Why "Women's" and "Men's" Waxing Categories Are No Longer the Right Approach
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Take a look at a typical waxing price list: "Women's Waxing – Legs," "Men's Waxing – Back." Sounds normal at first. But look a little closer, and this kind of categorization doesn't really hold up anymore — and I don't think it should stick around.
What "Women's" and "Men's" Are Actually Trying to Describe
These categories try to describe two things at once: which body area is being treated, and how coarse the hair growth typically is. The problem: gender doesn't reliably predict hair growth. There are women with coarse hair growth and men with fine hair. And there are non-binary and trans people who, faced with "Women's" or "Men's," first have to figure out which category is even meant for them — a question that shouldn't exist in the first place.
How I Do It Instead
At ovelyn.beauty, only what's actually relevant counts: light or coarse hair growth. Just book whatever matches your hair growth — done, with no detour through a gender category. Only for the intimate area, where anatomy actually matters for the technique, do I name it specifically: vulva anatomy or penis anatomy. More precise than "women's" or "men's" — and more honest.
A Quick Note on Treatwell
If you book me through Treatwell, you'll still come across "Women's" and "Men's Waxing" as categories there. That's not because I see it that way myself — it's because Treatwell, as a booking platform, requires this structure so treatments stay findable. I've already raised this with them directly and specifically pointed out the lack of inclusivity. Treatwell has taken this on board and said they'll look into it. Until that changes, I unfortunately don't have another option on the platform — but on my own website and in my studio, I work the way I've described above.
Why This Matters to Me
I believe language plays a part in deciding who feels welcome. A price list with only two categories signals: there are two boxes here, and you need to fit into one. For most people, that's a non-issue. For some, though, it's exactly the difference between "I belong here" and "I'm not sure." It matters to me that no one has to feel that uncertainty before even booking an appointment.
To me, this isn't a trend I'm following — it's simply how I think a studio should operate today.
In Short
"Women's" and "Men's" describe hair growth through gender — and that often just doesn't fit
What matters to me is how coarse the hair growth actually is, not your gender
Anatomical terms are used only where they're actually relevant to the treatment
On Treatwell, you'll still see the old categories due to the platform's structure — directly with me and in studio, that's not the case
The result: a price list where more people feel at home right from the start
Do you have any questions? Just message me on WhatsApp or Instagram—I'd be happy to answer them.