Frequently Asked Questions

Massage treatments and holistic therapies help balance the body's systems, promote well being, prevent illness, and relax both mind and body. This occurs through the 1-on-1 attention received from the therapist, the relaxing atmosphere, and the energy provided by the therapist. The therapies help in both physical and emotional ways.

Physical benefits can include:

• A source of external energy for your body
• Stimulation of internal energies
• Reduced oedema, cellulite and improved lymphatic drainage, which helps fight disease and infection
• Prevention of colds, headaches, migraines
• Improved immune system function
• Stimulation of internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and brain
• Improved diaphragmatic muscles, leading to deeper breathing into the stomach
• Increased peristaltic (colonic) flow, improving waste removal
• Removal of toxins and waste products from body tissues, for example lactic acid from aching muscles after exercise
• Improved supply of oxygen and nutrients, feeding body tissues
• Increased blood circulation
• Improved hair condition
• Improvement of skin colour, suppleness and resistance to infection
• Desquamation (shedding of old skin)
• Improved posture
• Relaxation and prevention of hard, contracted muscles, tight knots and adhesions
• Stretching and broadening of muscle tissue, improving muscle tone
• Warmth for the body
• Positive effects on serotonin, which is vital for a good night's sleep, endorphins which regulate pain, and dopamine, which affects our ability to feel pleasure
• The stress hormone cortisol, is also significantly reduced during massage

Emotional benefits can include:

• Reduction in stress, anxiety and depression
• A calmer, serene, more laid back approach
• A feeling of well being and a positive attitude
• Promotion of body health awareness, enhancement of self-esteem and image
• Eased emotional expression
• Improved concentration and clarity of thought
• An invigorating, tingling, refreshing glow
• Comfort and relaxation

Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil or oil blend to your bath, shower buff, to a pan of warm water to inhale under a clean towel, add to wood on a fire, handkerchief, place a tissue behind a radiator or lightbulb, add to an oil burner, add to alcohol to make a perfume,  or blend with base oils and massage into the skin or rub on the temples and wrists. There are many ways to inhale or absorb these energies, nutrients and vitamins.

Here's a quick summary of which essential oils are best suited for common situations, including mood enhancement, making balanced blends, and chakra balancing.  All oils are available in the suite. Ask me about making specific blends for your mood, condition, personality, star sign, room, or season. For medical or clinical conditions, use aromatherapy only as a complementary therapy - please [continue to] consult your GP or medical practitioner. Ring or email Steve now on 02380639913 or 07968065885 to buy products that aren't available on my Neal's Yard Remedies shop or my Amazon shop.

Romance: Rose Absolute, Rose Otto, Rosewood, Marjoram, Ylang ylang, Clary Sage.

Sensual/Erotic: Rose Absolute, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Ylang ylang, Patchouli, Clary Sage, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Neroli, Ginger, Rose Otto, Rosewood, Juniper.

Helping sleep: Lavender, Marjoram, Chamomile Roman, Sandalwood, Clary Sage, Neroli.

Enlivening: Rosemary, Peppermint, Basil, Cardamom, Eucalyptus, Clove, Black Pepper, Coriander, Bergamot, Mandarin, Neroli, Cinnamon, Grapefruit, Ginger.

Relieving worry, sadness or stress: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Basil, Neroli, Melissa, Geranium, Rosemary, Rose Absolute, Rose Otto, Frankincense, Mandarin, Peppermint, Pine, Lemongrass, Juniper, Marjoram, Neroli, Chamomile Roman, Verbena, Jasmine.

Calming/Giving patience: Lavender, Chamomile Roman, Neroli, Marjoram, Ylang ylang, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Rose Otto, Rose Absolute, Melissa, Cypress, Patchouli, Bergamot, Vetivert, Neroli, Jasmine.

Giving confidence: Jasmine, Ylang ylang, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Frankincense, Lavender, Coriander, Ginger.

