Search
Close this search box.

Sign in/Register

Five minutes with: Nicky Shore

By Milly Nolan

Nicky Shore's wax and brow bar aims to make the waxing more treat than torture, MiNDFOOD reports.

With a history in beauty marketing, Nicky Shore worked on major beauty brands for both Unilver in Sydney and L’Oreal in the UK and New Zealand before setting up OFF Wax/Brow Bar, a specialist waxing destination where a wax is more treat than torture.

Where did the idea for a salon that specializes in waxing only come from?

Like most women, waxing has always been one of my monthly maintenance essentials, however, the experience was invariably unpleasant and something I would dread, unlike other maintenance treats, such as a haircut.

Whilst overseas I’d experienced the benefits of going to a specialist waxer and witnessed the rise of beauty “bars” – nail bars, brow bars and even blow dry bars.

Coupled with this, I have always been passionate about how a great brow shape can instantly improve your look. 

So when back in New Zealand I researched the idea of specialising in waxing and brow shaping.

What are some pre-wax suggestions?

Let your hair grow out at least half to one cm. This will guarantee the most effective treatment. Gently exfoliate your skin before your appointment.

If you’re worried about sensitivity, take a couple of Panadol an hour before your appointment.

Before and after your appointment, hold off getting that bronzed look from a tanning bed for 24 hours. And do not between waxes.

And post-wax suggestions?

Our motto is exfoliation, exfoliation, exfoliation. The best thing you can do to prevent ingrown hairs is to exfoliate your skin using a mitt or scrub. This removes dead skin cells, helps the hair to break through the skin and free trapped ones. 

Also specialist products designed to target ingrown hairs are very effective, like PFB Vanish or La Clinca Gly C moisturiser which speed up the exfoliation process. 

A golden rule is never to pick at ingrown hairs as this can make them worse or even lead to serious infections – always seek professional advice on these.   

Also we advise clients to wait 24 hours post their wax before exercising, going into the sun/using a solarium, or applying make-up, deodorant or exfoliating the skin.

What is the benefit of removing the hair by using hot wax as opposed to strip wax?

We use hot wax to achieve the best result for terminal hair like underarm and bikini/brazilians.

When used on these areas it is generally less painful, more effective at removing the hair from the follicle, resulting in less hair breakage and less likelihood of ingrown hairs.

Please explain the concept of the brow bar?

The OFF brow bar is designed to be a specialist and funky environment for shaping and enhancing brows. Having a brow bar at the front with barber style seating optimises natural light and creating the right shape for the individuals face (rather than having your brows shaped upside down on a bed) and also means we can educate clients how to take ownership of their brows. 

We use a combination of specialist techniques to cater from the 15 minute maintenance to a brow wow package, where we do a specialist consultation with advice on shape, custom colouring and cosmetic enhancement. 

We also use and stock a specialist range of brow products from the US – Billion Dollar Brows – to help people enhance and maintain their brows themselves at home.   

What difference does well-maintained brows make to a face?

Brows are the hidden grammar of the face and today, define personal style. Not just a frame for your eyes, brows are as much a part of self expression as hair, makeup and fashion.

Well-maintained brows should complement a person’s face shape, hair colour, facial features and fashion sense.

No longer just the domain of the quick tidy, a professional brow shape can really change a women’s look as much as a new lipstick.

What is a big no-no when it comes to the brows?

There are a few common issues we work with.

Overplucked/skinny brows – snails are good for the garden but not for the face. A lot of clients have the frustration of overplucked/thin brows which never recover so we work with them to create the illusion of a fuller, more natural brow.

Uneveness – we say that brows are sisters and not twins just like our face is never symmetrical, so it is important to ensure that brows are as evenly matched as possible in length, arc and thickness.

Incorrect colour – we recommend a custom blend tint to match skin and hair tone.

Lack of knowledge – it’s amazing what specialist brow products can correct and enhance, to fill gaps, tame wayward hairs, extend length and enhance colour.

Learning which products to use and how to apply them can only take five minutes but make such a difference.

offwaxbar.co.nz

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe.