A Wax a Day Keeps the Hair Away! Waxing in Hiroshima
Western women (and some men) who are used to having easy access to beauty salons that specialize in waxing are often a tad fearful they won’t be able to find the same services here in Japan. Waxing, especially Brazilian, is still a relatively new concept in Japan. In a smaller city like Hiroshima, it may be a bit harder to find somewhere offering the service. Although it takes a little research, places do exist, including ones where the staff speak English.
GirassoL
GirassoL is a licensed and extremely professional home business. The owner, Risa, speaks fluent English. The salon specializes in full-body waxing and uses high-quality, low-temperature wax for a smooth, silky, and (relatively!) pain-free experience. Risa attends conferences and studies regularly to update her skills, meaning she guarantees the latest and most advanced products and techniques.
Risa caters primarily to female clients, but men who are interested in waxing can receive the service if a female friend introduces them. Although most salons in Japan are quite expensive, prices here are reasonable. Brazilian waxes are 6,000 yen and eyebrows are just 1,500 yen (as of 2024). Although the salon is located in Hiroshima, Risa offers services to people in the Iwakuni region as well. All offsite services, where Risa provides waxing in the comfort of your own home, incur an additional fee.
In addition to waxing, Risa sells temporary glitter tattoos, imported lingerie, and skincare products (for maintenance between your appointments). The salon is modern and comfortable — Risa’s love of hip hop and salsa music will keep you bopping away as she attends to your needs.
For more information or to make a booking, contact Risa via her website or Facebook. If you like her Facebook page, she will give you a 200 yen discount, plus an extra 500 yen if you receive a wax within six weeks. If you recommend her salon to a friend, both of you are eligible for a 1000 yen discount.
Where: 2-1-49 Dejima, Minami Ward (map link)
Open Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday (appointment only)
Website: girassolwax.com
Lien
Another salon specializing in hair removal is Lien. It offers a combination service of waxing and laser (called mixed hair removal) for both women and men. Some particularly popular offerings include the face wax (which includes beard removal for men) as well as full body hair removal. Prices start from 9,900 yen for women and 16,500 yen for men for mixed hair removal and from 1,100 yen for women and 1,320 yen for men for just waxing.
During your visit, you may like to take advantage of other services. For instance, the salon also offers nail removal from a qualified nail technician and a brow lift with waxing.
Where: Plein Soreil 102, 6-32 Yoshimien, Saeki Ward (map link)
Open Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day (appointment only)
Website: lien-wax.jp
Epi . phany
You’ll love visiting Epi . phany for its beautiful interior and the herbal tea clients receive at the end of their treatments to complete the experience. The main services on offer are waxes, which use rice wax to minimize pain. However, the salon also offers skincare treatments (including a special facial for men), eyelash perms, and eyebrow treatments. The staff speak English, which makes it easy to communicate what you’re looking to achieve.
Where: Kawasaki Building, 3F, 2-23 Fukuromachi, Naka Ward (map link)
Open Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day (appointment only)
Total Beauty LUANA
At Total Beauty LUANA, you can receive a wax in addition to other treatments. One of the top reasons to visit is the enzyme bath, which is a traditional Japanese treatment that uses fermented cedar, rice bran, and enzymes. Among other benefits, it enhances the results of waxing by softening the skin.
If you want just a wax, you can purchase a package for hair removal for a various body areas, including the face, nose, back, and armpits. There’s also an option for a standalone Brazilian for 5,000 yen (or 7,800 yen during pregnancy). Plus, there are more comprehensive packages containing several spa services.
Where: 701, 1-3 Kyobashicho, Minami Ward (map link)
Open Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day
HQA02330, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
