I received a question in one of my webinars asking me, “Isn’t paraffin wax a carcinogenic product?”

I didn’t want to just do a simple Instagram post addressing the question. Instead, I decided to do some digging around to learn more about paraffin and once again, I’ve done all the homework so you guys don’t have to so let’s get into Part 2 of The Ingredients – The Paraffin.

Question: “Is paraffin wax carcinogenic/toxic?”

Let’s back it up a little first – whenever we hear something is a “petroleum by-product” or “by-product of the fuel industry,” sirens go off in our heads that this sounds toxic. We put it on the “naughty list” of ingredients to avoid since some research suggests that if these particles were inhaled, they can be carcinogenic and cause potentially harmful effects to humans. Does it really though?

We need to understand that paraffin wax comes in many forms. The culprit that you want to stay away from are paraffin wax-based candles since it is mainly a raw hydrocarbon. A 2009 study that was conducted by researchers from South Carolina State University found that paraffin wax candles emitted unwanted chemicals due to it being a petroleum-based by-product. They would emit alkenes and toluene. Wait, hold up, what the heck are alkenes and toluene? These are aromatic hydrocarbons, which is why inhaling it is harmful. Think of paint thinners and how painters usually need to wear masks for protection so they aren’t breathing in the fumes.

These can be harmful to humans and contribute to the development of health risks such as cancer, allergies and even asthma. By now, you must be thinking that I have stated a lot of bad things about paraffin. So, why does Caronlab waxes have paraffin as an ingredient and what is done to assure it is safe?

Cosmeceutical Grade Paraffin Wax

There is nothing to worry about because all of those concerns listed above do not apply to paraffin waxes that you can find in cosmetic products and in our Caronlab waxes. The bad raw hydrocarbon has been processed to a “cosmetic-grade level,” meaning the risk for inhalation of the paraffin wax from beauty products are now minimal and there really is nothing to worry about anymore.

What I love about Caronlab is that it is a company that is 100% transparent. I have never come across a wax brand that would openly display online their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for every single one of their products. I went into every single one of our waxes to see which ones contain paraffin wax. All our synthetic resin-based waxes contain cosmetic grade paraffin wax. By now you must be thinking, “alright Chanel, then why does Caronlab waxes have paraffin wax in their formula and what purpose does it serve?”

IN CLOSING

There you have it in regard to paraffin. In summary, there is absolutely nothing to fear when it comes to paraffin wax as long as it has been processed to a cosmeceutical grade. Caronlab believes in a holistic concept and approach in the beauty industry that they call “Caronlab Cares.” Every detail, every ingredient, every product that Caronlab carries is meant to serve a specific purpose while taking the smallest details into consideration. We want safe options for everyone while trying to reduce our carbon footprint at the same time. Just knowing this gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling for Caronlab!

If there is a topic or question you would like me to cover, please feel free to message or email us!

Also make sure you follow us on our social media so you know when my next post is available:

 @caronlab_northamerica

 @waxperience_with_chanel

Happy New Year everyone!

I wanted to start the new year by diving into our resin. My hope is that in doing so I will answer some of your questions and help to debunk any misunderstandings some of you may have regarding our waxes. I do listen to your questions and your concerns, and I have gone ahead and done the homework, so you guys don’t have to.

Alright, so let’s back it up first – before Caronlab, I did not know a whole lot about wax ingredients let alone know what resin my wax was made of. I am sure a lot of you are the same way when it comes to picking a wax…price is always first and then maybe its scent and coloring that draws you in. When I came across Caronlab, I had zero knowledge of why it felt so good on the skin, why it hurt way less and why my skin seemed to react less than the other waxes I have used. It wasn’t until I started watching the Caronlab educational webinars that I began to understand why ingredients, especially the resin used in wax, are so important when it comes to hair removal. In today’s blog, I am going to share with you in detail about Caronlab’s synthetic hydrocarbon resin.

