Jo loves waxing

People have always wondered where my love for waxing has come from,  for years I have always felt the same about it… I just love it! I love the immediate results you can get from waxing,  not having to worry about any stubble showing up a few hours later and I find it just as satisfying doing a waxing treatment as I do getting it done – werid I know! 

Bikini waxing has definitely changed over the years – gone are the days when there was just one type, now at Zen we have 4! The arrival of Hot wax has made waxing on the bikini line a lot less painful – this made a huge difference to Brazilian and Hollywood clients so there’s no more oohhhs and ahhhs being heard in the salon! You can also come visit us earlier than normal as the wax can grab onto shorter hairs without the dreaded tug and pull and there’s no going over the area over and over again! And aftercare….piece of cake! Just lightly exfoliate the area after and use tend skin to stop any ingrown hairs popping up…. Simple.

So now we can finally say we are no longer nervous about coming in for our bikini waxing all thanks to hot wax hurrrray.

Jo – Therapist, Teviot Place Salon

Five most FAQs about IPL Hair Removal

Q1. How does Ellipse IPL hair removal work?

Intense pulsed light works by placing an applicator head on to the skin which sends out a high intensity flash of light which is carefully filtered to make sure only the correct wave lengths reach your skin. The light is attracted to the pigment in your hair, which converts it into heat. The energy destroys the hair follicle making it unable to produce new hair.

Q2. Is the treatment effective on any hair colour?

No, because the light is absorbed by the pigment in your hair, the hair needs to be dark. The darker the hair the more effective the treatment will be and the more contrast between the hair and skin colour the easier. The ellipse machine does have pre-programmed settings for different hair types and skin colours to adjust the energy to suit the person. If you hair is very fair, then Electrolysis may be better for you.

Q3. How many ellipse treatments do I need?

We can’t give an exact number of how may treatments anyone will need, it completely varies from person to person. You most likely will need a course of 6, but for bigger areas I would recommend getting a course of 9, because although 6 will give you a good reduction, you may need more than 6 to get the result you want. An interval 0f 6 weeks is needed.

Q4. How do I prepare myself for the treatment?

It is important not to do any other form of hair removal other than shaving; the reason is because any other type of hair removal would be taking the hair out of the follicle which we don’t want as we need it there to treat. Shaving just takes the surface of the hair away which is fine to do. Avoid waxing, tweezing, threading, bleaching and electrolysis. It is also important to avoid using any self-tan creams, sunbeds and sun exposure for 30 days before and after treatment as we don’t want the pigment in your skin to change so it doesn’t affect the treatment.

Q5. Does the treatment hurt?

Everyone’s tolerance of pain is different, but if you find waxing painful you will find this a lot easier. It feels like a small hot flicking sensation, not painful, you are just aware of it and it varies depending on what area is being done. As you get further into your treatments you do get used to the sensation and it gets easier.

Our top five pre holiday treatments

Zen Lifestyle Edinburgh – Our top five pre holiday treatments.

Here at Zen we thought we would make it nice and easy for you get ready for your holiday. We have made you a list of you top five ‘must have’ treatments to make you feel fab while baring all on the beach.

1. Brazilian wax – At Zen we use hot wax for our Brazilian waxing and all other bikini line waxing making the treatment results better and a lot less painful (hurrah!) A Brazilian is a must before going on any beach holiday. The result will last for weeks meaning no more shaving (and no more embarrassing shaving rashes, yes we’ve all had them!) leaving you free and hair free to enjoy your holiday.

2. Eyelash Extensions - Everyone hates the thought of no mascara during the day on holiday but we all hate the thought of panda eyes even more. Well, having Nouveau Semi Permanent Eyelash Extensions at Zen means you won’t need to think twice about either.  Zen Teviot and Zen Bruntsfield both offer the Nouveau Lash Extensions, as they come in various sizes you can subtly enhance your natural lashes or go for a full on ‘Katie Price’ look should you wish!

3. Bio Sculpture 3 Week Manicure/Pedicure – Bio Sculpture Semi Permanent gels will allow to you to have salon perfect nails in either a colour or French polish for up to 3 weeks. No chipping, no smudging and no damage to your own nails – what more can we say! Available for both hands and feet.

4. Tanning treatment– After a long cold winter there’s certain parts of our body that haven’t seen the light of day for a long time. As we all know a bit of colour can hide a few lumps and bumps and make us feel more confident. Our White to Brown Spray Tan will allow to you to feel bronzed, beautiful and more confident in that bikini, while building up a natural colour meaning you have a realistic, healthy glow with no orange tones!

5. Microdermabrasion – The first couple of days on holiday can be a little nerve wracking….no make-up, skin a bit pale form all the work you had to do pre-holiday. Well this treatment could save you! Diamondtome is an advanced Microdemabrasion treatment designed to resurface and rejuvenate skin making skin smoother and fine lines less apparent. Your dead skin will be sloughed off leaving your skin clear and smooth, radiant and with natural luminosity. Perfect!

Laser hair removal at Zen: A client’s experience

Ellipse IPL (laser hair removal) l had at Zen has made a huge difference to my hair as well as to my day to day lifestyle. I no longer have to wax or shave before I go swimming, nor do I have to wait for my hairs to grow back in. The Ellipse IPL treatment was not as painful as waxing.

I was told that the light was attracted to the pigment causing a heat reaction to take place which kills the hair follicle at the root. This worked particularly well for me as I have thick dark hair and pale skin, proving to be the perfect candidate for laser hair removal.

I bought a course which saved me money. The aftercare for laser hair removal is the same as waxing although I had to avoid strong sun exposure for 30 days before and after my treatment.

Now, 9 treatments later, I am happy to say that I am hair free!

Statement form Zen client.