I went to Rafaela on a whim because I live in NJ and usually get waxed but, was in NYC and needed a wax bad. My experience was nothing short of amazing. Rafaela started by telling me about the sugaring wax process but I saved her the trouble because I've been doing sugaring for over 4yrs. Her set up was clean and she was professional and sweet. Rafaela takes pride in her work and it really shows. Thank you for a wonderful experience and if I'm ever in NYC again and in need of a Brazilian I know where to go. A plus was there was another lady there that was also very nice and did a wash and set for me and cut my end in my hair. read more

First time trying sugaring! Let me share my experience. The lady that attended me was Stephanie. She did an excellent job informing me about the benefit of sugaring and how it's different from waxing. I learned that unlike waxing, the sugaring process does not use any chemicals. I got my arms and upper back done. (Just in time for hot sunny days) Process: First she put powder in the area being treated and then she applied the sugaring material. I must say that sugaring is less painful than waxing! I enjoyed that it also took less time to get the work done. Drawbacks: When it was time to pay, Stephanie asked a women name Rafaela for a price. After thinking about it for about a minute she said $70. It is unbelievable that prices aren't posted and she randomly comes up with prices front the top of her head. Will I come back? No, just because I like to knowing the breakdown of what I'm paying for. read more

Sugar Wax Cafe - Sugaring Near Me - New York, New York

Did not wait, on time with appointment. Lady had great customer service & educates you along the process. Thank you!

The waxing lady is awesome, prices are highly competitive. I paid 35 for a brazilian sugar wax. Sugar waxing is less painful for me and is better for sensitive skin. They don't use warm or hot wax! Also! They are bilingual. read more

Sugar Wax Cafe - Sugaring Near Me - New York, New York

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This place, man. THIS. PLACE. IS. THE. BEST. Not a fancy space, not a fancy neighborhood (or particularly convenient unless you live nearby), but the individual attention Rafaela gives to her clients will make you feel better than getting a wax at a fancy salon. Not only is the waxing quick and to the point, Rafaela does a thorough check to pick up any strays and prevent in-grown hairs. If downtown address and vaguely Asian Muzak are your game, don't make an appointment. If you want the best wax of your life done by someone who clearly takes pride in great results and are cool with Spanish TV and phones ringing in the background, this is your place. read more

I ABSOLUTELY love this place and Rafaela!!! The place is not a formal "waxing salon", it's sort of like a room within a rental space but its really all you need. Her time is super flexible and she works on appointments which is amazing if you have a hectic work schedule. I've always been SUPER scared of waxing, but i love the whole sugar wax thing. It's def not as painful and the little pain there is lasts about 5 mins. Afterwards she uses tweezers and makes sure that everything is removed. She's also super friendly which makes it easier to lay there wide open. I will def be going back and dont plan on ever using a razor for that area. She seriously left me feeling like a super star...i just want to show it to everyone. read more

Rafaela is great. The wax she uses is 100 percent natural and you can taste it. Less painful than any other waxing spots she keeps a conversation going which helped me with nerves and keeping my focus else where. Please note, I have been to many waxing salons in the NYC area looking for the least painful with a decent price wax salon and after attending Sugar Wax Cafe I need to search no longer. The service and price are unbeatable thus far. read more

Rafaela is simply the best of the best when it comes to sugar waxing ... I've been a client of hers for over 6 years now and I will say anytime I cheat on her ( by necessity only) I realize how valuable she is. Her sugar wax is the best quality and her attention to every single detail is unmatched! read more

I've been here twice, and may I say Rafaela is the truth! I'd gotten a Brazilian at some fancy place for the first time in June. I had no idea what to expect so I assumed it was the norm. Well, after seeing the reviews here on Yelp I decided to give Rafaela a try. Holy cow! For half the price, she gave me a real Brazilian! She is thorough. I mean she goes above and beyond. The first place wasn't nearly as good as her. In October, I called at the last minute for a Brazilian. She said she was booked but told me to call exactly when I was leaving work. I did, and she said she could see me if I could be there in 15 minutes. I got there and she was waiting for me. Have me too notch service again. She didn't rush or anything. Great spot. I'll definitely be back. read more

