IT WAS three days before my sister’s wedding. She was getting married in Ireland and I was to be a bridesmaid. I was really excited as I prepared for it and made an appointment to have my bikini line waxed in my lunch break.
It was no big deal as I’d been having it done four times a year for several years at the same salon. I’d never had any reactions or problems.
Waxing always hurts a bit but this time it really hurt. The wax felt hotter than normal and the beauty therapist seemed to be having trouble removing it with the fabric strips. She kept going over and over the same area.
When she’d finished, I walked back to work. But the stinging was getting worse. By the time I reached the office, 10 minutes later, I was in agony. It felt like severe sunburn.
When I went to the loo to have a look there were two bright red strips of raw flesh on my bikini line. I was so shocked that I got one of my colleagues to take a look. She said I should go straight back to the salon to complain.
When I got there the manager didn’t take me very seriously, even after I showed her the evidence. She just offered me a refund and a bottle of body oil!
The pain was getting worse all the time. When I got back to work I asked our company lawyer for advice. He said I might actually be owed some damages for the pain and trauma. He helped me write a letter and told me to take photos and go to my doctor.
By the time I saw the GP the next morning, I couldn’t walk properly – I was bow-legged. I couldn’t bear to wear trousers or even knickers.
The GP examined me and said I had a serious burn. It wasn’t a heat burn but a chemical burn. He told me he couldn’t treat it because putting anything on a chemical burn can cause a reaction and make it worse. I was told to leave the area alone and let it heal. I wasn’t even able to wash myself.
The next day my boyfriend and I had to travel from our home in London to Ireland for the wedding by car. It was the longest and most painful journey of my life. I couldn’t bear the pain of sitting down. Nor could I sleep at night. I had to lie on my back with my legs apart.
I took strong painkillers to help me cope. Instead of being happy and excited about my sister’s wedding, all I could think about was how much pain I was in.
On the day itself, I put on my bridesmaid’s dress and, bow- legged and knickerless, walked down the aisle in agony.
The day after the wedding the burn began blistering. Then pus came out and it scabbed over. Within a week the pain eased, but now it was incredibly itchy. But, of course, I couldn’t scratch.
I was on a family holiday but I couldn’t even wear a bikin – sex was completely out of the question. It was two weeks before I could shower – until then I had to have sponge baths, like a hospital patient.
I felt so unattractive and my boyfriend said my bikini line looked really gross. He wasn’t mean about it, but he couldn’t pretend not to notice. The area was raw, then it cracked and I had dry, flaky skin for a couple of months. It wasn’t exactly a turn- on.
Once the scabs had gone I was left with a horrible, dark brown scar on each side. I went back to the GP and he couldn’t tell whether it would fade or be permanent. I worried that I would be disfigured for life.
I spoke to my lawyer again. The salon had sent an apology letter, but nothing else. He told me to write again, stressing the embarrassment and trauma of my experience. He said I should ask for pounds 1,500 compensation.
After a year of legal wrangling, the salon finally agreed to pay me pounds 1,000 in compensation. I was pleased to get the money but it didn’t make up for ruining my sister’s wedding for me.
Nobody ever found out what was wrong with the wax as it had been thrown away. But I do know that the therapist should not have kept going back over the same area of skin.
After a year my scar began to fade. Today, it’s no longer noticeable but the experience put me off having any type of hair removal for a long time.
Now I use cold wax strips at home and I would never have another hot wax treatment. It wasn’t worth all that pain and upset for vanity’s sake. Thank God I didn’t have a brazilian!
HOW TO HAVE A SAFE WAX
Follow these tip to ensure your next waxing session is as pain- free as possible.
Check out the salon. “Make sure the reception area looks clean and the staff are well-informed,” advises Kirsty Jobson, from Saks Beauty Salons. “If you’re worried about anything, don’t be embarrassed to just pick up a price guide and leave.”
Don’t have a sauna, hot bath or shower 24 hours before or after the treatment, as too much heat on sensitive areas can lead to soreness.
Make sure the hair to be waxed is at least a quarter of an inch long so the wax can grip it. But make sure it’s not too long – waxing long hair is more uncomfortable and can lead to tearing the skin.
Once in the treatment room, make sure the therapist gives you a full consultation. If you’ve never been there before it’s a good idea to have a patch test on a small area of skin, to see how it reacts.
Your therapist should explain the procedure so you know what clothes to take off, what to leave on, and feel comfortable.
She should test the wax for temperature on her wrist.
The therapist should always wash her hands before beginning and wear disposable gloves when waxing the bikini area, as blood spotting is common.
The therapist should use a new spatula, clean bed roll and new towel.
Your skin should be held taut. If it’s not, it can lead to bruising or even tearing of the skin.
Relax during the waxing procedure. When you’re tense, the follicle closes and the wax won’t reach the root of the hair.
Don’t wax when you’ve got your period as your skin is extra sensitive around this time.
DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE
NOT all salon treatments are about pampering, but while “no pain, no gain” may be true when it comes to waxing, plucking or having your spots squeezed, there’s only so much you can put up with in the name of beauty.
“Therapists aren’t mind-readers, so it’s important to speak up if you feel uncomfortable at any point during a treatment,” says Janet Ginnings, facialist and body therapist to stars including Elle “The Body” Macpherson.
“A good therapist will ask you if everything’s okay and make you feel confident enough to speak out if something doesn’t feel right,” she adds.
So speak up if… Your eyes are stinging Wax feels too hot Massage strokes are so hard they make you flinch Blasts from your stylist’s hairdryer burn your scalp Spot extractions are too painful
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