Frequently Asked Questions

What products do you use?

I use Relax & Wax products for hair removal; made in the USA in small batches with minimal ingredients. My tinting products are from Intensive. 
For facials, my professional products come from a variety of sources including abi Dermaceuticals, Circadia, and Bio-Therapeutics.
I sell retail skincare products from Nola Skinsentials based out of the Atlanta, Georgia area. I searched very meticulously for an independent, Black-owned skincare brand with a wide range of offerings for all skin types at a good price. Everything I sell is under $30, and I stand by the products and use them myself in my home care regimen.

How did you end up here?

​Many moons ago, beginning in 1999, I worked as a makeup artist for companies like Elizabeth Arden and MAC Cosmetics. I moved into an office career for a while and felt I had lost a bit of myself in work that wasn’t fulfilling. I decided that what I truly value is being able to help people one-on-one to feel good about themselves. This, combined with my experience with faces led me to enrolling in the Esthetics program at Gary Manuel Aveda Institute in 2015. I found a true passion for skincare and hair removal, and the ways this career allows me to practice healing touch and real human connection. Compassion, empathy, touch and beauty are what I strive for every day.

What should I do to prepare for my appointment?

  • For hair removal appointments it is important that you follow a regular regimen of gentle exfoliation and moisturization. You should be exfoliating twice a week (for the body I love exfoliating gloves in the shower), and moisturizing daily. This will ensure that there is minimal hair breakage and will reduce the risk of ingrown hairs. Make sure to exfoliate the day before your appointment, not the same day.
  • Be sure to let me know if you are using retinols, retinoids, prescription topicals, steroids, antibiotics or any other products or medications that may affect your skin or hair, as well as any medical or cosmetic procedures you have had in the past month or so. Please discontinue retinol use at least a week before any hair removal appointments.
  • Medical conditions such as shingles, ringworm, cold sores or active herpes outbreaks also need to be disclosed for your safety and mine. If any of these conditions are present, I will likely ask you to leave and reschedule your appointment to a later date.

Hair removal aftercare

  • Before you leave Pussy Willow, book your follow-up appointment for 4-6 weeks later.
  • Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, highly fragranced lotions, exfoliating products, retinols, chemical peels, aggressive facial treatments, excessive friction, swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, oceans, rivers and saunas for 48 hours after a waxing service. This means if you are planning a beach vacation and need a brazilian wax, please come see me a day or two before your trip, not right before jumping on a plane.
  • After 48 hours please resume your normal exfoliation and moisturizing routine and as always, please use SPF 30 or higher all day, every day.

How long does hair removal last?

  • If you are consistent in your booking and come in every 4-6 weeks, your skin will be smooth and hairless for weeks at a time. Regular waxing helps establish a definite pattern in your hair growth cycles. The first few months we are training your hair to be on a consistent schedule and then from there on out it’s just easy maintenance.
  • If you are inconsistent in your waxing schedule, you may notice hair growth within a couple days of your waxing appointment, because your hair isn’t trained into a growth schedule. Regular waxing is less painful and more effective than just waiting until you’re going on vacation for a leg wax.