Tucked away near the heart of San Francisco’s Design Area in Potrero Hill, you will find fresh and effective skincare treatments to meet your every need. Oil & Water Skincare and Brow Design offers a variety of tantalizing, results-oriented skincare and waxing services in a soothing, professional environment. The subtle scents of lavender, citrus, geranium and rosemary will greet you upon entering, an introduction to the warm and inviting experience that follows

All treatments customized to your individual needs using Yon Ka Paris, Jan Marini Skin Research and Eminence Organics

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Should You Spend Money on Detox Skin Care Products?
Creams, lotions, pads, and potions claim to remove so-called toxins from the body. What does that mean?

You may already know that so-called liquid “detox diets”—espoused by celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow—are not recommended by most doctors and nutritionists, who say they’re worthless at best and may cause health problems at worst. But the entire concept of “detoxification” has made its way to products for your skin and body, too, from facial masks to bath soaks to foot pads. Are those products any more worthwhile?

The problem with any topical product that says it can “detox” is that the term doesn’t really mean anything, says Perry Romanowski, an independent cosmetic industry scientist and one of the bloggers at thebeautybrains.com. “It’s a vague enough claim so that you’re not really making a medical claim,” he says. “Cosmetic marketers are clever enough to find a word like this and use it.”

The toxins that products claim to remove range from vague “impurities” to more specific things that may or may not be affected by a skin product. “Certainly it’s possible to apply products and ingredients to the skin that are protective against exposures,” says John Bailey, chief scientist at the Personal Care Products Council, which represents the cosmetic and personal care industry. Sunscreen, for example, protects against harmful UV rays.

Dennis Gross, a dermatologist whose MD Skincare line includes several products advertised to remove toxins, says in his case he’s referring to environmental pollutants like the heavy metals and chlorine in tap water. Ingredients that neutralize or remove those substances can reduce the chance of skin irritation like eczema or damage, he says. “I won’t go so far as to say they’re helping [the entire body], but they clearly can make the skin better,” he says.

Some detox products, including some of Gross’s, also include antioxidants, substances that sop up the free radicals that are implicated in aging and skin damage. And topical antioxidants have been shown to reduce the impact of those ills, at least in the test tube. (That said, free radicals are not “toxins” and cannot be eliminated by the body.) It’s less clear whether topical antioxidants will reduce wrinkles caused by sun exposure or the aging process, or provide any other visible benefit, and it’s also unknown what dosage and for how long they must be applied to see any potential benefit, says Paula Begoun, author of Don ‘ t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. (After years of reviewing products, Begoun now has her own line of personal care products, some containing antioxidants.)

If you’re looking for antioxidant-containing products, it’s better to look for that specific word on the label or packaging, says Leslie Baumann, a dermatologist who directs the University of Miami’s Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute. Some ingredients to seek out: ascorbic acid (vitamin C), green tea, idebenone, coffeeberry, and coenzyme Q10.

Protecting against external damage is one thing; whether putting something on your skin can actually suck out harmful substances from your skin or elsewhere in your body is another question. “The question it poses is, if there are toxins lurking in the skin, what are they?” says Begoun. “What’s poisoning our skin? Pesticides? Which ones and how do you get them out and measure the effects?” she says. “I don’t know of any toxins lurking in the skin. It’s a pretty dynamic organ and turns itself over every three to six weeks and every two to three months when you get older.” She says “toxin” is so vague it could mean anything.

Even if there are undesirable substances floating around the body, it would be tough to get them out via the skin, says Romanowski. The skin is generally not permeable and few chemicals can pass through it. It’s instead the liver, kidneys, and digestive system that generally remove waste and toxins from the body. That’s one of the chief reasons he and other experts dismissed the claims that last year’s trendy detox foot pads can somehow remove toxins through the soles of your feet as you sleep.