Easing muscles/nervous energy: Lavender, Rosemary, Marjoram, Chamomile Roman, Thyme, Geranium.

Cleansing and clearing skin/sinuses/head: Tea tree, Lemon Lemongrass Eucalyptus.

Balancing: Geranium.

Each essential oil can also be characterised by its volatility (how quickly the molecules vaporise). You smell top notes first, then middle, and bottom notes provide the longer-lasting smell in a well-balanced perfume or remedy.

TOP NOTES: Basil, Bergamot, Cajuput, Lemon, Lemongrass, Eucalyptus, Niaouli, Petitgrain, Tea tree.

TOP TO MIDDLE NOTES: Caraway, Clary-Sage, Coriander, Peppermint, Thyme.

MIDDLE: Black Pepper, Chamomile Roman, Fennel, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, Rosemary, Savory.

BASE TO MIDDLE: Cinnamon, Clove, Cypress, Nutmeg, Pine Needle, Tarragon.

BASE: Benzoin, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Ginger, Jasmine, Marigold, Myrrh, Neroli, Oreganum, Patchouli, Rose Absolute, Sandalwood, Ylang ylang.

Another way to use essential oils is for chakra balancing. Here are key essential oils for the 7 major chakras:

Base Chakra (Grounding/Stabilising Earth energy)
Patchouli, Myrrh, Cedarwood.

Sacral Chakra (Transmuting sexual energy)
Sandalwood, Jasmine, Rose Absolute, Ylang ylang, Champaca.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Transducing solar and pranic energy)
Clary-Sage, Juniper, Geranium.

Heart Chakra (Flow of unconditional love)
Rose Absolute, Melissa, Neroli.

Throat Chakra (Self-expression, Communication, Will)
Chamomile Roman, Lavender, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme.

Brow Chakra (Balancing the Higher and Lower Selves, ESP)
Frankincense, Basil.

Crown Chakra (Divine Love and Super-consciousness)
Ylang ylang, Rosewood, Linden.

This question requires at least a quick consultation with Steve which can be over the phone, text or email, or videolink. 10 minutes is free of charge, or you can book a half hour consultation for £25. 

The best communication and advice between you and Steve is before the treatment has been booked, so that you both know and are happy with your choice, and Steve can best prepare for you. Some treatments cannot be set up at the last minute, as 20-30 minutes preparation may be required. Steve may also be booked after your time and therefore no extra time may be possible (E.g. "Oh, can you just do my feet and neck aswell please?" may lead to disappointing "Sorry we have no time left", so it's best to plan ahead). A full body massage takes at least an hour, and two hours is often much better to allow enough time on each area of the body..

If you are new to massage, then a classic Western way to enjoy a back, neck and shoulder massage or a full body massage is a Swedish Massage. This standard Spa Massage is relaxing or deep tissue, and can be applied with oil, talc and/or a moisturing lotion. It is based on anatomy and physiology, so the skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons, and other soft tissues gain direct benefit. Swedish Massage does not directly manipulate hard tissue (bone), but as muscles hold the skeleton in place, your skeletal posture is improved.

If you'd like to upgrade your experience, Steve recommends 1) oils, 2) heat, 3) exfoliating scrubs or 4) specialised techniques such as stretching, Eastern techniques and advanced massage. Steve's portfolio of massages and other well being holistic treatments include:

