It’s a little secret us women don’t like to talk about…but the fact is most women develop chin hair at an early age.  As we get older, they become coarser, and more difficult to remove.  So many of you are asking me, what is the best way to remove unwanted chin hair?

Methods of hair removal are mainly based on preference and budget.  A female reader wrote in and wanted to know about laser hair removal to get rid of the unwanted hair on her chin.  Laser Hair removal is an excellent option for removing unwanted hair.  Results are excellent and long-term.  However, laser hair removal can be quite costly.  One session alone can costs upwards of $150 for small body parts like the chin. 

At home methods or course are the most efficient, but when it comes to precision, a shaky hand can do more harm than good. A few months ago a woman came to me who wanted to ask my opinion about the best way to remove the hair on her chin.  The hair was incredibly coarse, and grew very quickly.  She said she had to tweeze her chin hairs every other day, and I completely believed her.

She was trying for years to tweeze her own hairs and she was failing miserably. For starters, the hairs are difficult to see, so she wasn’t able to pull the hair from its root.  She was leaving herself with broken hairs that started to curl and become infected.  I challenged her to let me tweeze her chin hairs the right way, and she would see a visible difference in weeks.  She agreed.

I began by seeing her every other day to properly pull the hair from its root.  Within weeks, we were only seeing each other once a week.  Now, just a few months later, she only visits me once a month.  What I want you to learn is that tweezing or waxing can offer wonderful long term results, reduce hair growth and reduce hair volume.  However, if you aren’t doing it correctly, you are wasting your time and energy and further exacerbating the problem.

So, in my opinion, the best method for removing unwanted hair is….whichever method suits your lifestyle and your budget.  You can have excellent results from many different types of professional hair removal methods, if they are done properly and precisely.

If you have more specific questions, you can always email me at info@dayspaexpert.com

Follow more of Valentina’s advice at www.valentinachistova.com

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession.

Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.

Valentina is the owner and director of skin care for Aquamedica Salon and Day Spa in Long Branch NJ.

Q:

Good afternoon,

I recently had a bad experience when undergoing my first Brazilian wax at a spa

here in nyc. I am a straight male and would not subject myself to working with a

male  waxer, so I went with a female technician.

As you know Brazilian waxing requires almost complete nudity, and different

types of physical handling. Needless to say my body's reaction during the

experience left me embarrassed and my technician horribly offended. I will

probably not be allowed to return to that spa.

But now I want to know if this situation sounds familiar and if there is

anything that can be done to put both parties at ease prior to this type of

waxing?

A:

Valentina Chistova:

First let me start off by saying that I am sorry to hear of your experience.   More and more men are requesting the same waxing services as women, and why shouldn’t they?  Like women, you want to keep yourself clean, groomed and sanitary.  Unfortunately, it still hasn’t been accepted as ‘the norm’ yet..men receiving Brazilian waxes or even bikini waxes.

Your body’s response was normal.  The best thing to do if you want to have this procedure again is to call and ask a facility if they are experienced in male bikini waxing or male Brazilian waxing.  You can even request to speak with the technician whom you will be seeing.  Ask her questions and see if you are comfortable with her.  Ask her if she performs this service regularly or how many she has performed.  If they sound serious over the phone, your chances of having a more pleasant experience are better.

You may have to try a few places before you find a facility that truly caters to men.  Another good idea would be to seek out a spa just for men, there are many more today then there used to be.  These spas cater to an all male clientele but offer female therapists.  Make sure you go to a ‘reputable’ facility, and not one that is involved in illegal activity.  There are plenty male only spas.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Seeing a professional for your eyebrow shaping needs is ideal, but due to changes in everyone’s economic status, many are trying to achieve the perfect arch at home.  If you are going to attempt to shape your own eyebrows, let me at least give you some helpful hints and tips to get you started in the right direction.