Better than attempting to remove unwanted things from your body via your skin is not exposing your body to those things in the first place. That means avoiding excess sun exposure, anything more than moderate drinking, and smoking, says Baumann. And improve your diet, adds Begoun: The traditional Mediterranean diet—centered around fruits and veggies, whole grains, fish, and “good” fats—includes omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in their natural state, and may help improve the structure of the skin, according to studies.

Nothing you put on your skin can make up for a hard night out. But if detox skin products aren’t the miracle workers some of the ads make them out to be, nor are they likely to be harmful, Baumann says. That was a relief for one of her patients, who worried a new facial cream would nullify the active ingredient in one of her other beauty mainstays. Says Baumann, “She was worried it would detox her Botox.”

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Skin Problems Mystery Solved By Skinceuticals

Not many people are blessed with the good fortunes of having beautifully smooth and clear skin and many of us suffer from common problems such as excessively dry or oily skin. These problems have baffled scientists for years but in recent times scientists and industry experts have come together to solve the great mystery.

Most skin problems are in fact a result of imbalances in the skin and people not eating the right things. Luckily for us the clever guys at Skinceuticals have come up with some great skin care products to help people rejuvenate our skin. Skinceuticals have been around since 1997 and work on the ethos that all their products are back by science. So effectively they have tested and retested their products to ensure that they do work. This is particularly important within our industry as consumers have mistrust as to whether products actually work.

At Heaven Spa we have recently taken stock of the Skinceuticals range and are excited by the prospect of being able to share it with our consumers. The skinceuticals skin care products vary from body polish to body firming lotion. Like most of our products the Skinceuticals range is at the premium end of the market and you will often read about celebrities using the products.

To help keep your skin looking smooth and healthy we recommend you use some form of skincare on a daily basis. It is also important to look after your health and body on a day to day basis. Regular exercise and eating healthily can make a world of difference.

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Skin Care

 

Aesthetician Bianca Cypser spent about six years working at spas before opening her own: Complexions Skin Care Spa and Boutique in Gulfport. Two years later, she has a steady clientele. We caught up with Cypser, 27, recently. Two years ago you had a good job, at the prestigious Don CeSar resort in St. Pete Beach. What made you venture out on your own?

 

I always knew I was going to have my own business. I really believe the mind is a powerful thing, and I knew this was going to happen. . . .

 

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Proper skin care

Monica Kiel of Appleton is doing all she can to protect her skin.
She wears a moisturizer with an SPF, has yearly skin checks by a dermatologist and monitors any moles that appear on the skin.

All this came from learning the hard way how easily the skin can be damaged.
As a teenager, Kiel, 33, was caught up in “looking good.”

“The media has bombarded us with information in regards to youth,” said Dr. Michele Holder, a dermatologist with Affinity Medical Group. “Our society is very youth oriented.”
Therefore, anything to reverse the process “appeals to individuals who want the confidence that the aging process can take away,” Holder said.

Proper care and prevention can keep skin healthy and youthful looking. Steps such as basic facial care, using moisturizer, sun protection, avoiding smoking and alcohol and being aware of skin changes are some ways to keep skin healthy.
When it comes to basic facial care, maintain a routine year-round, said Dr. Carrie Blanc, a family physician with ThedaCare and one of the medical directors of Refine MD, a medical spa in Menasha.

A different moisturizer may be needed each season, said Blanc, noting the skin changes determine what to use.

“That doesn’t mean in the summertime, when its oilier, you give up your moisturizer,” she said, noting there are oil-free moisturizers available.

Wearing a moisturizer with an SPF is important, even for quick jaunts out, Blanc said.
“Ideally, you should be sun-screened every day,” she said, noting that the face is the most crucial area because the skin is thinner.
But don’t be tricked into thinking a moisturizer with an SPF is enough, Holder said.
“You’re not applying your moisturizer as heavily as you are applying a sunscreen,” she said.

For prolonged periods in the sun, use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, ideally with both UVA and UVB protection, and always re-apply.
“If in the water, be reapplying that sunscreen every couple hours,” Blanc said. “There is nothing that is water-proof. Many are water resistant.”
Avoid the sun during peak hours between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tanning beds should be avoided, Holder said.

