We're going to be honest with you: some of our estheticians came to The Bare Witch after working at large waxing chains. Not because they couldn't hack it. Because they were tired of what chain waxing had become.
We asked a few of them what made them make the switch. Here's what they told us.
"I wanted to actually know my clients"
At a high-volume waxing chain, the model is built on throughput. You have a time slot, you have a room, and the goal is to get the next person in as quickly as possible. That's good for the franchise's bottom line. It's not great for the client who has a skin sensitivity you didn't know about, or the first-timer who is genuinely nervous and just needs someone to take a breath with them.
Our estheticians came here because The Bare Witch is built around relationships. We track your skin, your preferences, your last appointment. We remember that you react to certain wax formulas and that you prefer the lights dimmed. The experience is personal because we make it personal.
"I wanted to be able to serve everyone"
This one came up more than once. At many chain salons, the unwritten rules around who gets served, and how, create friction for estheticians who genuinely want to help every person who walks through the door. Men getting turned away for body waxing. Trans clients getting awkward looks or incorrect pronoun usage. Non-binary guests not knowing what box to check on the intake form.
The Bare Witch was built by Nitasha Cook specifically because she watched this happen for twelve years and decided to do something about it. When our staff say the inclusive environment is real, they mean it. They left places where it wasn't to come here.
"The products are actually better"
Hard wax chemistry matters. Organic aftercare matters. At The Bare Witch we use professional-grade wax and organic skincare products designed for post-wax skin, not the cheapest option that still qualifies as acceptable. Our estheticians take pride in the quality of what they're working with, and clients can feel the difference.
"I wanted to work somewhere that matched my values"
This might be the one that says the most. When you leave a steady franchise job for an independent salon, you're making a choice about what kind of work you want to do and what kind of environment you want to be part of. Our staff chose The Bare Witch deliberately. That kind of intentionality shows up in every appointment they take.
What this means for you as a client
When your waxer chose to be here, when they walked away from a chain to work at a salon that aligns with their values, you get someone who genuinely loves their craft and their clients. That's not a marketing line. It shows up in every appointment.
If you've been going to a chain and something's always felt a little off, a little rushed, a little impersonal, a little like you weren't quite the right kind of client, we'd love to show you what waxing can actually be. Book with the Coven and find out for yourself.