The Tools:

There a few necessary tools /products you will want to have by your side before you begun:

1. Eyebrow brush: before you begin, you’ll want to give your eyebrows a good brushing.  This will help you better define the current shape of your eyebrow.
2. White eyeliner pencil: In order to achieve a shape that’s right for your face, you’ll need to do a bit of measuring (don’t worry, no rulers needed, I’ll explain below how to measure). Once you finish measuring, you can use the white eyeliner pencil to color in the hairs that should be removed.  This way you have a guide to follow.
3. Tweezers: If you’re doing this on your own, tweeze, don’t wax.  The tweezers will help you stay accurate, so you can precisely choose which hair(s) should be removed. Remember, removing even just one hair can change your brow…so choose wisely!
4. Toner: Take a cotton ball and toner and cleanse your eyebrows first. This will remove any excess oil and make-up and allow you to have more control while you tweeze.
5. Aloe: you might be a little red afterwards, and Aloe is Mother Nature’s best remedy for sensitive skin.

How to Shape Your Eyebrows for Your Face:

1. To measure where your eyebrow should begin, imagine an invisible line running from the inside corner of your eye to the outermost point of your nose.  Hold your white eyeliner pencil up for a more precise look.  Any hairs that fall outside out of this line should be colored white so you know to remove them.
2. To measure where your arch should peak, hold your pencil so that it becomes a straight line running from the outermost point of your nose to the outermost part of your iris.  This is where your arch should peak.  Color any hairs white that you want to remove.
3. How thick should your eyebrows be?  This depends on the shape of your face.  There are a few rules of thumb to go by.   For a round face, generally a more dramatic arch can draw attention away from the roundness.  Long faces should stay away from high arches, which only make the face appear longer.  Instead, your eyebrows should be flatter with less of an arch to give the illusion of a shorter face.  If you have a very angular face with prominent jaws, stay away from eyebrows that are equally as angular.  Keep eyebrows more round to soften the sharp angles of your face.   Start by only removing a few hairs.  You will see that just removing a little bit already makes a difference.  After you remove a few, take a step back and look at your whole face in the mirror.  See how the shape and thickness suits your face. It’s always best to do less and wait a few days. If you still feel you want them thinner, remove a few more hairs again.

The first thing I do when I see a client for eyebrow shaping at my NJ spa is study their face straight on.  I observe their facial features and take a mental measurement of the structure of their face.  Remember, eyebrows do not come in a ‘one size fits all’ strategy.  That is why I do not recommend people bring in photos of eyebrows that they want.  So try to avoid cutting out pictures of your favorite celebrity’s eyebrows and duplicating them.  Chances are, these eyebrows will not look good on your face.

If you have more specific questions, you can always email me at info@dayspaexpert.com

Follow more of Valentina’s advice at www.valentinachistova.com

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession.

Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world’s leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.

Valentina is the owner and director of skin care for Aquamedica Salon and Day Spa in Long Branch NJ.

Question: I am currently about 31 weeks pregnant and I want to start getting Brazilian waxes so I am groomed for the birth. Is this safe and okay to do at this stage of pregnancy? Should I wait until I am closer to the due date which is around Sept 12 or would it be better to do one now and again on a "as needed basis" closer to the delivery date?

Valentina: First you should know that there are no contraindications against Brazilian waxing during pregnancy. However, I personally would not recommend a full Brazilian wax at this stage of your pregnancy. Your blood vessels have become dilated, and your skin is now more sensitive. This means that the possibility of pain and bruising is greater. If you would like to be ‘clean’ for the birth, I would recommend you first come for a consultation so we can see how course your hair is. This can help determine how much bruising or pain you may experience. Waxing while pregnant is more painful because it is harder to stretch the skin and hold it taut because of your expanded abdomen. The tissue is not as elastic when you are pregnant. After we determine if how much we could wax, I would recommend that we gradually remove more hair as time passes by. This way we can see how your skin responds to the waxing. Just understand that your skin is more sensitive now which may heighten the pain and possibility for bruising.

If you live in the Monmouth County area, make a consultation with me at Aquamedica 732-222-8611. If you do not live in the area, call a reputable Salon and Spa and ask to have a consultation with someone who is experienced in waxing pregnant women.

I hope this helps, and always feel free to write again if you have more questions at info@dayspaexpert.com!

