Waxing in Matthews, NC
Face and body waxing in a private room, taken at an unhurried pace — brows I shape to your face rather than to a stencil, and body waxing that never feels like a production line.
How I keep it clean
I never return an applicator to the pot. A fresh stick every pass, single-use paper on the table, gloves throughout — it is the ordinary standard, and I say so here because people ask, and they are right to.
Everything happens in one private room with the door closed. If you are booking a bikini wax, I know that matters more to you than anything else on this page.
Getting the timing right
Hair needs to be about a quarter of an inch — roughly two to three weeks of growth — for the wax to grip. Shorter and it slips; much longer and it pulls more than it needs to. If you have been shaving, give it at least two weeks before your appointment.
Come back every four to six weeks and it genuinely gets easier. Regular waxing gradually brings the whole area onto one growth cycle, so there is less stubble in between and each appointment is quicker and more comfortable than the last.
If you have a date in mind, book three or four days ahead rather than that morning. Any redness will have settled by then, and you will look your best for it.
Before and after
Exfoliate gently a day or two beforehand, though not on the day itself. Put retinoids aside for five to seven days, and please do not come in with a fresh sunburn. If you use Accutane, Retin-A or a prescription acid, tell me when you book — waxing over skin those have thinned can lift the skin itself.
Afterwards, give it a day before the gym, the sauna, a hot bath, a pool or direct sun, and leave heavy lotions and fragranced products alone. Loose clothing over a freshly waxed area helps more than you would expect.
From about a week on, exfoliating two or three times a week is the single most effective thing you can do to keep ingrown hairs away.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does hair need to be before waxing?
- About a quarter of an inch, which is roughly two to three weeks of growth. If you have been shaving, give it at least two weeks so the wax has something to grip.
- How often should I book a wax?
- Every four to six weeks. Staying on that rhythm brings your hair onto a single growth cycle, which means less stubble in between and a quicker, more comfortable wax each time.
- Does waxing hurt?
- There is a sharp moment, and it passes quickly — facial waxing is over in seconds. A bikini wax is more intense the first time and noticeably easier after that. Skipping caffeine beforehand and avoiding the few days before your period both help more than you would think.
- Can I wax if I use retinol or Accutane?
- Put retinoids aside on that area five to seven days before your appointment. If you are on Accutane, or have been in the last six months, waxing is not safe for you — it can lift the skin — so please tell me when you book and I will find another way.
- How do I stop getting ingrown hairs?
- Exfoliate two or three times a week starting about a week after your wax, keep the skin moisturized, avoid tight clothing right afterwards, and try not to shave in between. Shaving is what puts most ingrown hairs there in the first place.
- Is brow waxing shaped to a template?
- No — I map the shape to your face and your own brow growth. If you are growing your brows out, just say so and I will keep it to tidying strays rather than committing to a shape.
Visit the studio in Matthews, NC
Glow by Costello is inside Salon Suite at Matthews Festival, at 10418 E Independence Blvd, Suite 111, Matthews, NC 28105, with free parking outside the door. The studio is a short drive from Mint Hill, Stallings, Indian Trail, Weddington, Waxhaw and southeast Charlotte.