• Aromatherapy Massage which uses aromatic, essential organic oils such as Lavender, Eucalyptus, Ylang ylang, Arnica, Bergamot and Lemongrass amongst many others - to work towards conditions such as brain fog, eczema, respiratory difficulties, muscular aches, tiredness and more;
• Hot Stone Massage Therapy, which adds deep penetration of heat and warm the muscles to aid mental relaxation, and to enhance muscular softening and manipulation;
• Hot Compress Massage, which applies exfoliation (scrubbing off of dead skin), pounding, heat and exotic herbs crushed inside the muslin ball;
• Hot Bamboo Cane Massage, which applies skin conditioning oils and a very smooth heat across the skin;
• Eastern techniques such as a Reiki Healing Massage, Balinese Spa Massage, Ayurvedic Massage and Lomi Lomi Massage offer  different full body massages through indiivudal use of scrubs, exotic oils, spiritual breathing and stretching.
• Acupressure, Shiatsu and Thai Yoga Massage, are dry massages, i.e. they use no oil, and can be performed with the client in loose clothes. They are the Eastern massage equivalent of a Western society's Swedish Massage, i.e. most Far Eastern people plump for that choice as their first port of call. They can be full body, or work on specific areas of the body. These each apply meridian energy balancing work, which work along the subtle energy lines of the body, working on pressure points along these lines. Reflexology also applies these principles, by working points on the feet to rebalance the whole body.
• Clinical Sports and Remedial Massage, and Cupping offer specialised techniques in muscular recovery, diagnosed conditions and injury. Cupping leaves blood circle patches on the skin for a few days, where deep flowing blood is brought to the surface;
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage, which concentrates on lymph flow, rather than muscular and skin rehabilitation; is very gentle and slow. The massage works the tissue fluid up to lymph nodes in the body, aimed specifically at reducing swelling (oedema) and improving the immune system's function.
• Specialised area massages such as Thai Foot Massage, Hip, Buttock and Thigh Mover Massage, Shiatsu Arm and Hand Massage, Indian Head Massage and Marma Point Facial Massage focus on particular body areas and energy rebalance;
• Additional treatments such as InfraRed Sauna Cocoon, Kati and Janu Basti, Shirodhara, Hopi Ear Candling, Exfoliating Body Scrubs, Reflexology, Reiki, Detox Programmes, Weight Loss Programmes, Quickslim Body Wrap, Intolerance Test, and Male Grooming add different dimensions and outcomes to extend your total treatment time eg increased detoxification, blood circulation, hormonal balance, better sleep, a calmer mind, reduced pain, enhanced skin conditioning, spiritual healing, inch loss, and body hair tidying, trimming and removal to smarten up a man's appearance;
• Personalised Holistic Health Programmes, such as Divine Detox, Immune System Boost, Pain Relief, Skin Conditioning, Weight Loss and Ayurvedic Rebalancing, offer carefully prepared unique treatment plans that are agreed with you following a longer consultation with Steve.

Base, or Carrier Oils, can be full of nutrients and vitamins, and are ready to massage into the skin and hair. My guide below shows you the properties of each base oil. Use them as they come, or add Essential Oils for extra goodness. All are available to buy in the suite or buy almond, grapeseed and rosehip oil online.

Almond Oil: Light, almost odourless. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D, E, protein, and a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids. Protects, nourishes and calms eczema irritation, dryness or inflamation. Excellent hair and skin conditioner, as well as helping reduce muscular pain and tightness.

Grapeseed: Green in colour, extremely popular as a base oil for skin massage, noted for its fine texture and low odour. Contains Vitamin E, protein and a high percentage of linoleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid). It is a gentle emollient, leaving the skin silky without the grease.

Rosehip Oil: A beautiful golden red oil, usually organic from wild plants. Again, a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, but does not keep as long as almond or grapeseed. Good for scar tissue, wounds, sunburn, eczema and ageing skin.

Argan Oil: A fantastic multi-purpose, intensely nourishing and soothing 100% organic oil – argan oil is made up of 80% skin-nourishing fatty acids, with extremely high levels of antioxidant vitamin E. Organic Argan Oil is perfect for deeply moisturising and soothing the skin, nails and hair, and helping to protect against premature ageing caused by free radicals.

Soya and Wheatgerm: High levels of Vitamin E, particularly good for dry and ageing skin.

