Owning a waxing salon, I talk with plenty of women all day long about their waxing experiences and I am shocked that many of these smart and sophisticated women repeatedly tolerate filthy conditions, returning to dirty salons to only risk their health time and time again.

Most of the time when I ask my clients if their previous salons were clean and if they double-dipped, they do not know. They don’t even know what double-dipping is. And for the few that do know, they do not seem very concerned and are focused only on breathing their way though their wax, eyes closed unaware if their esthetician is double-dipping or not.

So, what is double-dipping and what makes it so gross and unhealthy? Double-dipping means the esthetician is using the same wax stick throughout your entire service and oftentimes is even using that same stick over and over again all day long. The problem is that wax stick is not just on your genitals (and let’s not forget lip and eye area – scary!) but complete strangers as well (I wouldn’t even want to use a wax stick that was used on my best friend for goodness sake!) and if you have ever waxed before than you know that waxing will sometimes draw a little blood. Now, every time that stick, bloody or not, goes in the wax pot, the product becomes contaminated with not just bacteria, but dead skin cells, pubic hair and basically, all your stuff. And then that intermingles with ickiness and potential disease (in blood) from previous clients that were there before you. Eeeew! When this stew is applied to your body with every spread of the wax, you are playing Russian roulette with your health, exposing your body to yeast infections, disease and STD’s. And though it is very unlikely to get an incurable STD like herpes from a wax service, it has happened, so why on earth risk it?  And, think about if  you do get away disease free. You still have been in contact with other folk’s pubic hair. That should be enough to get you to demand a clean pot of wax.

Being a career woman who understands that I am responsible on a daily basis for the body of my client, I am very serious and dedicated to my craft. I am appalled that others in my field do not have this same level of commitment to their client and I am easily outraged when these state licensed “professionals” not only risk their client’s health but also will tell them untruths like the often touted “the heat from the wax will kill the bacteria”. URGH! Let’s get this straight right now, this is far from being a fact. There are plenty of strains of bacteria that flourish in warm environments and let’s be honest here. If the wax in any salon is so hot that it will kill bacteria, it has got to be pretty close to boiling and there is no way that scalding wax could be applied without giving someone third degree burns! And finally, as mentioned before, if there is no bacteria in that particular pot, there is no doubt dead skin cells and pubic hair in it.

And what about estheticians that do not wear gloves during a bikini wax? Well, I say, demand that they do or risk getting HPV (genital warts included).

So, what do you do once you’re naked from the waist down, already on the treatment table waiting for your service? You pay close attention. If your esthetician is about to double-dip you kindly, yet firmly demand that they use a brand new pot of wax for your service and if the technician has an iota of common sense they will dare not argue with you and do exactly as you request. If they choose not to, get dressed, speak to the manager and don’t go back. It is CRUCIAL for consumers to understand that there is absolutely nothing wrong with speaking up when it comes to protecting what is important and I would think your health is numero uno on that list.