Spa manicures begin by cleansing your hands utilizing pleasant smelling soaps or scrubs. There is typically a massage portion before your technician transitions to shaping, painting and filing your nails. A spa manicure typically lasts longer than a regular manicure, and more emphasis is placed on the overall experience, rather than hand maintenance. The base service typically doesn’t include acrylic, dip or shellac nails, so if that’s what you’re looking for make sure you talk to your technician ahead of time!
One of the most common questions we get asked by new clients is if they need to have their gel/acrylic nails removed and have a new set each time. The answer is no. You simply have a refill!
During a refill we file off the existing colour and remove any lifting. We will have a quick look at the nail to make sure there is no signs of bacteria or infections. You can choose to change the shape of the nail or take the length down. We then fill in the gap that has appeared around the cuticle area as your nails have grown with more gel/acrylic. Once hardened, we then file and shape the nails to perfection and apply a new coat of colour that you have chosen. They look and feel like a new set! We recommend a refill every 3 weeks to keep your nails healthy! If you go too long between refills, your nails will start to lift and if water and dirt get underneath bacteria can grow. Nail infections are not an enjoyable experience! Your nails may also grow too far out, throwing off the strength of the nail. If you accidently hit them off something or apply pressure, cracks can appear in your nail plate. This will result in not being able to apply a new nail as an infection will occur.
The best thing to do is insure you are maintaining your nails by refilling them regularly and following the aftercare provided by your nail technician.
A Spa pedicure is an amazing treatment, and possibly our most relaxing one.
Our technician will work on your toenails all the way up to your knees.
Not only a well deserved pampering, this treatment is also essential for getting your toes and heels looking good and healthy.
While the lotion is certainly more gentle and guarantees smooth and silky heels, shaving is a more invasive technique that must be used with care and professionally.
It includes a massage to relieve exhausted feet and is a divine way for some rest and relaxation after standing on your feet all day.
Our Pedi Spa will soothe your neglected feet while your ankles and toes are massaged by therapeutically positioned water jets.
Enjoy the experience of being pampered!
Waxing is the process of hair removal from the root by using a covering of a sticky substance, such as wax, to adhere to body hair, and then removing this covering and pulling out the hair from the follicle. New hair will not grow back in the previously waxed area for four to six weeks, although some people will start to see regrowth in only a week due to some of their hair being on a different human hair growth cycle. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, pubic hair (called bikini waxing), legs, arms, back, abdomen, knuckles, and feet. There are many types of waxing suitable for removing unwanted hair.
Skin health:
In addition to hair removal, waxing acts as a physical exfoliation that removes lifeless surface skin cells, meaning you’re receiving hair removal and skincare all in one!
Smoother skin:
After your wax, you’ll probably find that your skin smoother than it’s been in your whole life. That’s because waxing removes hair from the root and exfoliates your skin.
Longer-lasting results:
When hair is removed by the root, it takes much longer to grow back than with shaving.
Thinner and finer hair:
When your hair does grow back after waxing, you’ll notice it grows back finer and softer. Win-win!
Minimal irritation:
Many people find hair removal methods like epilation and creams irritating to the skin. However, waxing rarely causes this problem if it’s done by a licensed professional.
A lash lift-and-tint treatment involves two separate processes, both designed to give you beautiful, fluttery eyelashes for weeks. The lash lift mimics the effect of an eyelash curler. It makes your lashes bend upwards, leaving them looking longer, and your eyes more open and bright. Meanwhile, a lash tint is similar to a brow tint – or applying several coats of mascara. It makes your eyelashes look darker, thicker, and fuller. It’s particularly striking on those with naturally blonde or red lashes.
Lash Lift vs. Lash Extensions
Lash extensions are one of the most popular ways to fake a fuller flutter. During the treatment, the beautician will attach synthetic eyelashes to your natural ones using a special non-irritant glue. Typically, 80 to 140 lashes are applied per eye. Depending on how the lashes are applied, the shape of your eye can be changed, and your existing lashes will be longer and fuller. The results usually last four to six weeks. While lash extensions can give a more dramatic look, a lash lift requires far less maintenance and lasts several weeks longer, and the treatment itself is quicker and cheaper. Extensions can also make your natural lashes more brittle, while a lift has no adverse effects.
