med spas like that I have a duel license. So if anything I would suggest getting into Laser hair removal courses it's always good if you can't find an aesthetic job you have something to fall back on. 

I have to say that I am so happy to see so many of you speaking up and saying that you should provide the services you are comfortable with!  As a Regional Educator for the Cirepil waxing system I see this struggle often.  I do agree that YOU need to be comfortable with the services you provide or you probably will not be putting your best foot forward.  Yes waxing is a fantastic way to make money but you won't be keeping any clients if you are not as proficient. Brazilian waxing is something that you need to be able to take charge doing because if both you and your client are uncomfortable your going to have a challenge on your hands. 

I always suggest watching videos, going to as many classes as you can because that will help you determine your comfort level.  You are not the only one who feels this way, it takes time to find your comfort zone. 

I do know plently of Estheticians who don't do any waxing and are very successful.

Hi ladies, just have to pip in here.  Brazilians are not a necessity, however they are (along with brows and facial waxing) the most profitable waxing services an esthetician can perform.  Leaving them off of your menu is like leaving hundreds of dollars a month just lying on the ground. 

In general, business is about making money.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  It isn't a hobby or something we just do out of the kindness of our hearts. 

If you are making enough money and bringing in enough new clients without offering Brazilian waxing, more power to you.  Just know that it is 10X's easier to get a new waxing client than a new facial client.  Then once you have that waxing client, it's even easier to turn them into a facial client. 

From what I am reading here, of the people that have done them or considered doing them, the consensus seems to be that they

1. Don't feel that they are good at it

2. Never had proper training

3. Are afraid (that they aren't good enough, take too long etc)

There are solutions to all of these issues, that can help you become more confident, more proficient and more comfortable offering and performing this intimate service. 

It's not for everyone, I'm not suggesting that it is, but for those that are discouraged and just want to give up because they can't seem to figure it out and get to a point where they are successful at it, there is help and hope. 

As for pricing, You should not be doing this service for under $60, period.  As for time, you want to shoot for 30 minutes or less.

If anyone wants additional information, just contact me and I can recommend training avenues.

Waxing is my bread and butter.  In fact 80% of my business is waxing and that is true for most estheticians. 

Thanks, Cricket.  My business certainly isn't 80% waxing but my income definitely rose once I became proficient at Brazilians.  I was terrified of doing them and really had no desire but as you said, I was pretty much kissing a lot of money goodbye by referring the business to others.  I agree that it's a business.  I need to make more money so I'm always looking for new ways to do that.  The more I can offer my clients, the better.  Once you get trained and are proficient, Brazilians are super easy money and they've actually become one of my favorite services to perform.  Good money for all of fifteen minutes of work.  Can't beat that!

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