“There is no safe tanning bed,” she said. “Tanning beds will damage the skin over time just as natural tanning will damage the skin.”
Instead, consider artificial tanning products or misting tans.
“Those are safe for the skin,” she said.

However, always use an additional sunscreen product, said Holder, adding that artificial tanning products offer no benefit in regards to sun protection.
Should sun damage occur, see a doctor. Dermatologists advocate a monthly self-skin exam to look for changes in moles such as growth, boarder change, coloring changes, surface changes and diameter changes.

“New moles that develop after the age of 35 should be paid attention to,” Holder said.
Those looking to reduce the effects of skin damage and aging have turned to treatments such as chemical peels, laser peels, broadband light, micro-derm abrasion and others.

“We’ve come a long way in that we have technology now in medical spas that can give skin back a more youthful appearance,” Blanc said.
She said people of all ages are seeking medical spa treatments.
“It’s become mainstream,” Blanc said. “People want to look healthy. It’s not that they want to look 20; they just want to look healthy.”
Kiel said it may be difficult to think about skin care, but it is important.

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Sunless Tans Services: Tips From A Consultant

Gone are the days when “sunless” meant “orange.” Today, it seems that everyone—from Hollywood celebrities to the soccer-moms-next-door—is into spray-tanning, which provides you, the salon owner, with an opportunity to use sunless services to boost sales and increase your client base. Don’t know where to start? Read on for tips from Veronique Munro, a sunless expert and consultant, as well as the CEO of Infinity Sun, as to why sunless has become such a hit service and how salon owners can take advantage of sunless revenue.

LF: Why is sunless so popular right now?
VM: There are a lot of reasons—one is that some people are worried about premature aging of the skin in regard to indoor or outdoor tanning. Sunless is a way for people to tan without having to be concerned about their skin. Plus, sunless allows people to get darker instantly—a person can get sprayed and emerge three to five shades darker than their natural skin tone. The rise of sunless tanning among Hollywood celebrities also has helped get the word out about sunless.

LF: How can sunless help a salon maintain income during slow season (JASON)?
VM: First, sunless can be used to bring in a new customer that might not come in otherwise. In addition, salon owners can market a sunless service as an upsell to existing customers—cocktail treatments (combination sessions of sunless and UV tanning) are very popular. (My personal favorite is to be sprayed first, then UV tan in a standup. This gives a nice, dark color and the standup session helps dry the solution.) Regardless of the type of cocktail, however, turning your UV clients on to sunless means the average ticket price per customer goes up. Second, sunless is the perfect service to market for specific events, such as bridal parties and prom. In line with this, mobile services are a big seller for large parties—this allows you to bring the salon to the customer.

LF: What advice do you have for a salon owner who is adding sunless to their services?
VM: The biggest question is whether the salon owner wants an automated system or a handheld system. That decision will depend on budget, market and space. The majority of our customers go with an automated system because many clients prefer to get in and get out. But, custom airbrush is very popular as well. It all comes down to your clientele.

LF: Do you have any suggestions for how salon owners can effectively upsell sunless services, such as aftercare products and treatment solutions?
VM: About 90 percent of people have dry areas of skin; once you spray over that, the areas that are dry tend to absorb the solution more deeply. Even if the tan doesn’t look uneven, it won’t fade at the same rate across the body—and that fact makes it extremely easy to sell aftercare products. Two products that you should focus on selling each sunless tanner are a moisturizer and a product with DHA. Inform clients that they can extend the life of their tan by hydrating their skin; this keeps skin cells (which are holding the sunless solution) on the body longer. Meanwhile, DHA products will give the client a bit more control over fading. Because the face, hands and feet tend to fade more rapidly—especially for women who wash their face twice a day—having a DHA product for touch-ups really helps replenish the color. Treatments that can be added to the solution are equally easy to sell—clients are very willing to pay more for an extra layer of hydration or an ingredient that makes skin very soft and adds a bit of shimmer, especially when you sell the treatments as a flat-fee add-on. My suggestion is to start out with the sunless ticket price and increase that amount by $10 per add-on treatment.

