Are you insured?

 

It's only waxing, right? What could possibly go wrong?

We've all heard the horror stories, or perhaps been involved in them ourselves. 

If we, as waxing experts, are not covering our bases by performing a thorough client consultation and filling out a client health history, well, we are treading on thin wax.

I was recently contacted by an Esthetician who had an exceptionally bad experience while performing a Brazilian wax.  This Esthetician was admittedly new to performing this service, learning what techniques she could from fellow co-workers.

For many of us a bad day waxing involves the wax breaking or sticking, or just generally misbehaving.  For this particular Esthetician, however,  her worst day, turned out to be a nightmare.  While waxing in the labia area, the skin lifted.  It lifted so much in fact, that the labia was torn, requiring the client to head to the hospital for stitches.

Most people would have freaked out at this point, so I commend this professional, for as soon as she realized what had happened, she stopped her service, informed her client and got her the help she needed.  And yes, she was insured, thankfully. 

It is not uncommon to experience lifting in the labia area, however, in cases of extreme lifting such as this, 9 times out of 10 the technicians technique is to blame.  That is why it is so important when working in the Brazilian area to, know that skin, know how to work with wax and know the proper waxing techniques.

As traumatizing as this experience was for both client and technician, there are many valuable lessons to be learned:

1. Competent training, especially in Brazilian waxing is essential to maximizing confidence and minimizing injury.

2. Your co-workers may perform Brazilians, but that does not mean that they are a) qualified to train others, or b) doing it correctly.  This means that you may be learning their bad habits.

3. Everyone (even students) should carry their own individual liability insurance!  Even though this client was covered and did not seek restitution from the technician, she was protected.   

My insurance is through the Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP). I highly recommend them.  Their customer service is excellent. Their premiums are affordable and they cover Brazilian waxing.  Check them out at by clicking here. Tell them Crickett sent you.