At some point, usually without warning, your ears start growing hair. Your eyebrows decide to reach for each other across the bridge of your nose. And something is going on in your nostrils that you would rather not discuss.
Welcome. You are in good company. This is the guide to fixing all of it in about the time it takes to read this post.
What we offer, exactly
Our Williamsville shop offers brow, ear and nose waxing. It can be added to any appointment — a Classic, a Classic & Beard, a shave, whatever you are already in for. It is offered at the Williamsville shop only, at 6100 Main St. Our Tonawanda shop does not do waxing.
The site describes it as finishing the detail work, which is a polite way of saying: your haircut is sharp, your beard is shaped and then there is a tuft of hair sticking out of your ear. Waxing takes care of the tuft.
Pricing for waxing is not posted on the website. You will see the rate when you book online, or you can ask when you call.
Brows
What it is
Not shaping your eyebrows into anything dramatic. For most men, brow waxing means three things: clearing the hair between the brows, tidying the strays underneath, and leaving the shape you were born with. If anyone can tell you had it done, it was done wrong.
Why bother
Because a clean space between the brows makes your whole face look more awake and less stern. It is the single detail people notice without being able to say what they noticed.
What to ask for
“Clean between them and the strays underneath. Keep it natural.” That is the whole brief.
Ears
What it is
Removing the hair on the outer ear — the rim, the lobes and the visible bits around the opening. Not inside the ear canal.
Why bother
Ear hair is one of those things you cannot see in a mirror and everyone else can see perfectly. The person sitting next to you on a flight knows. Your barber knows.
Does it hurt?
Briefly. Less than you would expect, and less than you are imagining right now.
Nose
What it is
Removing the hair at the front of the nostrils — the part that is visible. Not the whole nose. Nose hair has a job (filtering what you breathe), and waxing only deals with what shows.
Why bother
Because trimming nose hair with scissors at home is a slightly risky activity that does not last very long. Waxing lasts longer.
Does it hurt?
It is the one that makes your eyes water. For about two seconds. Then it is over and you feel oddly accomplished.
Brow mistakes to avoid
Men’s brow waxing goes wrong in a few predictable ways. Here is what to steer clear of, wherever you go:
- Too thin. Men’s brows look best full. Thin, arched brows look overdone on most faces.
- Too much off the top. The top line of the brow should almost always be left alone.
- A gap that is too wide. Clearing between the brows is good. Clearing so much that they start halfway along your eye looks strange.
- Mismatched sides. Brows are sisters, not twins — but they should be close relatives.
The best men’s brow wax is the one nobody notices you had.
How long does it last?
Waxing pulls the hair out from the root rather than cutting it at the surface, so it lasts longer than trimming. Exactly how long depends on how fast your hair grows. Plenty of people find adding it to every haircut, or every other haircut, keeps everything under control without thinking about it.
Who should not wax, or should ask first
Waxing is not for everyone at every moment. Mention it before you start if any of these apply:
- You use retinoid creams or other strong skin treatments on your face. They can make skin more fragile.
- You have a cut, rash, sunburn or irritation where the wax would go.
- You have had a bad reaction to waxing before.
- You are on medication that affects your skin. If you are not sure, ask your doctor first.
Waxing is a licensed service in New York, too. The Department of State’s appearance enhancement licensing page lists waxing as its own license type, separate from barbering, if you want to read how the state handles it.
What actually happens, step by step
- Your barber checks the area and asks about your skin.
- The skin is cleaned so the wax grips the hair, not oil or product.
- Warm wax goes on in the direction the hair grows, in a small, controlled area.
- It comes off quickly, against the direction of growth. That is the bit you feel.
- Strays get tidied, and something soothing goes on the skin.
For brows, ears and nose together, it adds just a few minutes to your appointment.
Waxing vs. trimming vs. ignoring it
- Ignoring it: free, and everyone notices.
- Trimming at home: cheap, quick, does not last, and nose scissors are an act of faith.
- Waxing: a couple of minutes added to an appointment, lasts longer, and someone else deals with it.
We are not going to pretend waxing is the only answer. But if you are already in the chair for a haircut, it is the easiest one.
What to do after
- Do not touch it. Freshly waxed skin is a little sensitive for a while. Leave it alone.
- Skip harsh products on the area for the rest of the day.
- A little redness is normal and usually fades quickly. If it does not, or you get bumps, mention it next time — and if it is painful or looks infected, check with a doctor.
How often, area by area
- Brows: the space between the brows is usually the first to come back. Adding a brow wax every haircut or every other haircut keeps it tidy.
- Ears: often slower. Many people only need it every other haircut, or less.
- Nose: varies a lot from person to person. Add it when the visible hairs return.
There is no rule that you have to do all three at once. Plenty of people only ever wax one area.
The full pre-event grooming checklist
Got a wedding, an interview or photos coming up? Here is how to stack it in one visit at the Williamsville shop, a day or two before:
- Haircut: a Classic, so the outline is razor-sharp.
- Beard: Classic & Beard if you have one, or a Hot Towel Shave if you want to be clean-shaven.
- Waxing: brows, ears and nose — whichever you need.
- Book it a day or two ahead so any redness settles before the big day.
How to add it to your appointment
When you book online, choose the Williamsville shop and add waxing to your haircut. Or call 716-389-0192 and ask. If you forgot to add it, mention it when you sit down. It is not a big deal.
Because waxing is Williamsville-only, if you usually go to our Tonawanda shop, you will need to book this one on Main Street. The haircut menu is the same at both, and so is the standard: clippers, scissors, edger and straight razor on every Classic.
Things people ask in the chair
- “Will it grow back thicker?” No. Waxing does not make hair grow back thicker or darker.
- “Can I just do the nose?” Of course. Any one area on its own is fine.
- “Will people be able to tell?” Done right, people will notice you look sharper without knowing why.
- “Is it only for older guys?” No. Brow waxing in particular is popular with men of every age.
The Williamsville shop
6100 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221. Open Tuesday through Friday 9AM to 6PM, Saturday 8AM to noon. Closed Sunday and Monday. Four barbers: Jon Palmeri (owner and master barber), Dave Scolla (master barber), and Michael Falzone and Bryan Castronova (licensed New York State barbers).
The short version
Brows: clean between them, keep the shape. Ears: the outside only. Nose: just what shows. Add it to your next haircut in Williamsville, and you will never have to think about that tuft again — at least until the next appointment. For the rest of the menu, see the services page, and for everything else about the shop, read our Williamsville barber guide.
A final word to the nervous
Almost everyone who books waxing for the first time is a little embarrassed about it, and almost everyone wonders afterward why they waited. Barbers deal with ear and nose hair every single day. There is nothing about your ears that will surprise anyone in this shop, and nobody will make a thing of it.
If you are still not sure, start with the brows. It is the least dramatic of the three and the one people notice most. If you like the result, add the ears next time. Work up to the nose when you are feeling brave.
And if you just want to ask a question before you book — whether it suits your skin, how long it takes, what it costs — call 716-389-0192 during opening hours. Ask for the Williamsville shop. That conversation is free, and there is no such thing as a stupid question about ear hair.