LF: Do you have any unique advertising/marketing ideas for sunless services? How about marketing spa sunless to men, specifically?
VM: When advertising sunless services, using a combination of mediums is important. But overall, word of mouth is the best way to get more sunless business. Try promoting with another business—such as a gym, day spa or nail salon—to get the word out about your sunless offerings. Partnerships are powerful, especially if you offer a discount to the clientele of both businesses. Also, demonstrating sunless application in front of a group of people works well for airbrush. For guys, salons can push body contouring services that allow them to highlight the muscles they are building in the gym.

LF: For someone who is thinking about adding mobile or body contour services, what would you advise them to look at when making the decision? How/where do you market these specific services?

VM: The first litmus test, so to speak, is to look at whether you are getting requests for mobile or body-contour services. If you are, that is absolutely an indicator that you have a market. If you haven’t gotten any requests but would like to test the waters, you can try promoting it for a month to current clientele to see if they would be interested in it—often, it comes down to a question of price-point. Also look at your area; if other people offer the services, check to see how their market is doing. Overall, the majority of salon markets I’ve seen tend to do very well with these services, as long as they market it thoroughly. One great strategy to promote either (or both) services is to approach a high-end hotel in the area and see if they will work with you to create an in-room sunless offering—many people like to tan before they change into revealing clothes on vacation.

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10 Affordable Spa Vacation Deals

If a spa vacation is on your wish list but you’re not sure you can afford it, think again. There are a number of inspirational spas, transformational spas, and — yes — affordable spa deals options out there. One of the easiest ways to book a spa escape on a budget is to check into a local hotel or resort spa for a long weekend (or longer). Many offer special spa-themed packages and last-minute spa deals that in-the-know locals can cash in on. But if getting away from it all is more your style, you can find lower-cost options for that, too.

“Affordable,” of course, is a relative term. So in this list you’ll find 7 weeklong spa experiences — from soaking in hot springs to fitness retreats offering ultra-healthy cuisine to all-inclusive stays at destination spas — chosen to fit almost any budget.

While cost was definitely a driving factor, ambience and the quality of the spa treatments, activities, and food were also considered in compiling this selection. They’re arranged according to price, from least to most expensive — with a cap of $3,000 for a weeklong stay. (And just in case you can’t quite carve out a full week away, the nightly rates are listed, as well.) Read on to find out where to get the most bang for your buck.

OJO CALIENTE MINERAL SPRINGS RESORT & SPA, OJO CALIENTE, NEW MEXICO

I found this hot springs spa years ago when a friend of mine, living in Taos at the time, insisted I visit. We spent the afternoon (a day pass is $16) lounging in mineral pools containing arsenic (good for skin conditions and arthritis) and lithium (aids digestion and eases depression), sipping spring water, and spreading mud on our bodies then drying in the sun. It was blissful. In addition to 10 mineral pools, the 1,100-acre property has a historic hotel, a restaurant, and a full-fl edged spa. (Massages begin at $80 for 50 minutes and must be booked in advance.)

PRICE: From $109 per night; seven-night stays from $783.

GLEN IVY HOT SPRINGS SPA, CORONA, CALIFORNIA

The Native Americans were the first to enjoy these sacred waters, followed by the Spaniards, and by the 1890s the place had mushroomed into a health haven. Today, guests book into local hotels (accommodations are not available on-site) and then head to Glen Ivy’s spa playground (day admission is $35 on weekdays, $48 on weekends). A selection of soak-supplementing options are available: the legendary Glen Ivy Club Mud, where you can cover yourself in red clay (great for drawing impurities out of the pores and tightening the skin); a grotto for slathering on a hydrating body masque ($25); a wide variety of massages and facials (from $125); and a café serving tasty, healthy dishes made with local ingredients.