Sesame: A clear, yellow oil with Vitamin E and rich in many vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium and phosphorus, proteins, lecithin and amino acids. Very commonly used in India for all Ayurvedic types, for head massage, and for blending herbs. Can help improve skin texture, for example in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism, or arthritis, reduce swellings, alleviate muscular pain, and protect from the sun.

Coconut: A light, pale yellow oil widely used in Southern India, especially in the spring. Very moisturising and softening on the hair and skin, it also helps relieve inflammation, and is suitable for dry and brittle hair. Take care for use with sensitive skin. Solid at room temperature, so requires heating to liquify.

Mustard: A heavy, dark yellow, strong and pungent oil, one of the most popular oils in north-west India, and suited for the winter months because of its hot, warming sensation increasing body temperature. Take care for use with sensitive skin and always dilute with a lighter oil such as almond. Well known for its ability to break down congestion and swellings from tense muscles and relieve pain. For dryness of the scalp, using mustard oil with a small amount of turmeric can prove very effective.

Olive: Green, viscous and pungent, this oil is very popular in the western world for cooking. Containing protein, vitamins, minerals and high levels of unstaurated fatty acids, it stimulates heat in the body and is therefore useful in reducing tightness and pain. Mix with a lighter oil such as almond and use for dry skin and hair.

Looking at a training course to learn a bit more to realise the benefits of massage and holistic therapies for yourself, your partner, or clients?Training and workshops can be held at the suite, at your own venue, in a Spanish farmhouse retreat or a rural Cypriot retreat.

• All courses are provided by qualified and experienced therapist Steve in an informative, personal and informal manner. Steve has PTLLS Level 4 teaching qualification, many years experience as an international therapist, and runs his own therapy business, and is HABIA, FHT and Guild endorsed.
• A variety of practice models are provided.
• Professional accredited courses are underwritten by the Guild of Beauty Therapists, who offer insurance and certification for my successful students.
• My customised and speciality practical courses give you practical experience in a relaxing environment without the burden of accreditation, assessment, and theory.
• All training is supported by my training booklets, recommended holistic therapy training books and my range of products and treatments available to you.
• No VAT is to be added to my prices. A 5% discount applies to returning students.
• Certificate of Completion awarded to you. This is from me, or from the Guild of Beauty Therapists.
• I am happy to advise before and after training on treatments, training, products and further resources for your massage or therapy practice.
• Follow up sessions or advanced techniques are available by the hour.
• Your private health insurance or employer may provide you with subsidies or full payment for your training here.

Specific benefits of training at the Southampton suite:

• Training can be provided so you are the only attendee(s), there are no other people of different experience, ability or goals.
• Flexible days to suit you - not pre-determined dates by me.
• Flexible course lengths to suit you - such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 or 24 hours, depending on your previous experience and your required depth of experience and knowledge from your training.
• You can split longer courses into two or more sessions to fit around your preferred learning pace.

Not sure which of my training courses is right for you? Have a chat with me on 02380639913 or 07968065885. I look forward to helping you. Steve

Why consider earning extra income or setting yourself a new career in massage in holistic therapy? Below are listed a few key benefits to you, the newly qualified therapist:

• Quick start up. There is no need to complete a full time 3 or 5 year degree before you can start earning. Start small with a profitable treatment such as massage or waxing, and expand as and when you see fit, when you can afford it.
• Affordability. Most training courses come in at under £500, and can provide full time employment on completion.
• Extensive treatment possibilities. Cranio-sacral therapy, colour therapy, beauty and facials, hair removal, sports focused treatments, nutrition, weight loss, well-being, counselling- the vast arena of possibilities this business will be at your doorstep.
• Product range incomes. Increase your income with a range of products, either branded or home-made!
• A portable job. You can practice anywhere in the country or world. See the world and learn about its therapies. I went to India and South East Asia and I loved it!
• Low overhead costs. You can work from home or as a mobile therapist - so no costly overheads of getting to work or paying rent on a workspace. This menas you can easily test a market area without expense.
• Self employment. This is a goal for many workers - you choose your hours, your clients, your goals, how you spend your time, and your business ethos. No meetings with lots of different departments!
• Client choice. Meet a variety of people that you choose. You can target specialist sectors, such as hospital/care homes/ surgery patients, mothers, children, animals, ladies or gents, sports professionals, physically or mentally impaired clients, overweight or image conscious clients, just as you wish.
• Achievement. You get a real sense of achievement from setting up and managing your own business.
• Satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is one of the key reasons people choose holistic therapy. You provide 1 on 1 care, and your clients will leave feeling so much better than when they came in, and that is down purely to your service!
• Advice and guidance. Choose from a variety of professional and friendly support networks from international therapist bodies to local groups of therapists.

