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Waxing Poetic on Beauty and Self-Care

by Kevyn Gohu
January 10, 2023

Waxing may seem scary to most, but it can be an empowering form of self-care. Roberta Abad Estacion strips away the myths and taboos surrounding waxing and beauty.

This story about waxing and debunking the myths first came out in Modern Parenting’s 2022 print edition.

Waxing hair can be so cathartic to watch. Removing that little stubby, itchy, and thick hair growing in places we hate and then, touching our smooth skin after a professional waxing session can be so relieving and confidence-boosting. These are feelings that Browhaus and Strip owner Roberta Abad Estacion wants moms and other young women to be aware of and not be ashamed of. “Waxing and brow grooming are not just for aesthetics — they actually help with mental health. Self-love is not selfish,” she tells Modern Parenting.

Stripping away the myths and horror stories

Unfortunately, the concept of waxing can be a little intimidating and confusing, considering the many horror stories we’ve heard over the pandemic from doing a bit of DIY. From hair growing back thicker and sharper when you wax to getting “chicken skin”, it’s better to do this professionally to avoid the struggle. “If you go to a reputable salon like Strip that uses the best quality materials and techniques, that won’t happen. So long as the hair is waxed from the root and done by a professional, the chances are less,” Roberta explains. “We have loyal clients who have been waxed by us for 14 years.”

That said, some of these horror stories are more mythological than fact. Moms-to-be and pregnant women often find themselves hating the way they look because of all the hair they believe they can’t wax. However, Roberta shares that they employ a special technique for moms who are expecting. “We have a special technique for moms to be called Strip Mama. It’s a bit different from regular waxing with the same result. Our only requirement is you book it after the 1st trimester. This is additional training that our Striperellas or waxperts need to go through.”

Waxing Ever So Patiently

But the most common horror story that Roberta is familiar with is the pain that comes with waxing, particularly in more sensitive body areas. While Roberta acknowledges that waxing is not completely pain-free, she explains that managing this is all in the technique. “It depends on the body part; some areas are quite sensitive so you would feel some pain. But if done using the correct technique, it won’t be as uncomfortable as the horror stories as most would have heard.”

Many of these so-called “horror stories” stem from the fact that many clients are impatient with hair removal, resorting to quick-fix remedies such as shaving. This is the same advice she often gives her daughter about hair removal. “[I tell her], ‘Don’t get impatient and shave it.’ We have done damage control on a lot of kids shaving by themselves and getting really bad results.”

And although the world has come a long way from feeling scandalized about waxing, there still exists some stigma about getting a Brazilian wax.

Waxing away the stigma

While waxing for smooth armpits and legs has become widely accepted, Roberta wants the same love and mindset for those who want to come in for a Brazilian wax.

After all, moms or daughters want to frolic on the beach in their favorite swimwear, they want to do so fuss-free. “It’s all about being hygienic and clean down there. If you are an athlete, it helps to remove everything to make you faster. If you love the beach or swimming, it would be better to remove it all. It’s to avoid getting any peeping hair.”

Society taught us that the head is the only place that should have hair, which is why for Roberta, waxing does wonders for one’s self-image. “For mental health, some people tend to have heavy hair growth and tend to get depressed by it. It also feels smoother and if on the face helps remove the shadow from the fine hair in pictures,” she adds.

Meanwhile, although Strip’s waxperts religiously apply aftercare to soothe the newly waxed areas, Roberta encourages those who want to make the most of their waxing experience to follow up with their own skincare regimen for best results after the service.

A waxpert’s tips for after-wax care!

Roberta recommends Strip’s sister brand, Two Lips, touted as the world’s first luxury intimate care range.

“It’s a prebiotic and tested as aftercare for Strip waxing. In between waxing at Strip we always recommend using our products as it works well with the treatment — the after-effect on the skin is better,” she shares. It’s another step towards destigmatizing care for what’s down there. Like one’s face, lady parts are delicate and deserve some love, too, after all.

She recommends using the Two Lips Scrubbs to exfoliate five to seven days after a wax, and then twice a week. Meanwhile, the Two Lips Rinse is good for a regular wash — it’s a prebiotic cleanser, which balances the skin and makes it smoother and plumper, and even works as a facial wash!

Roberta then suggests hydrating with Two Lips Pout, made with 95 percent hyaluronic acid. Then, follow up with Two Lips Bumpps serum or Outgrown cream to relieve the skin of any blemishes and ingrown bumps. Finally, you can also top it off with Two Lips Diamond, a gentle brightening serum for the bikini line, which she says tends to darken because of underwear.

Strip away the old idea of beauty!

That said, Roberta advocates for a wide and inclusive definition of beauty — with or without hair. “Beauty is whatever you define it to be. It can be as simple as being well-groomed and hygienic, having a good conscience, or through your actions such as doing good or being kind.”

People shouldn’t frown on women and moms wanting smooth, hairless skin. Whether it’s because we want to finally wear that skirt we’ve been hiding in our closets, relieve the itch on our legs, or wear our tankinis and bikinis freely, waxing hair allows us to feel good. “Being a mom is a full-time job on top of your regular job. The simple task of getting a wax works wonders for a person’s mental health. Giving yourself a couple of minutes — not even an hour — to get waxed and see the results after [can make you] feel a bit better after a tiring day or give them a burst of confidence to start their day,” Roberta ends.