Sincerely

Valentina

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession. Throughout her successful career she has provided services to many celebrities, including Mrs. Globe 2001, famous socialite and entrepreneur Ivana Trump, well-known KTU radio personality Michelle Vassage and Olympic figure skating champion Galit Chait Prior to opening AQUAMEDICA in Long Branch NJ, Valentina also consulted with leading dermatologists, providing skin care regimes for their patients. Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical

Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.Follow Valentina’s BLOG and TWITER 

See for Yourself: Don’t take our word for it, take a virtual tour of Aquamedica online and see why we are the #1 spa destination in NJ.

Sign up for our email alerts and be the first to know about huge savings on your favorite spa services!

Our Spa covers the following New Jersey Counties and Cities: Central and South NJ Monmouth County Middlesex County Ocean Shrewsbury Asbury Park Deal Fair Haven Freehold Little Silver Brielle Colts Neck Elberon Fair Haven Highlands Holmdel Keyport Lincroft Long Branch Locust Manalapan Marlboro Manasquan Matawan Middletown Monmouth Beach Red Bank Rumson Sea Bright Sea Girt Belmar Sea Girt Spring Lake Tinton Falls Union Beach Tinton Falls Wall Old Bridge Eatontown

Question:  Hi Valentina, what is the difference between a Brazilian bikini wax and a Hollywood wax? I have heard both terms used before and I am never sure which to request when I make a waxing appointment.

Valentina:   Often times, people use the terms Brazilian wax and Hollywood wax interchangeably, however there are differences between the services.  Most salons and spas use the term Brazilian wax, and you can customize your wax experience to your liking during your appointment (i.e., how much you want to remove, etc).

In its truest definition, Brazilian waxes often leave a small strip, triangle or oval shape piece of hair in the front.  In the US we have many variations of what we call the Brazilian wax, but the true definition of the Brazilian is to leave a small strip in the front.

A Hollywood wax removes all of the hair, from the front to the very back. 

Most salons typically use the term Brazilian wax as it is the most popular and well known.  It is common practice to book your appointment and then specify to your technician exactly how you want the service performed.  Many technicians will even ask you for your preference.

The amount of hair you remove will often reflect in the price. That is why many establishments list their Brazilian wax prices as ‘$70 and up’.  The more you remove, the higher the price goes.  Most salons will include a full hair removal in the initial price.  If you have unusually course or unruly hair, there may be an added fee to compensate for the extra effort and time taken to fully remove all of the hair.  It’s good to ask before you arrive for your appointment so there are no surprises at the register.

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession. Throughout her successful career she has provided services to many celebrities, including Mrs. Globe 2001, famous socialite and entrepreneur Ivana Trump, well-known KTU radio personality Michelle Vassage and Olympic figure skating champion Galit Chait Prior to opening AQUAMEDICA in Long Branch NJ, Valentina also consulted with leading dermatologists, providing skin care regimes for their patients.

Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.

Follow Valentina’s blog at www.dayspaexpert.com

See for Yourself:  Don’t take our word for it, take a virtual tour of Aquamedica online and see why we are the #1 spa destination in NJ. 

Sign up for our email alerts and be the first to know about huge savings on your favorite spa services!

Our Spa covers the following New Jersey Counties and Cities:

Central and South NJ Monmouth County Middlesex County Ocean Shrewsbury Asbury Park Deal Fair Haven Freehold Little Silver Brielle Colts Neck Elberon Fair Haven Highlands Holmdel Keyport Lincroft Long Branch Locust Manalapan Marlboro Manasquan Matawan Middletown Monmouth Beach Red Bank Rumson Sea Bright Sea Girt Belmar Sea Girt Spring Lake Tinton Falls Union Beach Tinton Falls Wall Old Bridge Eatontown

Question: Hi Valentina, I often get ingrown hairs after shaving.  I was thinking of waxing instead.  Does waxing also cause ingrown hairs?

Valentina:  No, waxing does not cause ingrown hairs, waxing actually prevents ingrown hairs.  When  you shave, you cut the hair at the skin’s surface, leaving it with a flat top.  New skin cells can grow over the left over hair before it has a chance to grow over the surface again. When this happens, often times the flat top cannot poke through your skin cells, and the hair gets trapped under the skin.