PRICE: Area hotels from $124 per night; packages that include seven days admission to Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa and seven nights accommodations from $892.

KRIPALU CENTER, STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

When it comes to yoga, there are few, if any, retreat centers in the U.S. that can boast more offerings and renowned instructors than the Kripalu Center. (Each year, Kripalu’s 700 yogacentric programs attract more than 28,000 participants.) Its location — 150 wooded acres with a private lake and miles of trails — provides the ultimate setting for peaceful walks and meditative contemplation between yoga sessions, which are held three times a day: early morning, midday, and late afternoon. In between, there’s hiking and canoeing as well as workshops on topics like nutrition and creative writing. Ayurveda, India’s ancient science of holistic medicine, is practiced here and incorporated into everything from daily rituals (awaken before sunrise and give thanks before bed, for example) to therapeutic treatments like massage, nasal cleansing, and herbal detoxification sessions (spa treatments from $35).

PRICE: Dormitory accommodations from $155 per night (twonight minimum); seven-night stays from $1,106.

THE OAKS AT OJAI, OJAI, CALIFORNIA

Founded by legendary fitness buff Sheila Cluff, who still personally leads some of the activities and classes, The Oaks at Ojai celebrated its 30th birthday in 2007. Not surprisingly, there’s a cornucopia of get-in-shape classes, from aqua aerobics to core conditioning with hula hoops to belly dancing. New mission-style spa suites featuring hand-carved headboards and spacious jet tubs in the bathrooms add a feeling of luxury, and select spa treatments benefit from local ingredients, such as the Ojai Olive Oil Body Souffl é ($125, 75 minutes) that uses oil pressed from olives gathered in nearby groves. But it’s the 1,000-calorie-a-day spa cuisine that attracts the majority of guests — many who come with a holy grail weight-loss spa focus. Hikes and walks are popular, too — not to mention gorgeous — amid flowering citrus trees, lavender, and aloe.

PRICE: From $185 per night; seven-night stays from $1,295.

NEW AGE HEALTH SPA, NEVERSINK, NEW YORK

Just two hours from Manhattan in the Catskill Mountains, New Age Health Spa sits on 280 wooded acres combining lovely nature trails with spiritual, New Agey offerings like tarot card readings and a plethora of yoga, tai chi, and meditation classes. Native American rituals are the highlight of the spa menu: Try the Native Sun Purification ($95, 50 minutes), a spa hair treatment using traditional herbs grown in the spa’s greenhouse, or the complimentary Sweat Lodge Ceremony that is offered from April to November on the Saturday evening closest to the full moon.

PRICE: From $209 per night (two-night minimum); sevennight stays from $1,589.

PRICE: From $130 per night; six-night Detox Program from $1,699.

COPPERHOOD INN & SPA, SHANDAKEN, NEW YORK

This intimate destination spa — just 17 rooms — offers an old-Europe feel. Think gilded frames, marble, and wingback chairs. Hiking is the big draw, particularly in autumn’s glorious foliage, but yoga, meditation, and spa treatments (from $60) are popular, as well. Rooms are cozy, and afternoon tea is served daily in front of a fireplace — or on a wraparound deck with Adirondack chairs during the warmer months. The cuisine excludes red meat and instead features local ingredients like free-range chicken, cheese, and seasonal produce.

PRICE: From $325 per night (two-night minimum); seven-night stays from $2,240.

  

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Use good skin care practices to beat the heat

You hear it every summer in the desert: “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat.”

But that dry heat sears and dries skin your skin through July, while the humidity of August can turn skin into an oil factory. Head to toe, the universal first line of defense is sunscreen, say experts. In addition, a basic routine that includes a good face cleanser, toner and moisturizer can help protect your skin from the extreme conditions of summer.

The biggest mistake make? “People don’t understand that sunscreen in moisturizer isn’t enough,” said Kimberly Whitaker, general manager of Lorán Lorán Color Group and Medical Day Spa in Rancho Mirage.

“It’s not strong enough. You should really cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize first, then apply sunblock. It’s much more effective.”

