In the life of: a bikini waxer

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Bikini waxes. They are something many women — and even men — cringe at the thought of. The idea alone sounds like torture to endure, let alone perform. But after talking with Stephanie Fields, the idea suddenly doesn’t sound so painful. Why else would this woman laugh and crack jokes about the subject like it was comparable to trimming your fingernails? After all, she says, it’s just maintenance.

Photo illustration by Andrea Olsen

Wax with a smile: Aesthetician Stephanie Fields says a big part of her job is making people feel at ease.

Fields is an aesthetician at Salon di Marco, 733 Massachusetts St. She performs facials, chemical peels and, most notably, Brazilian bikini waxes.

“My mother can’t believe I do it, but then again she’s never had one,” Fields says. When she first decided to be an aesthetician she thought the job would just be facials and makeup, but she soon realized the dreaded bikini wax was part of the job description.

The biggest thing is keeping things light, Fields says. She tries to keep the conversation going, covering any topic. The goal is to distract the client so they don’t tense up or hold their breath, which makes it more painful. Fields says it’s also important as a waxer to be comfortable with your own body, because that will make the client less nervous.

Though you think her job would be filled with horror stories, Fields says it really isn’t so bad. A lot of her clients react by cussing or giggling, but no one has run away in fear. You shouldn’t be put in an uncomfortable situation and it shouldn’t be the worst experience of your life and Fields says she wants to ensure that for her customers.

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