PINE RESIN

Before I talk about our resin, we need to talk about Natural Resin, also known as Pine Rosin or Colophonium. This can be found in majority of the waxes in the market because it is much cheaper to use in production. If it is cheaper to produce, then how much quality assurance do you think there is for each batch of wax that is made? To cut costs even further, the pine resin extracted from the trees are unrefined and therefore there is no product stability. Have you ever thought, “Wow this wax fragrance smells so heavily fragranced,” or “Look at this vibrant color!” I have thought these things and I was a sucker for beautiful colors! Well, the reason why some wax companies reason as to why you may have clients who are telling you that they cannot wax, why your clients may leave with excessive redness and histamine reactions, and why so many clients believe that waxing has to be super painful. To add insult to injury, colophonium is also the third highest cause of Occupational Asthma including itchy, runny eyes and fatigue.

Studies show that between 3.6% in Europe, 4.6% in the USA and up to 7% of people in Canada are all allergic to colophonium and these numbers are GROWING! Remember that natural is not always better. We get sucked into thinking natural is the best, but it really isn’t when it comes to hair removal. In fact, the more unnatural the better when it comes to waxing!

SYNTHETIC RESIN

Synthetic resins are going to be more consistent from batch to batch because it is a man-made substance. Synthetic resins are usually known as a hydrocarbon resin or polycyclopentadiene.

To spare some of you guys the scientific mumbo jumbo, if you want to hear me talk about polycyclopentadienes, then please feel free to play my quick 2 minute video explaining all of this:

I want you guys to understand when it comes to resins, Hydrocarbon resin is a safe product to use. Look at the ingredient concerns and where they rank in safety:

I took these stats off of a site that gave me ratings on how safe ingredients are considered. I’ve had clients tell me how they cannot wax, their skin gets super red, they get bumps and need to take an anti-histamine after a wax appointment. As you can see from the chart, a colophonium based wax may tick off a good amount of boxes, but allergies and immune-toxicity is considered moderate. Do we want something that could be moderately harmful for our clients? I think not!

Be aware that synthetic resins can also vary in quality and poor quality synthetic resins can pose the same amount of issues as with pine resin.

If you guys already know me, then you would know how much I love and refer to Brilliance Hard Wax “my baby!” So, what is the big deal about it and why am I head over heels for it? Brilliance Hard Wax is flexible, pliable, and moldable and won’t go brittle on you. Because it is made from a high-quality synthetic resin it is more consistent in production from batch to batch and it is easier and safer to work with. The waxes have a fresh and clean appearance. What a high quality synthetic resin should look like is a clear, translucent pale yellow. A pure white wax like Brilliance Hard Wax can only be created by the best synthetic resin available on the market and the reason why it is white is because of the added Titanium Oxide – that’s it. Nothing additional is in there to make it that creamy white color. At Caronlab, quality control is of utmost importance and is the key to creating a high quality and luxurious wax and that is why Brilliance Hard Wax is “my baby.”

THE VERDICT

The takeaway from all of this is to really understand what the main base ingredient your wax is made of and and what that means to you and your clients. I am telling you, switching over to Caronlab’s high quality synthetic resin waxes and using the Lilliane Caron signature techniques has made my clients happy and my job much easier. The most important thing to remember when it comes to hair removal, we are not trying to treat the skin but trying to remove the hairs. Let your pre and post ancillaries worry about being all natural and good for the skin. The wax should be as far from natural as possible.

Next month, I will be answering another ingredient question that I have received and it will be about paraffin wax. Why do we have it? What is the purpose? How does it differ from paraffin that is carcinogenic?

If there is a topic or question you would like me to cover, please feel free to message or email us!

Also make sure you follow us on our social media so you know when my next post is available:

 @caronlab_northamerica

 @waxperience_with_chanel

INTRO

I join many forums and groups for esthetics and waxing and every single day, there is at least one person who asks, “What is the best soft wax?” or “What is the best hard wax?” or “Hate my wax – give me your suggestions!” This is literally every single day, and the same answers always pile in. I sometimes feel like I need to advocate for Caronlab since I cannot believe people still do not know about this brand. I sometimes even see people mixing brands or waxes together to create the perfect wax to use. I honestly do not know how safe this is and why anyone would want to go through this kind of trouble when you could just pick the right wax from the start.

