Waxing for Young Girls? Franchise's Promotion Draws Heat

Uni K Wax Centers undoubtedly waxed numerous eyebrows this week -- and definitely a few with its promotion offering half all waxing services for girls age 15 and younger.

The Florida-based franchise, offers face and body waxing services in New York and home state, didn’t need to flat state that the offer includes bikini waxes. The company marketed the sale a photo of a bikini-clad ‘tweenish girl jumping in air and call to celebrate freedom and independence all month.

During July, the ad says, girls 15 younger “can enjoy first waxing experience and find it natural, safe and pleasant.” Parental signature required, the fine print notes.

Some folks found the promotion and the idea of waxes young teen and preteen girls inappropriate.

“So this salon wants to wax girls age 15. Um…… REALLY? FACEPALM,” reads tweet from Washington, D.C., radio station HOT 99.5.

“Appalling. This calls a girlcott,” tweeted Janine Iamunno of Astoria, NY.

Another Twitter user, Quin Acciani of New York, posted that she was “more than a disturbed that Uni K Wax just sent me e-mail: ‘50% off waxing services for girls 15!’”

And bourgiebynature tweeted that she is “ bothered by this.”

While Uni K didn’t immediately respond an e-mail requesting comment Friday, the company did post a lengthy item its blog on July 4, waxing positive the advantages of waxing for girls and marketing sale.

“ should we focus on all of the negative stuff there are so many positive things that can come getting waxed?” the company asks. From Uni K’s vantage , waxing for preteen girls almost sounds a parental imperative.

“ many mothers don’t know that girls are going for wax treatments younger before, mostly for removing hair on their lower legs, upper lip and eyebrows. parents, we all look around and see that girls maturing at an earlier ; our daughters and granddaughters at 11 look like we did 14 and 15," the post says. "So it is job as parents and mothers to guide them through the changes their bodies.”

The blog quotes Uni K founder Noemi Grupenmager, notes that some girls develop earlier than peers and other children can cruel.

“The prevention of bullying in schools has center stage and waxing can be used to help. There is reason for a young girl to feel embarrassed PE or in the pool,” she says.


Adapted from: entrepreneur.com, July 6, 2012.