Anyone who has seen the 40-Year-Old Virgin knows what I am talking about… There is one scene takes the cake for traumatizing viewers - especially my male clients out there, shaping their perception of what it is to get a wax or some other kind of hair removal...
The infamous scene, which Steve Carell wrote himself, depicts him (the virgin) and a few of his buddies booking a full chest and stomach wax to help get his groove back. And well, it’s a difficult watch, especially knowing that the scene was entirely real. Carell admitted in a post taping interview that it was his actual hair being ripped off his body, leaving him bloody and bruised the days following the scene. He even said that one of his co-stars actually could not stay in the same room because seeing it in person was too gnarly…
So here is everything wrong with this scene - from a licensed esthetician’s point of view.
First thing’s first - the consultation
The consultation begins with the esthetician asking him if this is his first time, which is off to a great start! We always want to know what your waxing experience is because first-time clients will be handled with extreme care, focusing more on education and comfort. I will always walk my clients through the appointment verbally so that they understand what is going on and help them ease their nerves. We also need to understand if there are any medications or other contraindications that would prevent us from completing the service.
Then things start to go downhill…she yells at someone in the back, “We’re going to need more wax! Clear all my afternoon appointments!” clearly insulting the amount of hair on his body. There is nothing worse than going in for a beauty appointment and feeling judged or looked down on by the service provider. It is our job to make you feel more confident - not tear you down. A hairier chest does not necessarily need more wax... And if she has to clear her appointments because someone showed up with hair on their chest, well, she does not have a very sustainable business model. The way I view it, the hairier you are, the better! By clearly insulting him before the appointment even begins, she is making him even more uncomfortable and insecure.
Safety & skin prep
I gasped when I noticed she didn’t put on gloves. An esthetician’s room is held to the same safety and sanitation standard as a doctor’s office. There is nothing dirtier than underneath someone’s nails, even if they have just washed them. Then, without even cleansing or using powder to prep the skin, she just goes right in… An esthetician will usually use powder to ensure that the wax or sugar will adhere to the skin!
The service
So, the direction the hair grows, which depends upon each person, is important to take into consideration when completing a hair removal service. With soft wax, the esthetician must lay it in the direction of the hair growth to make sure that the hair will be ripped from the root and not just broken off. I’m not sure where this girl went to school, but she just lays a random patch right in the middle of his chest sideways... Then, after taking a patch of hair off the left side of his chest, she jumps over and takes a patch from the right side. Although each esthetician will have their own way of staying organized, they will usually finish an entire area before moving on to the next. I have never heard of the man-o-lantern technique, but maybe I am missing out.
Ripping off the wax
She counts down from three, building anticipation which is not always helpful. I like to have my clients breathe in and out, or just talk about something completely unrelated to help keep their mind off the pain. And I will give her some credit…The one thing she does do very well is rip the wax off super-fast! But where is her left hand!? Our opposite hand is used to pull the skin super tight so that the hair is pulled without the skin being lifted. Then, the opposite hand will be used to apply pressure to relieve the sting. Instead of doing that, she looks at him, calls him names, and holds the wax strip like a psycho. A professional will never judge your ability (or inability) to handle the pain of hair removal. And we understand that our male clients are delicate little flowers.
The kicker
This is the part that does it for me…she creates a hair graveyard, stacking the used strips of wax around his face and body. I mean, can you imagine…
RIP Steve’s nipple
Last but, certainly not least… She LAYS THE WAX RIGHT OVER THE NIPPLE AND RIPS IT OFF. You can wax around a nipple no problem but going directly over the nipple can absolutely rip someone’s nipple right off. Poor Steve.
Steve Carell’s interview revealed that the actress lied when she auditioned, claiming she knew how to wax. She later admitted that she had “attempted to wax her boyfriend’s back once.”
This scene is the prime example of why you should leave hair removal services to the professionals!