I started thinking just how little knowledge we have as technicians and professionals when it comes to choosing the right wax? The number one factor I always tend to see is price. I don’t know if it is positive to buy whatever is cheapest just to get the job done.  I also see answers like, “The wax I want is too expensive, so I am going to settle for the cheaper stuff.” I’ve heard people say how much they love Caronlab but the moment they see the price tag they instantly decide not to buy the wax.

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN

I have a few accountant clients and they always say, “wax must be your biggest expense.” I explain that “actually disposable wax spatulas are my biggest expense.” I restock 2 large boxes of the big disposable wax spatulas bi-weekly and smaller spatulas in various sizes every few months. If you are still double dipping or flipping your spatulas around to use the other end to save a few dollars, STOP! If you want to use both ends of a single spatula, simply just snap them in half. Hygiene is important now more than ever since the global pandemic.

Let’s talk about resins briefly. If you are using a natural pine resin-based wax, I guarantee you that you will be spending more money in your wax room compared to your synthetic-based waxes. The majority of these waxes are usually in 397g/14oz tins with bright colours, heavily fragranced and super sticky.  They are frustrating to work with because the hard wax will go brittle and will not perform the same from tin-to-tin and there is an increased chance of histamine reactions. Price point for this type of wax looks great because at first glance it appears that you have saved money because it is cheap. Except the reality is that you will have to stock more than one tin to last you the week and you will need to purchase more the week after. You want to make sure you are picking a high-quality synthetic resin-based wax to avoid all the problems mentioned with natural pine resin wax.

Our soft/strip waxes come in 800g/28oz recyclable plastic jars that are double the amount of wax that you can get from most other brands.  A jar of 800g/29oz Caronlab wax appears costly upfront compared to a single 397g/14oz tin of strip wax. If you purchased 2 tins of the 397g/14oz wax it would actually cost MORE and you would be getting less than one jar of Caronlab strip wax! You will also need to use more of the poorer quality wax which also means you would have to purchase it more often, compared to Caronlab where you will be protecting the skin, removing the hairs, and using less wax.

Now what about hard wax? If you are purchasing 397g/14oz tins of hard, then your money is pretty much going down the drain. That natural resin wax is most likely brittle, your clients are getting histamine reactions and you’re using a lot of the wax to get the job done. Brilliance Hard Wax does come in a microwaveable formula and in an 800g recyclable plastic jar which looks more expensive, but the reality is that one jar of Brilliance costs less than 2 jars of your 397g/14oz natural resin tin and it also is easier to apply and remove and more comfortable for your clients.

Well, what about hard wax beads? A 5kg/11lb box of Braziliant Hard Wax Beads is going to be the best investment since you are buying the wax in bulk. Other brands using natural resin-based or a hybrid of natural/synthetic hard wax beads around the same size will seem like it would be better for your wallet but remember that natural resin waxes tend to go brittle.  The wax also tends to be inconsistent from batch to batch and there is a higher chance of histamine reactions. The cost difference makes sense when using a high-quality synthetic-based resin wax because the waxes will be pliable, flexible, moldable and less painful during hair removal and the best for sensitive based skin types. Using a grippy wax like Braziliant 2 in 1 Film Wax means you will get the hairs the first time with minimal clean up and because you can apply the wax cellophane thin, you use less wax to get the job done and can expect to save money and not restock as often.

THE VERDICT

Is Caronlab really that expensive? It will be if you are not using the products properly! Application, wax consistency, and technique is so key to being how you can save money in the wax room. If you are going through the strip waxes quickly then I would revisit if you are applying the strip wax as close to transparent as possible. If you’re going through hard wax quickly, is the wax at the right temperature and consistency to grab the greatest number of hairs the first time?

