I have a hormonal disorder called PCOS that causes hirituism, or excessive hair growth. For years, I was on birth control that balanced my hormones (but also made me a madwoman). Since I've been off, I've gotten hairier and hairier - one of the most noticeable places being my upper lip. This absolutely crushed my confidence. Whenever I spoke to people, I would get insecure that they were looking at my upper lip. I avoided going out and stopped taking photos altogether. But enough was enough! After careful careful consideration and consulting with friends who are more experienced in moustache removal - I decided on getting mine threaded.
I used to live in EAV and remembered passing by this place a lot, so I went in after work. There was one employee and one client who was getting their brows done. My wait was very short. After they finished up and paid the lady asked me what I'd like. When I sat in the chair, the woman examined my face and sternly told me:
YOU HAVE FULL MUSTACHE! TOO MUCH HAIR TO THREAD! I WAX!
Now. If there had been a lobby full of people, I'd likely have been embarrassed. I am already very insecure about this hair. To add insult to injury, she promptly passed me a hand mirror as though I needed to verify her declaration. I look at myself everyday. I know it's there. I see it too. That's why I am here. Paying YOU to remove it.
I DON'T NEED YOU TO REMIND ME OF THE OBVIOUS, LADY.
At this point I've already worked myself up to removing it and I just don't wanna leaving the shop hairy. I asked her if the wax was safe for sensitive skin. She said yes, so I reluctantly "well okay-d". Now, I am very experienced in getting my nether-regions waxed, but I've never had anything else. Also, with the positioning of the chair, which kind of leans you back. So, you can't really LOOK and see what's going on while it's going on.
After it was over, she slathered my upper lip in oil. I paid, and tipped. During my drive home the area was very red and itchy. She told me not to scratch, but dammit I was itchy! I stared panicking and doing some googles and realized the obvious - that I was likely having an allergic reaction to the wax.
I also read that the area should've been disinfected before the wax was applied (it wasn't). And that no oils or creams should be applied after (she literally brushed on oil). Upon further examination at home, she hadn't even removed all of the hair. She did 2 quick sections, and just left everything else beyond that.
By day, 3 my top lip was covered in little white bumps. It was so unsightly and embarrassing and I absolutely DREADED leaving the house. They cleared up within a week or so. It's been a little over a month now, but now I have scars all around my top lip. It's so ugly. I've never known how to wear makeup, but I had to go out and buy a concealer stick to learn how to cover them, and I don't leave the house without it.
I 100% regret the moment I decided to walk into this salon. If I could go back, I would've hopped out of the chair the moment she acted like she couldn't do what I'd come for.
FYI: This time around, I went to another place and got THREADED with ZERO itch/rash/inflammation issues afterward. I told the woman about my previous experience and she confirmed my suspicions: I was not "too hairy", the lady at i-too was simply lazy and did not want to take the time necessary to thread me.
Another FYI: i-too offers skin bleaching services. Skin. BLEACHING. Ew. Yuck. Please don't go here. read more