Not sure which training course is right for you? Have a chat with Steve on 02380639913 or 07968065885. I look forward to helping you.

Certain activities can risk irritation and infection of newly treated skin. Please avoid the following:

• Scratching and touching the area
• Sunbathing or sun beds for 48 hours
• Having a sauna, steam or any heat treatment for 24 hours
• Taking a hot bath or shower for 24 hours - have a luke warm one instead. Warm baths are especially good a couple of hours after hair removal.
• Doing any exercise that encourages sweating for 24 hours
• Applying any different/new moisturisers or body lotions, perfumes, deodorants, shower gels etc, other than those recommended by me, on the area for 24 hours
• Having sex for 24 hours after Brazilian hair removal (the friction may cause irritation or bleeding of newly waxed or lasered skin)

These activities, in contrast, are recommended:

• Light exfoliation twice a week after waxing greatly reduces the occurrence of ingrown hairs. The first exfoliation should be done 4-5 days after hair removal.This is not required for laser hair removal.
• Keeping the skin clean with a light antiseptic such as TeaTree-based skin washes and sprays will reduce likelihood of infection of the follicles after waxing.
• Applying a cooling and soothing skin wash, lotion or gel such as Aloe Vera. 
• Moisturising and applying sun block protection for laser hair removal.

Waxing and Laser Hair Removal techniques are very safe treatments, however all clients must be over 18 years of age and are required to complete a health consultation before treatment can take place.

The main conditions preventing treatment are:

• Severe haemophilia.
• Diabetes that is not managed by diet, exercise or medication. 
• Lymph oedema in the treatment area.
• Contagious skin conditions of the area (for intimate hair removal, this includes STIs and urinary tract infections).
• Skin that is sunburnt, chafed or broken.
• Skin that has been treated with steroid creams, Retin-A, Differin or other retinoid acne medication within the last 3 months.
• Clients taking Roaccutane must wait 6 months after finishing their medication before receiving a hair removal treatment.

Laser Hair Removal techniques are not suitable for these conditions:

• Dark brown and black skin colours are not suitable for laser hair removal. White, ivory, beige, light brown and moderate brown skin colours are suitable for laser hair removal. All skin colours are suitable for waxing.
• White, grey, red and blonde hair are not suitable for laser hair removal. Mousey, light brown, dark brown and black har types are suitable for laser hair removal. All hair colours are suitable for waxing.
• Scar diathesis.
• Photosensitization history.
• Skin whitening products or products with Vitamin A in the past week.
• Depilatory techniques in the last 6 weeks.
• Essential Oil treatments over the same removal process schedule.
• Aspirin or immuno-suppressant use
• Exposure to strong sunlight in the past 2 weeks
• Hirsutism and other diagnosed diseases that may trigger complications 

The more hirsute you are in the area to be treated, the longer the treatment process may take.