I restock hard wax more since I mainly do Brazilian waxing services. I use a lot of Brilliance Hard Wax and I like to have my hard waxes always topped up. Soft wax requires a full top up bi-monthly for me. I have saved so much money making the switch over to Caronlab waxes and their concentrated ancillaries – you can save money in your wax room too!

Quoting Lilliane Caron in her October 4, 2018 blog: “Price should not defer you away from a high quality product. Paying that extra couple of dollars can make all the difference when it comes to securing repeat business and long-term clients. A salon providing high quality treatments, with high quality products can be extremely profitable. Cheap waxes cost more in the long run. The same goes if you are using more product to get the result, you actually have saved nothing and could ultimately lose the customer if you continually send them home with irritated skin and a substandard result. It all comes down to how many clients you have, and how many choose to come back to YOU over any other salon.”

You can read her blog post here: Should you change your wax?

IN CLOSING

If you have any questions, need help troubleshooting, want to know how you can start saving money in your wax room by switching to Caronlab, please feel free to message us! Let me know what you would like me to cover in my blogs and what you would like to see in our educational webinars!

Also, make sure you follow us on our social media so you know when my next post is available:

 @caronlab_northamerica

 @waxperience_with_chanel

INTRO – WHO AM I?

Hello Caronlab fam! My name is Chanel Mak, your Master Educator for Caronlab North America. I am very excited and so happy for you to read my first post for “Waxperience with Chanel.”

If you don’t know who I am; my name is Chanel Mak, a Chinese Canadian born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I reside in Calgary, and I am a mother to 2 small daughters. I currently run a home-based salon and spa business with my husband called On The Q.T. Salon and Spa. My mother was an esthetician and growing up, I was always fascinated by how much positivity she brought to her clients and how beautiful people felt after a facial service. I decided to follow in her footsteps when I was 19 and joined the beautiful world of esthetics. I’ve been a licensed esthetician for 11 years and have ventured into every form of hair removal available. I am a Certified Laser Technician and Electrologist. I have also dabbled in sugaring and am a full-time wax technician. I have been with Caronlab for the last 2 years as an educator, but have been actively using Caronlab for the last 3 years. Caronlab changed my views on wax and has taken my waxing services to another level.

IT’S STORY TIME! – HOW DID I GET INTRODUCED TO CARONLAB

I got a job immediately after I received my certification as a Laser Technician. I instantly became the girl who lasered everyone’s privates! I felt I needed a change after doing only Brazilians for 2 years. When my husband and I opened up our home-based salon and spa in 2018, I decided to not do laser hair removal since it is a costly investment and focused on waxing. At the time, I also decided “no more Brazilians, only bikinis.”

A year into the business, my husband asked me why I wouldn’t offer Brazilians and I honestly didn’t have a good answer. I started asking myself the same question. Why had I decided not to offer a service that I was so familiar with? Was I tired of getting up in everyone’s business? Was I not confident to provide a good Brazilian with wax? That was it!! I simply just wasn’t confident in the wax I was using.

I really disliked a lot of waxes on the market, so I decided to ONLY use hard wax for all my waxing. I tried a lot of different hard waxes and they all seemed to be costly, and I still wasn’t satisfied with the result.

Imagine doing a full set of legs with hard wax that would go brittle and break and the time to do a good service was too long.

I couldn’t find a soft wax that I liked to use either. I didn’t like any waxes that required pre-oil or were too sticky or left too much hair behind. None of the soft waxes I tried did a sufficient job of hair removal without compromising my client’s skin and hard waxes that were difficult to work with that weren’t producing results. Majority of all the waxes were reeking of chemical or artificial fragrance. I was starting to question my skills and abilities.

At the beginning of 2020, I decided to take a Brazilian Wax “refresher class.” I needed to see if there was something new and better on the market and maybe a few new wax techniques too. I came across 2 brands to use for hands-on in the class – one of them was Caronlab Australia.