Ok, so facial hair removal should only be done professionally? Um, that’s a hard yes when it comes to nose waxing and here’s why:
*Nose hair actually acts as a defense mechanism: It protects your body from harmful debris. It also aids in adding and retaining moisture in the very air we breathe. As such, nasal hair should only be removed to a certain extent. Meaning: Expert waxers only, please.
*(And that doesn’t even touch on the fact that the skin inside the nose is extremely fragile. Again, it’s imperative to leave this up to the pros.)
At Urban OasisHalf Arm Waxing services are for those of you who have hair on part of your arms that you want to get rid of. Our esthetician applies our wax formula to both arms, from the shoulder to the elbow, or both arms from the elbow to the wrist inclusive of both hands – your choice. After this waxing treatment, you can stop wearing all those long-sleeved tops.
Most of us are more familiar with the concept of a bikini wax. It’s when an esthetician uses hot wax to get rid of the hair that would be visible if one were to wear a bikini bottom. The Brazilian is basically the same deal—just removing more hair*.* A Brazilian includes the strands along the vagina lips and in your behind. You can opt to leave a triangle or landing strip of hair on top. Or, you can go fully bare. Introduced back in 1987 by a group of Brazilian sisters (yes, really), the Brazilian has remained the most popular hair removal method in the U.S. today.
How to Prepare
To prepare for your wax, hair should be “at least ¼ inch long (about the size of a sprinkle) so it’s a good idea to stop shaving at least five days (and 10-14 days for best results) prior to your reservation. If you are going to exfoliate your skin, use a film-free (meaning it rinses off clean, not leaving skin coated in oil) exfoliant 24-48 hours before your wax.
Waxing such a sensitive area can be uncomfortable, especially for first-timer. However, since waxing removes the hair from the root, it makes it grow in softer and finer. The more you wax, the less painful the treatments. Additionally, a high-quality wax can help make the experience more comfortable. To further minimize pain, pop an Advil an hour before the treatment. Although it is not necessary, some people find taking an ibuprofen prior to waxing can help to alleviate the discomfort.
Alcohol is a vasodilator, so it can increase blood flow to the area making the skin more sensitive as well as more prone to bruising.
Also, remember to breathe. Deep breaths can be reassuring and calming. So can anticipating the pain and syncing it with your breath. Try to inhale with the wax application and exhale during the removal part of the process. All in, the process takes around 20 minutes, so know the light is at the end of the fairly short tunnel.
Side Effects:
As with all types of waxing, Brazilian waxes might lend themselves to irritated skin and discomfort; luckily, there are a few things you can do to help make life post-waxing more enjoyable. First, to cut down on ingrown hairs, you should make sure you’re not skipping the exfoliation step prior to waxing. If you’re still finding that you have ingrown hairs even after properly exfoliating, apply a warm compress to the skin and exfoliate gently. If you think an ingrown hair has become infected (painful, red, and filled with pus), contact your dermatologist. If you want to get ahead of ingrowns, Garshick recommends seeing your doctor about prescription medications that may be helpful to use after waxing, such as cortisone cream or antibacterial lotion.
If you notice small red bumps shortly after you’re done waxing that are typical of razor burn, be sure to keep the area moisturized, and apply a cortisone cream meant to reduce redness.
If you accidentally burned yourself with hot wax, apply clean, sterile cotton over the area. A dermatologist should see a burn first, no matter what part of the body.
Waxing is one of the safest and most effective ways of removing unwanted hair from your body. Waxing is popular with both men and women because it offers a long lasting, cost effective solution for soft, smooth and hair-free skin.
