European Wax Center: 6 Month Update
Earlier this year, I gave myself the gift of time & care by adding regular wax appointments at the European Wax Center to my schedule & budget. This month marks 6 months of standing appointments at the European Wax Center - the longest I've gone with consistent wax services. More than that, aside from talk therapy and physical therapy, it's also the longest I've gone consistently doing something for my self a very very long time.
Committing to my monthly appointments has officially graduated from self care to self maintenance... but this commitment is aided by the fact that the European Wax Center has consistently provided me with the service and care I'd expect for something so intimate. So let's get into why exactly, 6 months later, I am still a European Wax Center client.
If you read my last EWC blog post, then you know that my first service was a Brazilian wax. I went this route knowing that this would be the most intimate and most painful service I'd ever get from them, and if I left that service satisfied, adding on other areas would be a no brainer. Where some people would choose to build up their services, I chose the opposite and this worked best for me. I've since added upper lip, chin, underarm, stomach strip, and lower legs... although I only did the stomach strip once. EWC offers an extensive list of services - from head to toe - so I was able to choose areas that I'd only ever previously shaved, plus areas I'd never considered hair removal, like my chin.
European Wax Center Services
first wax is FREE for new clients: choose from a bikini line, underarm, nose, ear, or brow wax or save 50% off first brazilian (full bikini or Brazilian wax).
Every month, at the close of my appointment, I have them schedule my next appointment. My favorite aesthetician thus far is no longer at the center I go to (and I'm sad about it) so I usually go back into my EWC online account when I get home, to see who's available around my appointment time to try to guess who my tech will be. I have so far used 3 diff techs... and all give great service - from the waxing to the conversation, which makes a huge difference in keeping me calm while the hair is being removed,
I won't getting into the particulars of the process because I'm no expert but here's what stands out most to me (in no particular order) every time I'm there -
The facility is always so clean! Cleanliness & general aesthetics are always top of mind for me whenever I'm going somewhere for wellness services - doctor's office, dentist's office, nail salon, hair salon, etc. - so before I can even decide how the services or personnel measure up, I'm scoping out the space itself... and my EWC center never misses.
Their COVID precautions make me comfortable. I've experience their services prior to the vaccination roll outs, as well as after - I actually don't know anything of EWC protocols in a COVID-free world, which feels crazy to me to even type. Prior to the vaccinations, I would check in via phone OUTSIDE, then my tech would come & get me once ready. Because the state of WA (currently) isn't requiring vaccinated adults to wear masks, as a patron, I'm no longer obligated to remain masked... although for my upper lip & chin, my mask would come off anyway. All the staff, however, is masked, regardless of what the rest of us are doing.
Everything runs so efficiently because of the systems they've seen up. I wouldn't be me if I didn't notice systems. From the check in process to paying at the end, everything runs smoothly & is connected to my online EWC account. This matter to me because I don't have to work to hard to remember what services I usually get (because it's a lot) or who I saw or when I need to come back. It always helps, because they've given themselves a process to follow, which is now predictable to me... and my anxiety I like predictability.
Hard wax is the only wax for me! So a quick lesson in waxes is that soft wax uses strips and hard wax doesn't. Prior to EWC, my only waxing experience - anywhere! - was always with strips aka a soft wax. EWC used a hard wax which goes onto the skin soft, cools & hardens, and then is used for the hair removal... sans strip. This totally blew my mind! More importantly, it made a HUGE difference in the pain factor. Everyone else I've spoken to that I've since convinced to start going to EWC agrees wholeheartedly that the difference in wax makes a difference in the pain.
The staff is super chill & personable. Whether it's my Brazilian or my underarm, getting waxed is an extremely personal service to get done. All of the aestheticians I've had, thus far, have always done a great job making me feel comfortable... and being able to relax does wonders for making the entire process more bearable. It's actually become quite therapeutic. While getting waxed, we've talked about work, home decor, COVID, kids, shopping, and vacations... just to name a few of the topics that come up while on the table. Before I know it 30-45 mins have flown by and we're all done. And it's not just the techs. From the front receptionist, it's nothing but kindness (and assuming smiles).
I didn't factor cost into my assessment because now that I'm an EWC brand ambassador (woot woot), my waxes passes are fully covered by EWC...now. Prior to being invited to join this year's ambassador team, however, I'd purchased a wax pass. I made the choice after my second appointment to get the wax pass because I knew I planned to return regularly and it was worth it to make sure I did. With a an EWC wax pass, you're essentially pre paying for your services, which adds up to a lot of savings compared to paying as you go.
I purchased the wax pass because it was worth it to me.
I am a brand ambassador because I believe in EWC services.
And as a new addition to my skin care regimen, I use their products, especially for post- and pre-wax.
While I don't have the more temperamental skin, with shaving, irritation and in grown was always a concern of mine... a concern that hasn't been top of mine since I started waxing. Because I was so many different areas - aka different skin - I do have to be mindful of what I use where, and make necessary adjustments. For example, I more prone to irritation under my arms than I am on my legs, simply because of sweating, waking out, and just general friction. The hair there also grows differently, compared to, let's say, my chin. That said, I use a combination of the EWC "Treat" and "Slow" products for optimal body care.
Since this is something of an EWC review as well as an update for yall... the bottom line is that, yes, I would absolutely recommend investing the necessary time & money in adding EWC services to your self care maintenance routine. If hair removal via waxing was already on your bucket list - versus laser removal or shaving - then EWC is the route I would recommend. For me, also being new to this area, doing the leg work to find a local boutique would've been too much of a hassle for me, and I just didn't have the bandwidth for that kind of gamble.
Having already been familiar with EWC's reputation, I simply had to decided how I felt about the center I would be going to for my services... and mine met & exceeded my expectations. I'm just hoping that by the end of the year I'll be able to decide on a new permanent aesthetician based on our mutual schedules.
Is waxing for you?
I can't answer that. I do know that, for me - my skin type, hair type, and just general preference - I don't regret switching from shaving to waxing for all my hair removal. And if you've decided that waxing is in fact the route you want to explore, then I totes recommend finding your local EWC center.