I love this place. Everytime I go it is quick & painless. If you have never tried sugaring before, you should try & this is the place to do it. Very well priced. I pay $45 for a Brazilian. The first time, of course will hurt but if you keep going back it hurts less and less. I felt super comfortable with both rafaela & Stephanie. I will definitely keep going here 7 highly recommend this to anyone. It's easy to find, they are friendly & do a great job. A quick hop skip & a jump off the 1 train 181 st. read more

I booked an appointment for a Brazilian wax by Rafaela. My first Brazilian in years & I must say she did a great job! She explained to me what Sugar Wax was & how it worked. She was very thorough in explaining everything as she waxed each area. I loved how she made me feel so comfortable in not so comfortable situation. Her assistant who took my name, phone number, & picture for contact information after the consultation was very friendly. I appreciated the great customer service & will be back! The location is a little out of the way for me & the salon isn't so obvious on the block but I can honestly say it was worth it. Great price & amazing overall experience! read more

Love love love the service here ! Let me start off by saying that yes the place is extremely tiny and cramped, but if you can lay down and accommodate yourself during the wax then what is all the hassle for ? You may have a hard time finding this place, doesn't have a sign or anything, it is right next door to a hair salon that plays really loud dominican music so that will be easy to find ! There are only 2 workers, Rafael & Stephanie. I have never tried Stephanie but she was trained by Rafaela so I am sure she is amazing as well. Rafaela is amazing !!! She is very detailed & really the best at what she does. She will give you the best service. She charges $40-45 for a Brazilian (DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THAT). Seriously you will love it here ! read more

My hair lady sent me to this spot.. I was desperate and thank god they took me in with open arms!! Stephanie was very welcoming even still since I was a walk in. She introduced herself and explained everything about the sugar wax while she was waxing. It was PAINLESS!!! I couldn't believe it! I've had sugar wax before in other places and it still hurt but here I felt NOTHING! She deff cleaned up shop and I felt so fresh walking out of the establishment. I'll definitely be back!!! read more

Rafaela is very accommodating with your schedule. She was very informative about the process and she will let you taste the sugar wax before she even proceeds to do it. In the beginning the pain is a little intense but when she goes over the 2nd time for perfection it is a breeze. She is thorough & patient with her work; so you already expect the results will be great. She did not disappoint at all. I highly recommend her to anyone!!! read more

As a woman of color with very sensitive skin, finding what works for me in terms of waxing and hair removal has been quite the journey. After many years, I have finally discovered that standard wax is just not suitable for my hair and skin type. I was recommended to Rafaela by a friend after she heard my gripes from places like European Wax Center (mainly my fault because why the hell would a kinky, coily Brown girl visit EUROPEAN Wax center LOL melanated hair and skin requires attention y'all). I must say after a full year of Sugaring my private woes have dramatically disappeared. I remember Rafaela once even let me taste the sugar wax from a new container! All natural hair removal is a plus for me. Bye bye ingrowns! read more

Amazing. Part of me doesn't want to tell people about it, because it's such a good place to get sugared in the city. I trust Stephanie so much - she is super careful and caring about her work. Finding a beautician that you will want to come back to is a gem, and I'm so happy that I made it in. Bring enough cash for your service and a tip! read more

I love Rafaela, it's true what they say-- sugaring is definitely way less painful compared to regular waxing. I'm pregnant and rafaela always takes her sweet time with me to make sure I'm nice and relaxed, and most importantly comfortable. No one else I trust during this delicate time in my life. read more

I love Rafaela, shes very patient with you and understanding. Calm also. She trys to talk with you to make you comfortable. Very good place.