Another big mistake is forgetting your feet.

In the desert we tend to wear skimpy shoes, but with summer high UV index, our feet are really at risk.

“People need to remember to use sunscreen on the tops and bottoms of their feet,” said Monica Rost, manager of the Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.

Sunstone Spa offers an organic pedicure (the products are vegan) that will get you on your way to sandal-ready feet in no time. But for the most part, you can do it at home in a few steps, Rost says.

She recommends:

Pedicures: For both men and women, at least every other month. “You might not see a spot on the sole of your foot,” Rost said, “but the person doing your pedicure can.”

Foot stones: Have a gentle foot stone at home and use it in the shower after your feet have had a couple of minutes to soak. This helps keep callused and cracked skin under control.

Foot balms and creams: Dry feet completely, especially between the toes, after a bath or shower and then apply a moisturizer. Use an overnight foot cream to help with badly cracked heels or calluses, and a lighter moisturizer during the day.

Thongs: Always wear thongs or flip-flops at the beach, public pools or spas. “They protect your feet from more than just the hot surfaces,” Rost said.

Sunscreen: Make sure to apply to tops and bottoms of the feet.

For the guys

More men are also beginning to realize the benefits of proper skin care. The clientele at the Las Palmas Spa at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage is now “about 40 percent men,” according to General Manager Cristina Cascio.

“We’ve actually increased the (men’s) options we offer because of demand,” Cascio said.

Cascio’s advice for men:

Facials: An essential to help identify what the face needs. Don’t forget to change moisturizers when summer goes from hot and dry to hot and humid.

Shaving: Exfoliates the skin, but can also irritate it. Use a warm moist cloth on the face minutes before you shave to soften the beard and prep skin. Moisturizer after.

It’s your face

“I recommend a facial every six to eight weeks,” said Kimberly Whitaker of Lorán Lorán. “It’s not a luxury, it’s maintenance.”

A trained aesthetician or facialist will get to know your face and can alert you to suspicious areas long before they might become a problem. “They’ll tell you, ‘You need to get this spot checked,’” Whitaker said.

“You should also see a dermatologist at least once a year. Get a mole map on your first visit, that way the doctor can track any new moles or changes in old ones. Think of it like getting a mammogram or your teeth cleaned.”

Whitaker recommends:

Facials: “We use different masks for different areas of your face,” Whitaker said. Eyes, cheeks, T-zone (forehead and nose) and the chin all get personalized attention. “One part of the face can be really oily and another really dry,” she said. “And that can change as the weather changes.”

Moisturize: After cleansing, moisturize. But don’t get one with SPF included in the formula. “Keep them separate,” Whitaker. Apply moisturizer first, and sunblock over the moisturizer.

Sunblock: Sunblocks are either physical or chemical in nature, and not all work for all people. Determine which works best for your skin-type and activity level.

Water: A well-hydrated body is required for good skin care. During the day, a mister like Evian Face Mist will help keep skin hydrated and cool you off, too.

Makeup: Tinted moisturizer and lip gloss, especially one with SPF-15, can even out skin tone and add another layer of protection.

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The plan: primping, prepping, plucking

A summer body takes some work, and men are getting into it, too

Ready? Deep breath now.
One, two, three.
Riiipppppppppp.
YEOW!

Oh, the excruciating sounds of summer.
While some people flop down on beach towels looking like hairy, pasty-skinned winter beasts, many won’t step foot on the stand until they’ve made an appointment at a local salon to get plucked, waxed, scrubbed, soaked and sprayed.

Baring it on the beach often means stepping up the beauty routine.
When the season of skin gets underway, Devon Tucker, owner of Covet Spa in Hockessin, said she sees an uptick in grooming services, such as manicures, pedicures, spray tanning, body exfoliation and facials.

“Every quarter there is something you must do,” said Tucker. “Getting ready for summer is not different than getting ready for any other season.”
And it’s no longer just gals doing head-to-toe primping.