Do not shave, clipper or use hair removal creams (e.g. Veet) on the area for at least 3 weeks prior to your appointment, as hair needs to be a minimum of ½ cm long in order to wax successfully. If you are already getting waxed on a regular basis, you will need to leave at least 4 weeks between treatments. If possible, please shower before your appointment and gently exfoliate the areas you are having waxed for a few days beforehand. This helps to remove excess dead skin cells and lifts the hair for better results. You may want to bring clean, loose cotton clothes to wear after your treatment to avoid any friction and possible bacterial infection from dirty clothes.

Any concerns mentioned by the client during a hair removal consultation would lead Steve or any good therapist to apply a patch test to ascertain if such a condition may cause a side-effect. Stretching the skin during application and removal of wax prevents excessive blood spotting, bruising and removing the upper layers of skin, which are all preventable waxing side-effects. A cooling, light antiseptic, anti-bacterial cream will be massaged into the skin immediately before and after all hair removal, to help prevent infection, and cool and soothe the skin.

Skin redness immediately after hair removal is common and a healthy immune response. The redness is actually the brain sending extra blood to the capillaries near the skin in order to find out whether it is under attack (via the message transferrers in blood), and then when it discovers it is all fine, then the messages and the blood is diverted elsewhere and the redness disappears, normally after an hour or so. Any sustained redness is resolved easily by applying a cold compress or cloth, and/or tea-tree and lavender gel to the area.

Many adverse side-effects such as bruised skin, reddish bumps or subcutaneous bleeding, can occur when a person has extremely sensitive, thin or easily torn or bacterially-infected skin, which could be due to conditions such as diabetes, side effects of prescribed medication, ageing skin, or many other conditions. However this is extremely rare and avoided by a thorough consultation prior to treatment and followed through with appropriate treatment care and aftercare processes.

Hygiene is very important to me and to you. Pulling hair out of your skin by waxing, or killing the hair by laser, will leave empty hair follicles, which can be a haven for bacteria. Clients with known STIs, urinary tract infections, hair or skin infections cannot be treated with laser or waxing in those areas. If in doubt, I don’t treat.

To protect myself and my clients, for each client I follow the universal hygiene procedures recommended by the governing HABIA regulatory body: wearing of fresh one-use gloves, one-use only spatulas when waxing, use skin cleansers on you before and after treatment, disinfection or sterilization of all laser, shaver, clippers, trimmers, tweezers, wax and wax pots, avoidance of double-dipping of waxing spatulas, clean towels, fresh couch roll and spatulas for each client, and the correct disposal of salon waste. All intimate hair removal treatments are very safe for all clients and risk of infection is nil, because of these rules.

I advise and sell products to help keep your skin clean, exfoliated, moisturised, soothed and calmed for the following hours and days. I also provide an aftercare leaflet with advice about caring for your waxed skin if you prefer to use products from elsewhere.

Waxing pulls out the hair at the root, rather than shaving and clippering, which instead cut the hair at the skin. A common analogy is pulling grass out at its roots, rather than mowing it. That means your instantly super smooth skin will last much longer - usually for a couple of weeks, rather than a day or so with shaving. With repeated waxing, smoothness can last for up to 2-3 weeks, and retreatment would be every 4-6 weeks. Waxing also offers less or no itchiness and no hard rough stubble as hair re-growth is much softer and finer, with the regrowth having the look and feel of the naturally fine tip, as opposed to shaving, where the middle thicker section of hair becomes the new end, which feels and looks coarser than the natural tip. All hair will grow back bar a few, so if you want to temporarily try 'hair-free' or a different look and feel but keep the option of going back to hair in the future, waxing is the choice for you. Hairs do become noticeably sparser and weaker with regular waxing of over a couple of years or more. This is because the hair follicle becomes distorted by waxing, which can reduce hair growth such that after regular waxing for a long period of time, some hairs may not grow back at all. It is common for athletes, cyclists and swimmers to wax for performance reasons, and for non athletes to wax for aesthetics, cleanliness, social or religious reasons. Ideal before beach holidays – but come at least 2 days before you fly so the skin has the best chance of recovering before exposure to sun.