Had my first sugar wax ever here & Rafaiela made me feel super comfortable & was extremely patient. I had a Brazilian & my underarms done. I'm not gonna lie, the Brazilian was painful. I have used regular wax before in that area and don't see a significant difference in the pain level when putting waxing up against sugaring. Small setting but they get the job done! read more

Rafael was awesome. First, she squeezed me in as a walk-in and I'm a first time customer. The sugar wax hurt a little at first, nothing unbearable. But over all she was very thorough and conversing with her was sweet. -Revisiting review, my hair growth was accompanied with mini razor bump-like reaction which I've never experienced with waxing before besides the regular slight itching that accompanies hair growth. I'm sure its because my skin is highly sensitive. Tho would be the only reason why I probably wouldn't return unless they offer different wax and gave 3 out 5 stars. read more

Not a fancy place and its what i like, the staff are very friendly and the job is perfectly realised, i highly recommand that place for the wax with Rafaela and the threading eyebrows. $35 for the wax and $6 for the eyebrows, tips not included. Call before, Rafaela is very busy. read more

This place was the best!!! We are just visiting NYC and they knew that, yet we still got great service! Did not have Rafael like many of the other reviewers talked about, but still the same great experience! Loved the emphasis on cleanliness and being sanitary and also the tips on what to do (and NOT do) when we left. Everyone that was working there was so friendly and they were great about working us in at the end of a busy Saturday on a holiday weekend. Were greeted by smiles and had pleasant conversation during the whole treatment! Will definitely be returning when we come back to see our family! read more

I read all the reviews and Rafaela went above and beyond what I was anticipating! She is well experienced and meticulous about her craft. Her services are fairly priced. Any time I had a question, she made sure to explain throroughly. She is also extremely hospitable and although I met her for the first time today, it was like reuniting with an old confidant. I would highly recommend! read more

My sister has friends who go to her and then I read Yelp reviews that confirmed how great she is! After years of waxing I decided to try out the sugaring method. I have to say that Rafaela was more than thorough and explained what she was doing and how it worked in detail. She was great and talked to me throughout the process because she could tell I was nervous. The most painful parts were over in less than a minute. Her place is not fancy, but who cares. I looked fancy when she was done with me. She has been doing this for over 20 years and let me tell you.... it shows. She is efficient and kind at the same time. She has reasonable rates and cares a great deal about her customers. I would recommend her to anyone. Gracias Rafaela! read more

The fact that anyone gives her 1 star is beyond me It's an inexpensive wax for an extremely thorough job, you might deal with conversations on the phone and quick changes but I have not found a salon which charges this little and is so thorough. As a matter of fact I've found hair in hard to reach places after paying 2 times as more for a Brazilian, here I pay less and it's better. I tell her she needs to charge more every time I go. Also bring cash not CC, and try to be on time with your appointments, when she sees you're responsible she's more likely to see you out on a whim. I've been going to her for a year and I refuse to see anyone else. read more

I have very sensitive skin, and so I usually shy away from waxes because all of my experiences have been quite painful. I tried Uni K's wax, and even that was too much for me. After some research, I decided to try sugar waxing and I must say, I'm happy. Although you can't avoid pain with any wax, sugar wax is quicker (in my opinion) than other wax, more natural, and is more elastic which all equals less pain. My waxer, Stephanie, was knowledgable and worked with me even when I kept tensing in pain. The place is small, but the service is great. I'll definitely be back next time. read more

Rafaela is very comforting. When I went for the 1st time I was so scared but she calmed me down lol. She makes it known that she knows what she's doing and will explain to you the process. I Only Went To her one time 4 two reasons: The Location Isn't The Closet to My home and I Didn't Like that she switched Up her Prices. We were told one thing but once the wax was over it was different. Even when we wanted to go back her prices weren't consistent and I didn't like that. She's great but It Turned me Off :( read more

My 1st time having a sugar wax & i found it to be unpleasant i couldn't tolerate the pain. I was ready to tell her to stop lol. But it was worth it after the pain i was as smooth as a babies bottom. read more

I'd never gotten anything waxed below the eyebrows before and I'm a baby about pain so I was very nervous. Because sugar waxing is gentler on the skin than traditional waxing, the pain was very minimal. The worst part was the "clean up" aka tweezing the strays, but that's unavoidable. I have sensitive skin and had zero reaction after, which was great. Rafaela is a pro, the price is the lowest I've seen anywhere, and the results were great. Literally the only downside is the location, which is an hour and half subway ride for me. But until I find a place closer that does true sugar waxing (no strips, just a paste) I'll continue to make the trek to Washington Heights once a month. read more

Went there for the first time on Sunday, (they squeezed me in at the last minute). Rafaela is great at what she does. She is very kind and the process is quick and as painless (considering) as possible. I would highly recommend this place to anyone, plus it's cheap! read more