“Men are getting into everything,” said Katie Soyka, a make-up artist and skin care specialist at Bad Hair Day in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. “Not just gay men, but straight men, too. They are caring about themselves, too.”

Young men are an important and growing sector of the health and beauty care industry, representing a potential market in 2008 of $2.8 billion, according to a report by Packaged Facts at Market Research.com.
Chris DiStefano, 42, of Wilmington, started getting spa treatments after some convincing from a former girlfriend.
So far, the 42-year-old, who has a house in Dewey Beach, has had facials, pedicures and a chest wax.

“I think more men should [go to the spa],” said DiStefano, who has pedicures to soften his soccer-hardened feet and finds facials soothing. “The only problem is it gets expensive.”

Services at some salons can cost anywhere from $15 for a basic pedicure to $135 for a full facial.

But that’s only part of the daily, weekly and monthly regimen to think about before you tie on a bikini, pull up the board shorts and slide into flip-flops.

To Brazilian or to bikini?

Hamlet never had to wrestle with a question so intimate and a survey of local salons reveals an array of euphemisms and opinions when it comes to intimate hair removal.

So what is the difference between a bikini wax and a Brazilian wax?
“Ummm, it’s almost like a bikini is a double scoop ice cream cone and a Brazilian is with the jimmies and the frosting,” said a coy Soyka of Bad Hair
Day.

Monika Hibbard, esthetician at Wilmington’s Michael Christopher’s Hair Salon and Day Spa, and owner of the latter half of the title, is a little more direct.
“A Brazilian is not a hair left from stem to stern. Not one hair left on your genitalia,” she said.

That includes the back part too, by the way.
“People come in with all sorts of craziness,” Hibbard said.
But, it’s not any “craziness” Hibbard has to deal with. The day spa does not do Brazilians because “we don’t think it’s necessary,” she said “It’s not a good thing to do because, for one thing, it’s mucus membrane down there and could give you folliculitis.” (That just means a sprouting of those nasty red and white-
headed pimples. Yuck.)

Soyka and Tucker said Brazilian waxes are still popular at their salons, but, because so many people have different ideas, estheticians handling the wax are always careful to talk about what a client thinks they want.

“It’s a delicate thing, but it’s handled professionally,” said Soyka.
Christine Givens, 23, of Elkton, Md., said she gets waxed, but when pressed for details, she retorts, “I can’t tell you all that!” The mother of two does admit she doesn’t always get the opportunity to do the regular maintenance she requires.
Men who opt for the service — a recent US Weekly article included this too-much-information-tidbit from Sean “Diddy” Combs: “I wax my privates” — usually request a bikini, rather than the Brazilian. A basic bikini wax is often enough to cover any embarrassing pop-outs.

Fashion magazines have said that the Brazilian is going out of style. Having a simple but groomed “down there” hair is good enough, said Hibbard.
Bikini waxes start at $25 at Michael Christopher’s and run to $35 at Covet Spa for a basic bikini and cost $45 for a partial brazilian. At Bad Hair Day, a bikini wax is $30 and $65 for a Brazilian.

Hair removal isn’t limited

“We also have a few male clients who do their backs,” said Hibbard of Michael Christopher’s.

So how to do they deal with the pain that sometimes feels like hundreds of Band-Aids are being removed from your body at one time?

“We have a bar next door, and [some men] have a drink before their appointment so they’re feeling good and happy as clams,” Hibbard said. “Men can’t handle pain.”

Shane Plumley, 35, a bartender at Baxter’s Restaurant and Lounge next to Michael Christopher’s, said he doesn’t always know if guys are finding courage in a glass pre-appointment but he adds “I’d definitely have to have lots of vodka before I get waxed.”

For those unable or unwilling to imbibe before the Big Rip, taking ibuprofen half an hour before the appointment helps reduce pain and inflammation.
DiStefano said he wished he knew about downing a shot of liquor or popping ibuprofen before he had his one and only chest wax.

“I went in hardcore,” said the teacher, who vows never to have the service again. “It looked great but I felt numb.”