Your approach to body hair removal is a personal choice, and there are a variety of options in waxing services that allow you to customize your experience. While your esthetician will talk with you to better understand your hair removal goals, and personalize your service based on a combination of your skin type, sensitivities and desired outcome.
Most women love the appearance and silky feel of hair-free legs, which is the reason that full and half leg waxing are the most popular services. Waxing eliminates the risk of injury from razor shaving – not to mention unsightly razor bumps.
Whether you choose a full or half leg waxing is a matter of personal preference. A half leg wax removes hair from just above the knee all the way down to the toes if desired. This is great option for preparing your legs for skirts, longer shorts and sandal season.
Shaving your legs. It’s tedious. Bothersome. Those extra several minutes in the shower could be much better spent on other facets of your beauty routine, no? Plus, it’s almost inevitable you’ll miss hair in the hard-to-shave spots like your knees. And the next-day stubble, ugh, the stubble. Oh, and the nicks. No.thank.you.
Yes, we loathe shaving. Which is why we turned to leg waxing long ago and haven’t looked back. We say: toss the razor, schedule a leg wax.
And since you’re not shaving, you have a few extra minutes to do so.
Leg Waxing Basics:
Full leg wax or half leg wax? You decide. Most wax salons offer both. A full leg wax commonly comprises hair removal from the top of thighs to the base of the ankles (front and back). A half leg wax typically eliminates hair from either just above the knees to the ankles, or from the thighs to above the knees (front and back).
What to Expect from Your Leg Wax:
When the topic involves waxing, it seems the inevitable first question is always: Does it hurt?
It depends entirely upon your pain threshold, of course. But honestly, leg waxing isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s pretty tolerable. And if you do need a little reassurance, follow these tips:
While your wax is taking place, keep your mind focused on never having to shave again (trust us, the thought works!).
Don’t forget to breathe—try to relax; the worst thing you can do is tense up.
Expect to position your legs in various ways, as well as likely having to roll over (you don’t want just the front of your legs waxed, right?).
And, this is important: Be aware that you probably won’t be super-smooth entirely off the bat. Let’s face it, you’ve been shaving for a long time. It’ll take a few waxes to establish a new hair growth cycle when introducing a different hair removal method.
Leg Waxing Prep:
Let it grow: Waxxpot recommends your hair be the length of a grain of rice (about 1/4″) before your wax appointment. So embrace the stubble. And breathe easy knowing it’s only for a short while—because post-wax regrowth will come in softer, finer and sparser over time. (Yay!)
Scrub, scrub, scrub: Exfoliate your skin pre-wax (a day prior is best). Use an in-shower scrub, give dry brushing a go; whatever the process, just slough away those dead skin cells. It’ll help the hair removal procedure go more smoothly (no pun intended).
Post-Wax Care
Avoid hot showers/baths after wax: Opt for lukewarm water for approximately 24 hours to avoid any skin irritation.
Exfoliate: Keep the scrub routine going even after your appointment.
Moisturize: Slather on that lotion post-shower to reveal hydrated skin.
Nix shaving. Seriously. Just toss the razor in the trash. Practice patience because a waxing routine is so, so worth it in the long run. Again, your hair will grow slower and finer.
And you’ll never shave again. What will you do with all that free time?
In the era where Cara-esque bushy brows reign supreme, you don’t want to be caught with a pair of tweezers committing the worst brow faux pas of all – plucking.
So, what’s the alternative? A pro treatment that shapes and defines your eyebrows whilst making the most of your natural fluff – we’re talking waxing
Eyebrow waxing is when warm wax is thinly applied with a wooden spatula to the hairs that will be removed, a paper strip is then applied directly over the area with the wax, gentle pressure is applied to ensure the hairs in the wax stick to the paper, the paper is then swiftly pulled away, pulling the hairs out directly from the root.
What a better way to go?
Removing chin, cheek, and upper lip hair might not be as popular as bikini waxing, but many clients still turn to professional estheticians for the job, given that facial waxing on your own might not be the best idea. Facial waxing is not as simple as it looks; we’re talking about several small areas in which hair doesn’t grow in the same direction and where the skin is especially sensitive. Besides, the face cannot be hidden in case of bad results as in other places like the underarms or legs.