Best place ever! Found it randomly looking up sugar wax here on yelp about 7 months ago. I fell in love with it ! I only ever waxed once before I started coming here and it was horrible and it put me off waxing for years. I found this place and there has never been another place or razor. Absolute amazing place and staff. They know what they are doing!! I put on all my friends to this place and they as well love it. I would never again shave or try another wax place. Totally recommend it 110%! Stop looking ladies this is the place to go ! =p read more

Sugar wax cafe is definitely an awesome place for service. Service was prompt, quick and most importantly painless. Location is very clean and Ella is very professional. She explained the process thoroughly including after care instructions. read more

Found this place on Yelp after searching for many places. This was my first time using the sugar wax and i heard its a bit more painful than a chocolate wax. It was painful but Rafaela got it dont the quickest possible. However, there were many hairs left over and Rafaela stated it was due to the fact i wore lotion she told me to come back in a few days to get rid of the left over hair. I went back a few days later wore no lotion. Rafaela still was unable to remove the leftover hairs and.said it was due to the type of hair i had. I have gotten waxed a few tomes before and have never had this problem. she was very nice but i wont b going again. the point of me waxing is to get ALL of the hair removed. my appointment was at 2 and i was seen by 245. She gets very busy so youll have to wait read more

Rafaela is wonderful. She explained what sugar wax is and what she was doing. She is extremely thorough and took her time. I didn't feel like she rushed at all. In fact, she called me back when she missed my call. Well priced and clean. So happy I found her! read more

This place is a hidden gem. Stephanie took me without a problem. She's so sweet and I had a great first experience with sugar wax. I would def go back again and recommend all my friends. it is a little far for me but def worth the trip! read more

Since I was 6 months pregnant it gets harder to reach in the lower areas so I decided to give this a try. I never waxed before knowing that timeouts be so painful but I convinced myself that this was the best option to try for now. Rafaela did my Brazilian sugar waxing and she was amazing. She explained everything she was doing and applying as it was happening and made me feel as comfortable as possible. It is a little difficult having a conversation with someone when you are tensing up with pain but I got through it and couldn't be happier. What can I say this can't be worse than going into labor. I highly recommend this place but keep advice it is difficult to find parking. read more

I've been all over the city trying to find the best bikini wax. My search stopped with Rafaela. First, sugar wax is very different than regular wax. Rafaela's sugar wax method consists of a ball of gummy wax being rolled and pulled to remove all the hair. She is even more thorough after with a pair of tweezers and her magnifying lens. I'm very sensitive and usually break out in hives with regular wax, but not so much with sugar wax. I've been back at least 6 times. Great prices, great job. She puts a lot of time into doing a great job. I totally recommend her! read more

I just received a great sugar wax from Stephanie, Rafaela prodigy. She knew her history. She was very calm and ask me a few question about how I've maintained the area previously. She was able to give me more insight on better ways to get results. The place was very clean and smell great. They keep everything clean and inviting. I will defiantly be a regular. read more

I've been waxing with Rafaela for about 5 months and I honestly have ZERO complaints! She's very clean and gentle, talks throughout the process and makes sure you're relaxed/comfortable. She gets rid of ALL hair which is definitely a plus bc my past didn't match that. I've never had irritation or anything of that sort. Exfoliating is definitely important though! Also, the price is REALLLYYYYY affordable!!! It's no more then $45 I believe which is amazing because other places charge over $60, it being hot wax. I loveeee it here! They also have a hair salon there too. read more

I love this place. One of my girlfriends took me here to get my hair done. When it comes to my hair I am very picky well Modesta was my hair stylist and It was love at first sight my hair came out gorgeous I went the following week and I had to literally wait for her for 2 hours just to get my hair blown out I can't deal with that so the 3rd week I went I let Janet do my hair and ever since then I have NEVER EVER allowed anyone to put one finger on my hair! She is extremely sweet makes you feel at home and she makes me feel beautiful in matter of minutes! Janet is great everything she does she does it with perfection from highlights to complete hair dye extensions and my favorite a regular wash and set. Love love love this place and will always get my hair done by Janet. Also avoid going Fridays and Saturday's after noon it gets extremely busy. read more