I hadn’t had a Brazilian wax for about 2 years. I was hairy and I shaved to get by after having my first child. My hairs were dark, coarse, and stubborn. I was definitely not excited about having Brazilian Wax pain, but I decided to be the first one to hop up on the bed and let my class partner work on me.

The first wax she used on me was Caronlab’s Brilliance Hard Wax. She applied and removed it and I thought to myself, “Oh! Ok, that wasn’t bad at all or is it because I experienced the pain of natural labour that my pain tolerance has reached a whole new level?” Then she applied the 2nd brand of hard wax available in the class. This was a brand that I’ve used before. She went for the rip and I flinched and was reminded that Brazilian waxing sucks. I let her do another few applications with the other brand then I finally stopped her and said, “Please use the white wax again.” I was completely blown away. It was a night and day difference. I was shocked by how comfortable waxing was with the white wax. I inquired about the brand of wax from the instructor.

I picked up my first batch of Brilliance Hard Wax Beads 800g immediately after the class along with their After Wax Oil & Moisturizer 250ml. I’ve used many different products to remove wax residue and was blown away by how little I used to remove the wax so easily from the skin.

HOW HAS CARONLAB CHANGED MY BUSINESS

My confidence came back once I got acquainted with Caronlab and learned their signature techniques over the COVID-19 lockdowns from their free educational webinars. When we were able to reopen, I re-introduced Caronlab to my clients with the tips, tricks and techniques I learned! Now I give my clients a “waxperience” that they return for time and time again. I do not boast about how fast I can complete a Brazilian wax since speed is the last thing on my mind once I switched to Caronlab. I ensure comfort first, connections with my clients second, then safe and thorough hair removal third. I want to get to know my clients and educate them on the products I am using.

I want to make a good impression with every wax service so my clients know I care. I know my wax is high quality, I have options available for every type of client, and I know different techniques will set me apart from the next waxer. Waxing doesn’t have to be uncomfortable – I remind myself that I am a spa and what I am offering is time for clients to come and relax even if the service is not completely pain-free. I have clients that come to get a wax because it is their relaxing time – can you believe that? Waxing CAN be relaxing. This has brought me many new clients mainly by word of mouth that they had the most comfortable waxing appointment and that they will never go anywhere else.

IN CLOSING

Each month I will be covering a topic either via a video log or a written blog to highlight Caronlab products, tips, tricks and techniques, and general wax questions to get you out of sticky messes. If there is a topic or question you would like me to cover, please feel free to message or email us!

Also make sure you follow us on our social media so you know when my next post is available:

 @caronlab_northamerica

 @waxperience_with_chanel

Current generations are spending more on beauty than any generation before them. More than ever it’s about looking and feeling your best and people are not afraid to pay for it. The clientele that spends big on their beauty treatments, want them done by specialists. They don’t get their Brazilians done at the nail bar anymore and their brows are under careful watch of their one-and-only brow guru. Being a well-known specialist in your field pays off – but how do you build that empire?  

It starts with Passion

In my 40 years as a therapist, I have always found that the most important thing is passion. If you’re passionate about what you do, you manifest great things. Building an empire cannot be done without it: it takes blood, sweat and tears and lots of time and patience – things that you can’t sustain without that unstoppable drive. Caronlab Australia was built on a passion for great quality waxing products (and born from frustration with the waxes at that time!). The niche you choose should reflect your biggest passion. If you absolutely love creating the perfect brow – become a brow specialist, if you thrive on helping people on their rejuvenation journey – become a skincare specialist and so forth. Your passion doesn’t need to be for a specific treatment, think out of the box: the best manicure specialists excel in their job because they are extremely artistic and create unique nail art.

Become an expert

It seems like an open door, but becoming a specialist takes training and lots of practice. But training isn’t enough to set yourself apart from others in your field. Your clients need to experience the difference between your treatment and their previous one. Your technique is what keeps your clients coming back for more. Just like every client is different, every therapist is different too; there is no 1 technique that suits everyone. Find people in the industry that you look up to and watch their techniques, look at what they do differently, practice on friends and family to see if it works for you too. Caronlab has created an online training course that will help you achieve this expertise. After a while, the movements that work for you will stick, others won’t and what’s left is your signature technique.

