Review + Giveaway: Spa goodies from Waxing the City and Ten Friends

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Waxing The City Oakbrook Terrace and Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House. I have received complimentary salon services from both companies, and I have been compensated for this post. This post contains affiliate links Read full Disclosure Policy.

Recently, a blogger friend of mine, Alison of SoChicLife, invited me to a bloggers’ beauty day at Waxing The City in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. A variety of Chicagoland bloggers were treated to makeovers, hair styling and blowouts by Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House, and of course, a complimentary wax service from Waxing The City. 

Before I go any further, I need to share something. I do not like many of the kinds of things most women like. In my entire life, I’ve had one massage and one pedicure. I was extremely uncomfortable on both occasions and quickly decided that neither of these things were my thing. I’ve concluded that I just don’t like being touched by strangers. It’s very difficult for me to get over the “someone I don’t know is touching me” feeling.

So, naturally, I jumped at the chance to get waxed by a stranger.

(I’m not kidding. I actually did.) 

You see, our family was taking a trip a few days after this blogger event, and anytime we travel to what I like to refer to as a “swimsuit location,” I do like to wax so I don’t have to shave on the trip. In all my life though, I’d never had it done professionally. (I’ve always used Completely Bare wax strips from the drugstore. It hurts, of course, but I like the results, so I wax at home a couple times a year.)

Anyway, I thought — why not give it a try?

I told Alison I was in. Then, I didn’t shave for the next three weeks, because that’s what you have to do pre-wax. (Good thing it’s winter!)

On the morning of the event, I headed to Waxing The City. I was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the facility and the professionalism of the staff. As I nibbled on a cookie and chatted with other bloggers, I couldn’t escape thinking, “Every one of us is going to take our pants off in front of a stranger today.”

After breakfast and a makeup session, it was time to meet my Cerologist, Loren. In order to get over my “stranger touching me” issues, I decided I would make friends with Loren first (so we would no longer be strangers — get it?) Loren immediately put me at ease though and said she’d had plenty of apprehensive first-timers. She led me to her waxing studio.

Like the rest of the facility, Loren’s studio was very clean, with a new paper drape over the waxing table for each guest and another drape to cover up with before waxing began. If you’re getting a bikini wax, you’ll also get one of these: 

 

This  “I Love My Muff” cleansing wipe is provided so you can be clean and fresh for your Cerologist. Loren said she’d give me a few minutes to get ready and left the room. At this point, I was still not quite certain I was going to go through with the bikini wax, but I was kind of at the no-turning-back point now. I traded my pants for a paper drape and Loren re-entered the room.

Loren explained that Waxing the City uses Cerazul blue hard wax from Spain, and it’s much less painful than traditional sticky waxes. This wax “shrink wraps” around each hair and pulls off your skin cleanly, taking the hair with it. Loren offered to put a little on my wrist so I could get used to the feeling, and being the diligent blogger that I am, I filmed my wrist-wax for you:

 

#waxingthecity uses Cerazul blue hard wax from Spain that releases cleanly from your skin- no pain. Really! @waxingoakbrookterrace #seriousaboutsmooth

A post shared by Jill Cataldo (@supercouponing) on Nov 2, 2016 at 8:57am PDT

I was shocked at how cleanly the wax peels off! You definitely feel the hair coming out, but the majority of the pain of traditional waxing comes from the wax pulling off your skin, not the wax actually pulling out your hair. Yes, I decided that I could do this. 
 

Loren began to wax. She used a new wooden stick for each wax application, and she was fast! It was, quite honestly, the least painful waxing I’ve ever experienced. The “worst” pain I experienced was occasional mild stinging. The majority of the wax applications peeled off with little to no pain — it really was remarkable.

And, since we were now “friends,” Loren and I chatted the whole time about her family and her job. She truly loves what she does, and she’s extremely professional. She also told me that all of the Waxing The City Cerologists at this location also wax each other — a perk of the job. I laughed that I’ve never held a job in which I’ve seen all of my co-workers with their pants off. 

After my wax was complete, I dressed and got in line for a complimentary blow-out and style from Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House, who had also set up for the day inside Waxing The City’s facility.  Ten Friends is a local blowout-only chain: They don’t cut hair — they only offer blowouts and styling, so they’re perfect for getting styled for special events. At their facilities, they’ll even offer you a cup of tea or a glass of wine while you’re in the chair. 

I usually style my hair with a lot of body and bounce by curling the ends with a round brush, but I’m always curious what people who don’t know me will do with my hair. I sat down in the chair and bravely told my stylist to give me whatever look she thought would look best on me. 

Another blogger friend of mine, Maria from A Savings Wow, was in the chair next to me getting her hair curled. We chatted and caught up on life while we got our hair done. My stylist was using a flat iron to make my hair straight and sleek. We snapped a photo together afterward.

Thanks to Waxing The City Oakbrook Terrace and Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House for hosting such a fun day for bloggers. I believe I will go back and see my new friend Loren before my next vacation…

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Now, if you enjoyed this review, I’ve got a giveaway for TWO lucky readers! Both Waxing The City Oakbrook Terrace and Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House have provided prizes for two readers. TWO of my readers will each win the following:

• A Waxing The City t-shirt (I have one shirt in size medium and one in size large – please specify in comments which you’d prefer!)
• A Waxing the City foam can cooler
• An exfoliating glove from Waxing the City
• A coupon for 50% off any service at Waxing The City Oakbrook Terrace (up to a $40 value, depending what you get)
• A coupon for a FREE signature shampoo, blow dry and style at Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House ($40 value)
  Ten Friends has four locations in Hinsdale, Deer Park, Glenview, and Naperville, Illinois.

To enter, simply leave a comment under this article! This Waxing The City / Ten Friends Spa Goodies Giveaway begins today, February 16, 2017 and ends on February 22, 2017. Two winners will be chosen via a random number generator.

UPDATE: Giveaway has ended! The winners are Val and Bridget!

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Legal: This giveaway is sponsored by Waxing The City Oakbrook Terrace and Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House. Responding to this post with a comment qualifies readers to enter. Duplicate posts do not increase chances of winning. The contest began at midnight CST on February 16, 2017 and will end at 11:59pm CST on February 22, 2017. Two winners will be chosen via random-number generator on February 23, 2017 and announced the same day. Winners will receive a gift assortment from Waxing The City and Ten Friends as shown above. Prizes, information, and giveaway have been provided by Waxing The City and Ten Friends . I have received information to help promote these businesses as part of this giveaway. I have been compensated for this post. Winner will be contacted via the Private Messaging feature of JillCataldo.com and via email. If a winner does not reply to the message within 48 hours of notification, that winner will forfeit the prize and a new winner will be chosen. Fulfillment will be handled by JillCataldo.com. Odds of winning are determined by number of eligible entries received. This post contains affiliate links. Read full Disclosure Policy. Good luck to everyone!

Top photo of bloggers at this event was taken by Love and Ink Photography.