When you wax, you are removing the entire hair from the root.  A new, fresh hair grows back with a pointed tip that can easily break through the skin’s surface, reducing the chance for ingrown hairs. 

Whether you wax or shave, it’s good practice to exfoliate your legs a 2-3 times a week to encourage the turnover of dead skin cells.  This will help those who shave reduce ingrown hairs and keep skin smooth and soft. 

You don’t have to buy anything expensive.  A great homemade exfoliator can consist of sea salt mixed with some avocado oil or jojoba oil.  You can even add a drop or two of your favorite scented essential oil to your personalized product!  Not only does this work great to slough away dead skin cells, but it leaves your skin incredibly hydrated and radiant!  It’s one of my favorite recipes.

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally

trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession. Throughout her successful career she has provided services to many celebrities, including Mrs. Globe 2001, famous socialite and entrepreneur Ivana Trump, well-known KTU radio personality Michelle Vassage and Olympic figure skating champion Galit Chait Prior to opening AQUAMEDICA in Long Branch NJ, Valentina also consulted with leading dermatologists, providing skin care regimes for their patients.
Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.
Follow Valentina’s blog at www.dayspaexpert.com

See for Yourself:  Don’t take our word for it, take a virtual tour of Aquamedica online and see why we are the #1 spa destination in NJ. 

Sign up for our email alerts and be the first to know about huge savings on your favorite spa services!



Our Spa covers the following New Jersey Counties and Cities:

Central and South NJ Monmouth County Middlesex County Ocean Shrewsbury Asbury Park Deal Fair Haven Freehold Little Silver Brielle Colts Neck Elberon Fair Haven Highlands Holmdel Keyport Lincroft Long Branch Locust Manalapan Marlboro Manasquan Matawan Middletown Monmouth Beach Red Bank Rumson Sea Bright Sea Girt Belmar Sea Girt Spring Lake Tinton Falls Union Beach Tinton Falls Wall Old Bridge Eatontown

Question: Hi Valentina, I have heard that Brazilian waxes can be dangerous and can transmit disease.  Is this true?

Valentina:  When done properly, Brazilian waxing is very safe.  There are many myths about Brazilian waxing.  The truth is, when you go to a professional day spa that follows proper sanitary conditions, there is nothing unsafe about getting a Brazilian.  Below are answers to some common questions as well as precautions to consider if you are having this procedure.

1.     Do NOT get any waxing done if you are on medication, especially Acutane.  Some medications can increase skin’s sensitivity, and your skin can literally be pulled right off if the technician is not careful.  If you are on any medications, ask your doctor if it is safe to have waxing performed.

2.    Do NOT get any waxing done after going tanning.  Again, your skin is sensitive and you risk burning or tearing the skin.

3.    Be sure the facility is properly licensed and be sure technicians are not only licensed, but highly trained in Brazilian wax (Licenses should be hanging in the front of the salon, visible to customers). Ask how long the technician has been performing this procedure and be sure to let them know that you only want someone highly skilled in Brazilian waxing.

4.    You can NOT get an STD from Brazilian waxing.   Due to the high temperature the wax is kept at, bacteria nor viruses can live within the wax.

5.    Be sure your technician is wearing latex gloves.  Many spas wear latex gloves during a Brazilian wax.  Don’t be embarrassed or offended.  This is a proper sanitary precaution to protect both you and the technician.

Before beginning, your technician should have a consultation with you and ask if you are on any medications that could sensitize the skin, especially Retin-A.  They should ask if you have been tanning recently and ensure that you are not on your period, or about to get your period.  If the technician does not have this proper consultation with you, this is a good sign to forgo your appointment and seek out a qualified facility that follows proper procedure. 

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession. Throughout her successful career she has provided services to many celebrities, including Mrs. Globe 2001, famous socialite and entrepreneur Ivana Trump, well-known KTU radio personality Michelle Vassage and Olympic figure skating champion Galit Chait Prior to opening AQUAMEDICA in Long Branch NJ, Valentina also consulted with leading dermatologists, providing skin care regimes for their patients.

Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.

Read more about Valentina at http://www.aquamedicaspa.com/who_we_are.shtml