Laser hair removal occurs by the rapid, pulsed emission of light energy, which is absorbed by melanin in the hair. If in the right stage of growth, this causes the hair follicle to overheat and damages the bulb, preventing regrowth. The process is called photothermolysis. The laser damages only the hair bulb/root and does no skin damage at all. It uses the red spectrum of light- specifically infra-red which is only absorbed by the dark pigment in your hair called melanin. This cause no changes to your skin cells and is very safe. Cancer, in contrast, is caused by UV spectrum of light- ultra violet light which irradiates the cell’s DNA causing irregular growth changes which can cause cancerous growths.

Laser treatment requires a high intensity of frequent visits (12 within 3-6 months) and each treatment takes longer and each treatment is therefore much more expensive than it would for waxing ove rthe same period of time. However all the work is then virtually done - over 90% of the possible hair removal will have permanently occurred. Waxing is therefore cheaper, quicker and requires less frequent visits than laser (2-6 visits each 3-6 months), but waxing does not permanently remove the hair and so treatments need to continue indefinitely, which in the long run can become much more expensive than having the area lasered. However with each waxing treatment, you can choose a different look, or leave a treatment out without worry, should you not have the budget or inclination. Laser permanently removes hair, but at a cost of time and money and undertaking an intensive 3-6 months' process of every 1-2 weeks, after which you are then done, finito!  

Waxing regularly and over long periods of time has the rare potential to cause skin damage such as darkening and lightening of the skin (hyper and hypo pigmentation), thinner skin, scarring and ingrown hairs. This can be spotted by a good therapist and waxing stopped instead of continuing with repeated treatments. Laser hair removal isn’t as abrasive to the skin longer term, which means it doesn’t have any detrimental effects to the skin's tone and texture, and as the hair is reduced in thickness, darkness and the amount the regularity of removing the hair is massively reduced, this can also help the skin return near to normal condition as treatments stop. Laser is a cheaper and healthier long term solution for unwanted hair, if you're sure you'll never want hair ever again.

There's no denying it, yes - laser, electronic epilation and waxing are painful, however the spray epilation is not! Dissolving hair by a spray is the least painful. Laser hair removal treatments' sensation can be compared to the flick of an elastic band. Waxing and Electronic Epilation is often more painful, as it pulls the hair out by the root. However, all pain it is an instant, not a long lasting one. Your pain receptor sensitivity, hirsuteness, and areas to be treated, will vary the degree of pain you feel.

Pain levels for all techniques do depend on the sensitivity of the area being treated (which affects the number of pain receptors you have there - there are more in areas around the brain such as the spine and neck, the heart and lungs, and genitals, compared to the legs, back which have lower numbers of pain receptors), and the amount of hair present. For example, coarse, high density hair fround in the genital or chest area, will cause more pain then finer, low density hair on the back. Your general sensitivity also matters - and some clients choose to take pain killers to reduce their general nerve sensitivity during treatments. The environment and confidence in the professional therapist and suite can also affect your pain levels!

As you have more sessions of either technique, we target fewer and fewer hairs, so you’ll feel the pain less each time. This happens much quicker in laser which permanently removes hair, than in waxing - where reduction in hairs is much, much slower. Waxing is not a permanent hair removal technique and pain levels will remain high, though the nerves do get used to that wax sensation over time.

Because hair is thicker at its root, waxing is like pulling an arrowhead the wrong way out of the skin. But the more often you get a wax treatment, the more accustomed you'll grow to the experience and the less it'll hurt. Some people take a paracetamol before being waxed. There are ways I reduce your pain – using best next generation waxes in the right areas, the right techniques, playing soft music, and a friendly manner to help you relax. I have pain relieving gel with Lidocaine for those with sensitive skin. I use two of the latest non-strip waxes invented by Perron Rigot, which provide the perfect removal of all hair types, even on sensitive areas. They share the unique ‘shrink wrapping’ abilities of older hot waxes but are lower in temperature, easier to apply and stay flexible as they cool. This makes them much more comfortable and an ideal choice for removing short, coarse and stubborn hairs anywhere on your body.  Immediately after waxing, I will apply gentle pressure to the area with my hands; this confuses the nerve endings and stops the pain. I use a skin soother and tonic after treatment to cool the skin and any burning sensation

Steve, your waxing brother, will decide which to use on you! However if you would like to know the difference....

