This lockdown has been rough – not just emotionally, but also on my body. Besides my ever-expanding waistline thanks to all the delicious treats we have been baking (I bake to help deal with my emotions, and my anxiety has been at an all-time high); I haven’t had a wax since 2 weeks before lockdown and have felt my inner grizzly bear come out to play. Oh my poor husband!
NakedCherry Waxing has been in my sight for some time, and I love their tongue-in-cheek humour as well as their excitement for the products they sell, as well as their salons. And then I saw that they are able to deliver during lockdown! I did a literal happy dance around the house – as did my husband at the idea of no longer having to see my sideburns, mustache, unibrow (and more).
In case you didn’t know, I studied beauty therapy after school. For 3 years I was a full-time student at The Academy of Beauty Therapy in Assagay, KZN. I was fully immersed in facials, waxing, massage, makeup and everything beauty related. I went on to complete my Spa Therapy diploma, and specialised in permanent makeup, Reiki, sports massage and advanced beauty treatments. Unfortunately my health prevented me from continuing with this, but I have maintained an interest and am always on the hunt for new, exciting treatments and products.
Karen sent me some of her favourite products to try, and I was SO impressed. I even managed to wax my own upper lip with zero pain – this is usually my worst area to wax and it brings tears to my eyes. Lip, underarm & Hollywood wax is all done from this little pot of wax and I know that I will be ordering from them again; as well as visiting one of their salons when lockdown is lifted.
Your name: Karen Metsos
Your business name: NakedCherry
Social media handles: Instagram and Facebook
Tell me a bit more about your business:
We are South Africa’s most loved Waxing and Specialised Skincare Brand.
With specialised waxing boutiques throughout Gauteng, and over a 100 stockists nationwide carrying our professional and waxing focused retail range, getting a great wax is just around the corner.
We follow strict guidelines set out by the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology, disposable gloves are always worn (on both hands) and disposable spatulas are never double dipped for intimate hot wax treatments. We are obsessed with hygiene.
All our retail and professional products were born in-boutique, tested to death and designed specifically to keep waxed skin smooth and beautiful.
Our complete waxing-focused skincare range for men and women is beautifully aromatherapy inspired. Our products focus on exfoliation and nourishment with natural antiseptics to banish ingrowns, leaving your skin smooth and gorgeous.
NO SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE – NO PARABENS – NO BIOCIDES – NO PETRO CHEMICALS
We are the bee’s knees.
How did you decide on the name: I got advice that for a name to be memorable, it is easier to use an adjective that cannot possibly describe a certain noun. Plus, NakedCherry translates as a really good descriptor of what we do at the salons.
Where did the idea for this business come from: My last stint in the UK before returning home was working at a waxing only salon. I found it bit strange that there were so many specialised nail salons, massage parlours and no-wax salons considering how where you can actually damage someone if you don’t know what you are doing RE waxing. Also, the hygiene standards in the UK was hugely lacking in SA
Where are your waxing boutiques, & how can people make a booking:
We currently have salons in Parkhurst, Fourways, Sandton, Randparkridge, Little Falls, Bassonia, Woodmead and Bryanston. We have a central booking service and you can make a booking via Whatsapp or phone call at 078 811 4371 or via email or using our online booking service.
I see you have different products listed on your site too – which are your personal favourites & why:
Balm Me Babes Skin Conditioner, as I’m not so fab on the moisturising front. Part the reason I made so many Skin Conditioners in the range; as was trying to find a happy medium for everyone (haha – i made a funny). The Balm leaves me feeling nourished for days and is fab for the aftercare of my newly added tattoos. Another is the Afternoon Delight Skin Cleaner. Fresh Peppermint to put a skip in your step. And again – as we try this with most products in our range – multi-functional. Great as an intimate wash, shaving medium (though we should be waxing peeps) and daily wash with our chemical exfoliant, Salicylic Acid to much away at dead skin cells. Family-friendly as a fave in my household – even little Eva loves it.
You make use of aromatherapy in your Apothecary – tell me a bit more about this:
Nothing smells worse than a chocolate flavoured mimzy hahaha Besides that reason, waxing is some peoples only me time, so I wanted to make it as relaxing at possible – and what does that best… Lovely smells.
How can people order some of your products: They can visit our online store.
Which products do you recommend people start off with:
A Skin Cleaner (Morning Glory or Afternoon Delight) cause it is easy to throw into your routine and the Ingrown Terminator Spray as your saviour to get that stubborn fur-tuft out. The IT spray you can use every other night as your general maintenance if you are prone to ingrowns (has Salcylic Acid in again – munch munch; and Peppermint which literally takes your breath away)
What is included in your home wax kit: Enough Hot Wax (the peely wax, not the wax you remove wax with strips) for one full Hollywood (though we encourage you to leave the tricky parts to the pro’s), a couple of ice cream sticks, Skin Cleaner, Prep Oil and our flavour of the month Skin Conditioner…. oh and a handy little instruction flyer.
If someone is too scared to try waxing, what would you recommend they wax first? And why would you recommend they try waxing: Don’t think – just do. Only piece of advice I would say, like a dentist – you want one with many reviews or referrals
And why if scared – come to NakedCherry – we really love what we do. and if Malcom Gladwell’s 10 000 rule to success is true in perfecting a skill, we got this waxed
Quote you live by:
Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us get up and go to work – Stephen King
Anything else you want to add:
You chose us, trust us. Please allow your Wax Enthusiast to wow you. We understand you are nervous, but please give us a fair chance. Don’t touch, swear or tell her/him how to do things. OH, and way before COVID kicked us in our butts… we always followed British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology, disposable gloves are always worn (on both hands) and disposable spatulas are never double dipped for intimate hot wax treatments. We are obsessed with hygiene.
Guys, I really am so impressed with these products. Learning about the importance of using products that have the clients’ best interests at heart has opened my eyes to what is out there and I will only ever recommend something that I have tried myself. Waxing is a very intimate treatment, and you need to ensure that you are visiting a salon that you trust and has hygiene as the most important factor.
The home kit came with clear instructions – my husband understood everything perfectly, and could help me with some of my more, ahem, intimate areas. And if you are too scared to try this yourself, then make a booking at one of their salons once lockdown has lifted. Believe me, you will never look back once you have started waxing!