Choose the right product

Just as important as technique is using the right products for treatment and pre and post care. If we take the example of brow waxing, it’s very important that the wax you use is effective, but still gentle on the skin. With the increased use of skincare products that remove dead skin cells (like retinoids, BHA’s and AHA’s) the skin on the face is more sensitive than ever. Choosing a gentle pre wax cleanser paired with a wax that is specifically formulated for the sensitive skin on the face can make all the difference. A wax that has the right consistency to contour and wrap around brows smoothly makes it easier for you to create an exceptional result. Cooling the skin with a soothing after care lotion should be part of your routine anyway, but if you want to take it a step further, you can use a product that conceals any redness that has occurred. Your client needs to look and feel her best when walking out your door.

Build your brand

When you have your signature technique and the right product, it’s time to build your personal brand. Authenticity is the number 1 most important trait to be successful with the Millennial and Gen Z clientele. They are prepared to pay more if a brand or specialist truly aligns with their values. You cannot fake this, it has to come from within. So take the time to really think about your brand: Who do you want to appeal to? What do they like? In what way does your personality align with that? Asking yourself these questions will help you create a philosophy that functions as a guideline for everything you do; from what your salon looks like and what your price point is, to how you communicate with your clients and how you build your team as you grow. You can even go so far as to create a moodboard with things that you feel are important to your personal brand. This can include words that describe you, colours that speak to you, images that express your philosophy – this is a great tool when you need to make decisions about the direction your business is going in!

Create (and maintain) a following

You’ve got all the ingredients to build your empire on your niche, so now it’s time to create a following. Millennials and Gen Z are known to trust the experiences of their peers, and they play a huge role in their decision making process. They read as many reviews as possible and follow social media accounts before they decide that you are the right fit for them. If you want to be viewed as a specialist within your niche, you need to invest in building a social media presence that appeals to the right clientele. Just like your salon, your social media profile needs to reflect your personality and your brand. Combine well-lit before and after pictures with quotes that fit your personality and videos of yourself performing treatments so clients know what to expect (if the treatments permit it of course, don’t post videos of Brazilians, please). Encourage clients to share their experiences and results on social media and actively build your clientele by offering free treatments to local (micro) influencers in exchange for social media posts and stories. Offer incentives to people that post reviews of your services – don’t worry about getting a negative review or two, as long as you deal with them correctly, it will add to your authenticity and help you attract the right clients.

Curate and merchandise

Congratulations: you’ve become a well-known specialist in your niche! Now it’s time to expand your empire with the right retail setup. It is very important that the brands you curate at your salon align with your (and your client’s) values. Go for quality over quantity; it’s better to have 1 or 2 brands that you are very passionate about and that add value to your client’s life than to try and offer a solution for every concern they might have. The product range needs to align with your chosen niche. If we take the example of a brow specialist, the ideal retail product could be a beautiful, locally made brow make up brand. The brazilian expert could opt for a cruelty free product range for prevention and treatment of ingrown hairs. If you find yourself recommending a certain product with every client, it could be worth exploring the option to brand it with your own logo (private label). This helps cement your status as expert in your niche and usually gives you a better margin at the same time!

Be patient!

Rome certainly wasn’t built in a day, so be realistic when you set your goals. Believe me when I say I know building an empire isn’t as easy as following some steps you read in an article. I’ve worked my behind off in the past 40 years to get to where I am today. It takes a lot of time and patience and often a bit of luck. No matter how long you’re in the business, always make an effort to stay on top of the latest trends in your niche. Be consistent and realign with your philosophy regularly to make sure you stay true to yourself and your clients. If you do this, you’re already ahead of 90% of your competition.

Become an expert in brow waxing. Start by watching our Browvado video – HERE