For this part of the face, it is advised to choose sugaring or hard waxes instead of soft waxes to prevent hairs from re-growing in different directions. As you might know, soft waxes are pulled out against the direction of hair, which causes hair to grow back irregularly. While this isn’t a problem for the legs or underarms, clients cannot hide chin hair nor they can remove them as soon as they appear since they have to wait until they are long enough to wax them again. Sugaring or hard body waxes, on the other hand, are pulled out in the direction of hair growth, which avoids having hair regrow in multiple directions on the lower part of the face.
Chest waxing includes your chest, stomach, abs, shoulders and blending into your arms. Chest waxing is done with soft wax. We begin where hair is least dense to densest depending on your pain tolerance. We do trim the chest hair when necessary to prevent matting like a wet poodle. Some bleeding may occur topically, but will clear up by the end of your chest hair waxing. Skin may be a little sensitive and tender, but this will go away overnight. This upper body waxing service can be broken up into a chest wax or an abs only waxing.
Bikini waxing is basically removing pubic hair using a hot or cold wax. People usually get it done for aesthetic hygiene or fashion or some other reasons. If you are tired of the razor burns yet want your hair to be tamed down there, you should get a bikini wax done. The bikini line area, which is the area between the inner thigh and upper leg is usually not covered by bikini bottoms, so it can be embarrassing at times if this hair is visible. Getting the bikini line waxed is a great way to get that perfect summer swimsuit look and even for a dose of a boost in self-esteem! If you are considering to go for bikini waxing, we share with you everything that you need to know about it and tips to follow before you plan your first bikini waxing appointment at a salon.
A body wrap – also known as a ‘body cocoon’ or ‘body mask’ – is a spa treatment created to enhance the health and appearance of skin, and/or reduce body measurements. A nourishing oil or mineral-rich formula is applied to the limbs and torso before they are wrapped in cotton, mylar bandages or a plastic film. This promotes the extraction of dirt, toxins and excess water from the skin.
While most wraps are performed on the entire body (minus the face and genital area), some – such as cellulite and bust wraps – are applied to certain areas alone.
A body scrub removes dead skin cells, increases blood circulation and cleanses skin through exfoliation. Also known as body polish,it consists of a liquid base with exfoliating granules which slough off dead skin when you massage it over your body. This action boosts blood circulation and drains your lymph nodes by increasing the blood flow to your skin’s surface. Sugar, salt and walnut shell powder are popular exfoliating components in natural body scrubs as they are abrasive enough to scrub skin but gentle enough to not damage it.
Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive procedure used to renew overall skin tone and texture. It can improve the appearance of sun damage, wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, acne scarring, melasma, and other skin-related concerns and conditions.
The procedure uses a special applicator with an abrasive surface to gently sand away the thick outer layer of the skin to rejuvenate it.
A different microdermabrasion technique sprays fine particles of aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate with a vacuum/suction to accomplish the same outcome as the abrasive surface.
Wondering what happens during an acne treatment facial? If you’ve never had an acne treatment facial done, they may seem kind of mysterious (or even a bit intimidating)
This facial includes a steam treatment, Exfoliation Procedure, Blemish Extractions, Masks and Toner, and more!
Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that can be applied to the face, hands, and neck. They’re used to improve the appearance or feel of the skin. During this procedure, chemical solutions will be applied to the area being treated, which causes the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off. Once this happens, the new skin underneath is often smoother, appears less wrinkled, and may have less damage.
There are three different types of chemical peels that you can get. These include:
Superficial peels, which use mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate. It only penetrates the outermost layer of skin.
Medium peels, which use trichloroacetic or glycolic acid to reach the middle and outer layer of skills. This makes it more effective for removing damaged skin cells.
Deep peels, which fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged skin cells; these peels often use phenol or trichloroacetic acid.