Leave the roasting for the grill

Slathering up with sunscreen is a no-brainer. Healthy skin is always in style.
“If you’re properly protected, you can gradually build your tan,” said Hibbard, of Michael Christopher. “I believe in sun, it promotes Vitamin D. I think people are lacking in that ’cause they are so crazy about diets.”

But Tucker said spray tanning is a popular option at Covet, which starts with a 30-minute exfoliation to prepare the skin for the airbrush. An organic spray tan system with a number of specific shades is used and it lasts seven to 10 days. It costs $48 per 30-minute session, with packages available.

Self-tanners and bronzers are also a good idea, but not all bottles are created alike.

Meredith Coons, 23, of Hockessin, said she prefers the Estee Lauder Sunless SuperTan ($22.50 for a 1.7 ounce bottle) or, for a cheaper brand, any of the
Jergens Natural Glow products (from $5.59 to $7.99).

“I used to tan, but my mom screamed at me for doing that. It’s so bad for you,” said Coons. Finding a good self-tanner is about trial and error, she said, something a family member discovered when trying an over-the-counter self-tanner.
“I made my sister do it, and she turned orange. It was right before prom,” said Coons. “Luckily it was on her back, and I was able to wipe off most of it.”
Soyka, of Bad Hair Day, said she doesn’t recommend tanning salons.

“What’s going on in tanning salons is also skin cancer,” said Soyka, a big believer in gorgeous, floppy sun hats.

She scoffs at the notion that pre-tanning helps prepare skin for constant exposure to the sun. “What are you preparing, to burn more? Tanning is just burning your skin brown instead of red.”

New birthday suit

Like salt left crusted on the side of the road, the skin also has a lot of winter residue left, namely a crust of dead skin.

Tucker, of Covet Spa, said the build-up is why many people break out during the change of seasons, and it’s also why the skin feels drier. For the summer, she recommends switching to a cleanser that has more astringent to cut through sweat and perspiration and using a lighter moisturizer with sunscreen.
Hibbard recommends a good facial for men to help prevent ingrown hairs along the beardline.

And a good sloughing never hurts.
“Do a body scrub,” said Tucker. Basic body scrubs at Covet run from $50 for a 30-minute treatment to $135 for a 90-minute treatment and include an application of after-bath cream. Some include a hydrating mask and coconut milk spray and after-bath that, she said, “mimics the lining on the inside of your mouth and encourages skin regeneration.”

Hibbard said keeping a sugar or salt scrub or loofah or exfoliating glove in the shower and gently using it two to three times a week can slough off dead skin and keep skin glowing. Exfoliating can also prevent ingrown hairs, especially in that sensitive bikini area where the elastic band of underwear can put pressure on the skin.

Foot fetish

Walking in the sand does not equal a pedicure. Soaking and sloughing off dead skin will reveal a bright new nail bed.
Indeed, pedicures “bring your feet back to life,” said Soyka, especially for removing that nasty white stuff from your heels.

Katie Davis, 27, of Wilmington, said she prefers bright colors when getting her pre-shore pedicure, while her friend Tasana Pattaratara, 31, of Wilmington, prefers natural color on her toes. Tucker said bright, primary colors such as reds, blues and green are in style this summer.

Sokya also sees more men than ever getting their toenails trimmed. They’ll usually forgo the color though “some like a clear gloss or something without the sheen,” she said.

Plumley, the Baxter’s bartender, said he always gets a manicure and pedicure before going on vacation to Provincetown, Mass. He likes to have his nails done, especially when he is wearing sandals.
Polish is always part of the service. “I think this year I’m going to get a midnight blue,” Plumley said.

But some men will only go so far when it comes to primping and preening.
Andrew Austria, 30, of Wilmington, said he would consider getting a manicure or pedicure, but he hasn’t yet made the jump.

“Apparently a lot of guys want to do it, and I’ve had friends who’ve done it and liked it,” he said . “But it’s not a top priority [for me].”

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