Lip Wax

Lip waxing in downtown St. Petersburg

Twelve dollars, about five minutes, and one of the most frequently booked services on the menu. Upper lip, and the lower lip too if you want it. Hard wax, which grips the hair rather than the skin — that matters on an area this small and this visible.

Desiree has been a licensed esthetician since 1995. A lip wax is quick, but it's also the easiest place to leave someone red and irritated, which is entirely down to technique.

Who it's for

Anyone who's noticed shadow on the upper lip in photographs or bright bathroom light. It's the single most common thing people are quietly self-conscious about, and the fastest thing on the whole menu to put right.

Also common for anyone whose facial hair has become more noticeable over time, and for anyone whose foundation keeps catching on fine hair and looking textured.

What to expect

Five minutes, start to finish. Desiree cleanses the area, applies hard wax in the direction the hair grows, removes it against the grain, and finishes with something calming.

You'll be a little pink for an hour or so. If you're going straight back to work, that's usually fine — it fades faster than people expect.

Before you come in

Let the hair grow for about two weeks so there's enough for the wax to grip.

Tell Desiree when you book if you use a retinoid, Accutane, or any prescription acne treatment. Those thin the skin and waxing over them can lift it — and the upper lip is exactly where you'd notice.

Aftercare

No makeup over the area for the rest of the day, and skip heat, saunas and direct sun for 24 hours. Keep exfoliants and acids away from the area for 48 hours.

Don't pick at it, and don't tweeze the stragglers — that's what causes ingrown hairs.

Questions people ask

How long does it last?

Three to four weeks for most people.

Does it hurt?

Briefly. It's a tiny area and it's over in about a second. Most people find it much easier than they'd built it up to be.

Will it grow back thicker or darker?

No. That's a myth about shaving. Waxing removes hair from the root, and regrowth tends to come back finer over time.

Can I wax my lip if I'm breaking out?

Tell Desiree first. Waxing over active spots can irritate them, and if you're on prescription treatment it may not be suitable.

Is bleaching better?

No, for most people. Bleaching leaves the hair there and makes it blonde, which can catch the light more in sunshine. Waxing removes it — and most people who've tried both stay with waxing.

Book it with something else

Chin wax — the usual pairing, and both together take under fifteen minutes
Browshaping and Lip combo — add the brows and save against booking separately
Full face waxing with brow shaping — everything in one appointment
See all facial waxing services