L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ Waxing for ALL!
This is not an acronym lesson, but one needs to know what these letters stand for when providing waxing services to the wider community.
According to the New York Times article "The ABC's of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+" July 2019 these letters have been updated to incude:
L = Lesbian
G = Gay
B - Bisexual: Someone who is attracted to people of their gender or other gender identities.
T = Transgender: A wide-ranging term for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the biological sex they were assigned at birth.
Q = Questioning or Queer
I = Intersex: A general term used for a variety of situations in which a person is born with any variation/combination of reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the boxes of “female” or “male.”
A = Ally or Asexual: Someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction.
+ = for anyone else not included
Though it's not necessary to KNOW what category your client falls under, it's always good to be sensitive to everyone.
If you work in an area of high diversity you may want to add these to your client intake/consultation form to allow your client to define themselves if they choose. Think of it as a new take on the old school "Miss, Mr, Mrs. or Ms." options.
This lets your client know that you are knowledgable and prepared to provide waxing services for ALL. And by listing these options, it promotes a feeling of safety and security so that no one need feel awkward or embarrassed.
The main goal is always to provide our clients the best in service and let them know that they are included, accepted, and welcome.
One of the tricky bits to offering "universal waxing for all" may be pricing. Especially when it comes to the Brazilian service.
I have always priced these two services separately, with the male genitalia being a higher service fee than the female.
This is not because of the sex (orientation or classification) of the individual, but rather the expertise required to perform the service based on the individual "bits".
Both female and male genitalia present their own unique challenges when it comes to waxing. And it take a skilled professional with advanced training, knowledge and know how to navigate these ares without inflicting undue pain or damage.
When looking at the female genitalia, the labia (which would have been the scrotum had things turned out differently), is the most formidable bit. It's both inside and outside the body, so you need to be very cautious of the delicate skin and membrane there. If the skin of the labia is not held tight, it can lift or in extreme circumstances tear.
The male genitalia is a higher degree of difficulty than the female because of the Penis and the Scrotum. These areas require specific expertise to wax with comfort and precision to avoid catastrophic results. The skin of the scrotum is thin and extremely loose, if not held properly it can tear causing severe injury to the client. The Penis is another tricky bit as the skin is also very thin and loose, so it's hard to work around.
Charging different prices for each has nothing to do with discrimination and everything to do with degree of difficulty. Each is it's own specialty. Just because someone knows how to wax the female genitalia doesn't mean they know how to wax the male genitalia and visa versa.
Some technicians prefer to wax only the female. Others prefer to wax only the male. And some specialize in both.
In the end, it's all about providing a safe, judgment free space for clients to get the best hair removal experience they've ever had.