Hair removal is a year around process and not just one that should come to mind during the summer. With that said, this time of year - there seems to be a targeted focus on the bikini
line when you're rocking your favorite swim and summer looks!
We have been fans of Shobha for years as they offer a number of options to rock fierce brows and to remove hair across your body with a number of methods. They're also about using the safest and most natural means to do so. Our team has been going here for years and we took some time to chat with Shobha's CEO and Founder Shobha Tummala to understand more
about the world of hair removal.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Hair Removal is a hot topic whether you're tackling your bikini line, eyebrows or other portions of your body. We know you offer threading, sugaring, waxing and laser as methods of hair removal. Why would one choose these methods of hair removal when coming to Shobha?
SHOBHA TUMMALA: Threading is the most precise form of hair removal which is why we only offer threading options for the brows. It allows you to pull one hair at a time which gives you
the control of tweezing, but you can pull an entire row of hair which gives you a nice line for brow shaping. People sometimes have the misconception that because the specialist uses
her mouth as an anchor for the thread that it is unsanitary but that’s totally untrue. The part of the string that touches her mouth never makes contact with the client's skin.
Sugaring is an all-natural alternative to waxing, which is great for those who have sensitive skin! Also, sugaring tends to be gentler than waxing because the Shobha Sugaring Gel attaches more to the hair and less to the skin, thus causes less irritation.
Laser gives the comfort of being able to wear whatever, whenever you want without questioning when the last time you went to Shobha for a wax. In more technical terms, laser is a permanent form of hair reduction. It eliminates the targeted hairs for good, which also means it takes care of bumps and ingrowns (no hair, no hair to become ingrown), leaving you with
super smooth skin!
AM: The bikini line is always something that many think about once the weather gets warm. What are some tips that people should know upon their first visit to Shobha upon getting this treatment?
ST: Here at Shobha we always recommend for our clients to be:
Clean – bathe like you would if you were going to a doctor’s appointment.
Dry – cleanliness is appreciated, but please skip the lotion, you'll get better results if your skin is less oily.
Hairy – your hair should be at least 1/4 inch in length (which makes it long enough to lay flat on your skin).
If hairs are still sticking straight out, you should probably wait a few more days. Also, if you are usually a "shaver" your hair should be slightly longer for the best results. Shaving can cause hair re-growth to be uneven, in which some hairs can be too short to be removed with wax or sugaring gel and may result in the appearance of stubble after your first treatment. Always try to wait at least 2 weeks from your last shave before a waxing/sugaring
treatment.
AM: What upkeep is needed for the bikini line and is it different for those that opt for lasering, sugaring or waxing at Shobha?
ST: The huge difference between the upkeep needed for the bikini line between sugaring/waxing services and laser is with our laser services we do not want you to be tan when you come in – whether that’s a tan from the sun or a sunless tanner. You will get burned or have adverse effects if you have some sort of tan when you come in. The laser is trained to go after the pigment which affects the type of laser that will be most effective for you.
Also, for laser we actually encourage you to shave 24 hours before your laser appointment – sounds crazy right? Shaving before laser appointments is super important because it allows the laser to zap the targeted hairs at the roots. With sugaring and waxing we never want you
to shave between services because it causes uneven hair regrowth.
AM: What is the Shobha method and why is it better for your clients to receive their treatments here?
ST: The signature Shobha Method is our tried and true method for getting rid of unwanted body hair. We always use our own exclusive wax and sugaring gel consisting of a proprietary formula and implement the Shobha Method thus giving super smooth results.
Our formula effectively removes hair from the root - contains azulene oil, a natural anti-inflammatory derived from the chamomile plant to soothe the skin during the treatment. We’re fast and efficient - large areas can be waxed at once (most of our appointments are under 30
minutes!). Our ingredients are safe - free of artificial fragrance and parabens.
AM: One of the biggest reasons why we have been coming to Shobha for years is that you use a lot of natural products which are great for the skin and don't have toxic chemicals - can you share information about these in-house Shobha products?
ST: Sure! We have always made it a main priority of ours to make natural, yet effective products that educates our client on the importance of what they put on their skin. For example, we can proudly tout that since 2008, after reading the initial reports of the possible links between cancer and talc, we developed our own safe alternative - Shobha® Talc-Free Powder. Click here for our full line of professional grade products that are safe enough to use at home .
AM: You've had great growth in Manhattan, Georgetown and in Rockville, Maryland - are there additional locations that you may be popping up in?
ST: YES! We’re super excited to announce that Shobha Brooklyn is (slowly, but surely) under construction and we expect to open its doors by fall of 2017. It will be located in Williamsburg
at 76 North 4th Street (between Wythe Ave & Berry Street).
AM: Are there other summer focused treatments (although we know they are available year around) that people come to beyond their bikini lines?
ST: We’ve noticed that our clients are loving getting laser hair removal on the bikini area which also allows them to customize the hair down there if they don’t want to be completely bare.
AM: Are there other treatments that you will be bringing into the salon that you can tell us about?
ST: Yes, we’re always looking to bring new services in the salons! You’ll have to stay tuned to stay-in-the know about all of our deals & our happenings! Be sure to check back often
Read more from the June Issue and see Something You Should Know | The Bikini Line in mag.