Warm waxing, or strip waxing, is used to remove hair from your back, chest, shoulders, stomach, abdomen, arms, underarms, buttocks and legs. Warm waxing is the most popular method as it removes hairs quickly and efficiently. It is like a honey sheet or film that is applied across large areas and is suitable for all hair types. The warm wax is applied to your body with a spatula, then a strip of cloth is smoothed down on top of the wax, then ripped off quickly, taking the hair with it.

Hot waxing is also known as hard waxing, peelable waxing and non-strip waxing. It is used to remove strong, coarse, and stubborn hairs, and also used on the more sensitive areas on your body, normally found around the underarms, back of the neck, face (ears, nostrils, eyebrows), genital areas, inner thighs and crack. It is also ideal over strip waxing as these areas have no large flat surface over which to apply a large film of warm wax. Hot wax is applied to your body with a spatula in an ice lolly shape, it is left to cool slightly so it contracts around the hair, then flicked and peeled off quickly by hand rather than with a strip of cloth, taking the hairs with it. The hot wax is ideal for sensitive areas as it doesn't stick to your skin. It is more expensive than warm waxing, and takes longer to wax the same size area. It is very important that the skin in the area being waxed is kept taught to avoid any bruising. To help with this I will ask you to change positions during the treatment or to use your hands to pull down on your skin.

After any treatment, oil is applied to smooth over any residual wax, a cleanser, and then soothing, cooling antiseptic lotion is applied to calm the skin and fight any infection.

Also known as the infamous 'back, sack and crack', Mankini, Boykini, Boyzilian, Brazilian, Hollywood, Sunga (after a skimpy Brazilian male swimsuit), BBC (butt, balls and crotch), The Aussie Outback (everything off 'Down Under'), The Tropicana (banana and coconut smoothie), The Copacabana (all off South of the border), XXX Waxing, The Bald Banana, The Kojak, The Full Monty, Extreme Waxing... this increasingly popular service involves the removal of hair from the groin, speedo line, penis, scrotum, buttocks and/or crack. As much or as little hair can be removed as desired by the customer, with the final price adjusted accordingly.

Many men today opt to remove hair from the scrotum and penis, and trim and/or shape pubic hair into a precise and smaller shape. This can lead to the 'optical extra inch', plus a clean, fresh and tidy look. Removing hair from the speedo line (the area at the top of the leg where leg hair merges with pubic hair) can defines and pronounce the pubic hair if it is not being removed on its lateral (outside) spread. If hair is removed from the pubic hair area, I can 'blend' the hairless area into a hairy area of the tummy (unless of course you have the tummy hair removed aswell). Hair immediately around the anal area can also be removed for cleanliness and smoothness. I can also blend any treated area of the crack or buttocks into the buttocks or legs if these remain hairy. These choices of look and feel are possible with all forms of hair removal, whether you want the look permanently (laser), temporarily smooth (waxing) or cut at or above the skin (shaving, trimming and clippering).

Don’t worry, it happens! Most erections that occur during a hair removal service around the genitals have nothing to do with sexual arousal. Instead, it is likely to be no more than an involuntary response to the manipulation of the genitals. Any such arousal normally subsides fairly rapidly. I tend to carry on working, asking the customer to hold himself out of the way or moving to a different area of the body if necessary. It is not a bad thing - it helps the skin to be stretched taut, which helps remove hair less painfully, ensure all hairs are treated, and further prevents any potential bruising of the area.