Stark Waxing Studio

I was somewhat late to the game in getting bikini waxed. I was afraid of the pain. But the Stark approach is great. It’s not hot-​stone massage relaxing, but it’s not painful. I even almost fell asleep once. I go to Liliya most of the time, but all of the gals I’ve worked with there have been great. The folks at the front desk are always welcoming and friendly.

Came here for a full Brazilian wax after finding a voucher on Gilt City and I had an awesome experience. The place is a bit difficult to find but once inside, it was great. Very clean and professional. I got my wax done by Katrina, who is very friendly and personable. She made me feel very at ease and comfortable the entire time. It’s pricey but I think it’s worth it.

Unfortunately I’m having to revise my review as my upper lip was burned yesterday by Katrina :(
AS an update:
Although my lip was burned yesterday, Stark has done a wonderful job following up with me to make sure I know how to treat my lip and extended a complimentary service. I’ve been very impressed with them.
I definitely think the burn was a fluke situation — Katrina is absolutely wonderful and experienced.
I still recommend this place, even if I will ask them to test the temperature before placing wax from here on out.

By far the best Brazilian wax I’ve had since moving to NYC.
I struggled for a while to find a good place that used hard wax when I stumbled upon Stark.
This place is clean and the service is phenomenal.
It’s a little expensive but you get what you pay for.

I went to see Liliya for a partial Brazilian, and she was wonderful. The waxing looks lovely, and she was very kind and professional.
This is my second experience with hard wax, and I was not happy with the first time, however my specialist in Austin recommended Stark Wax and this experience was great.
I highly recommend Liliya.

Best waxing experience I’ve had in the city hands down. Stacy the manger was great, and was able to squeeze me for an appointment the next day. Katrina was awesome! Really personable and an expert in waxing. 55 $ was a small price for a seem less partial Brazilian wax. I have found my new spot!

I came here for the first time yesterday and was amazed — Liliya did an absolutely splendid job. I am decently sensitive to pain and the eyebrow waxing was essentially pain free with both the wax and the tweezing. She apologized for keeping me waiting when I only waited for 4 minutes, and I was done in about 20 minutes after she took me back. She used essential oils on my eyebrows after and there was no redness. It is slightly expensive but well worth the price. I would go back in an instant, and plan on it in the future!

I am so disappointed with this place. Got a Brazilian and my legs waxed.
Back story: Started waxing due to ingrown hairs and dark spots from shaving. As my hair is a bit of curl, I need to get hard blue wax, which Stark uses. I had been going to their LA locations (Silverlake, Studio City, West Hollywood-​fave) for years. Now that I moved to NYC I tried their Chelsea location.
What went wrong–
1) The address. Why tell me one address (which is for La Perla!) on the phone when I actually have to enter the building next door that has a different address? Is this a NY thing?
2) The lady who waxed me did not hold my skin taut as she waxed and was pulling the wax off rather SLOWLY. Do you know how painful that is??? I actually had to ask her to do it faster. Never in my life have I had to do that.
3) She went over several areas of my bikini and legs at least 3 times. Getting hot wax poured over the same spot is awful.
4) In the beginning she tossed each stick after applying the wax. But when I looked later as she was waxing my legs, she started double– triple– quadrouple– dipping! Hope she threw that wax container out after me.
5) She seemed to be doing a thorough once over at the end but my lord, she was tweezing A LOT. I’m talking a good 15 minutes here. That says to me she didn’t do a good job of waxing in the first place. When I got home, I saw a ~1 inch round patch of hair by my knee cap and another 4 inch long x 1 inch wide hair patch on my front calf. God only knows how patchy my bumhole area looks. Yes, she even tweezed there, too!
I can’t remember the name of the person who waxed me… something like ‘Lily’. If I remember I will edit my review.
Now I have to go through the grueling, scary process of finding a new place to get waxed. :tears:

Went for the first time today. Had a great experience in the Silverlake location so I thought I would try in NYC. It was even better here. Katrina was incredible, hardly hurting at all, coaching breaths at key points, she was also super-​thorough with tweezers and cleaning up the wax. I am very picky and hate when estheticians leave little stubby hairs, that’s kind of what I pay someone for. This was also one of the few times I left a salon and didn’t have any bits of wax kicking around, she was really thorough cleaning up. The absolute best part about it, though, was the attitude there. The receptionist was kind, and Katrina was a real people-​person. I felt like I knew her for ten years, so sweet and chatty, she has a gift, that woman.

I started coming here several years ago, and now refuse to go anywhere else. I would rather have crazy eyebrows and wait until my appointment than try any other place. Cerena (sp?) is the sweetest girl, who remembers everything about me and my life, even when I haven’t seen her in months. She also remembers exactly how I want my brows done and my Brazilian done… she’s a very astute listener, which is key. The wax itself is painless, which makes the $ 70 price tag well worth it (would you pay the same for pain-​full? Well maybe you would, but this is no s&m establishment). The ambiance is very calm, no overly potent smells, no silly techno music, just peace and cleanliness. Everyone who works here is polite and welcoming, and I love that they have never tried to up-​sell me or persuade me to buy any products. I did actually buy the papaya ointment for in-​growns, which they suggested only when I asked about it, and you can even get it on amazon for cheap.
Be sure to bring some powder with you; after you get your brows done, you look like a freshly plucked chicken, and there’s no makeup bar for touch-​ups.

Hands down the best Brazilian wax ever. I used to live in the neighborhood but still go there even though I’m in the East Village now. I used to be very loyal to Bliss but their service was so all over the place, not all technicians are the same. Stark’s prices are actually just a little bit lower than Bliss’s which is always a plus.
Stark is so relaxing and zen-​like. My usual technician is Lilya, who is beyond amazing! She’s so quick and thorough, even using tweezers. She’s also so sweet and friendly, really puts me at ease. I’ve also seen Serena who is just as fantastic.
And the wax they use is the best, very gentle on my sensitive skin. I can go on with my day after, and never have irritation.
The only downside is that you must have cash for tip, but the rest of the experience so makes up for it, so five stars!

Rarely will I say this: This place is worth the extra expense. Painless, quick, careful, and extremely friendly.

Super clean, essentially painless, friendly… I don’t dread going.
Yes, it is pricey, but in my opinion totally worth it.

This place is pricey pricey but if that’s not an issue there is no where better in NYC. Easy, beautiful, clean, fast.

Extremely clean, very professional and diligent waxers. Classy and upscale– but not pretentious. A lovely surprise. Makes me want to get waxed– you know what a feat that is!

Amazing wax by Cerina. I don’t take time to write reviews but you have to give credit when due! I’ve been twice to Cerina and have had literally the BEST wax experience and result. It’s much less painful and Cerina makes sure to get every last hair. I highly recommend!

Liliya is AMAZING! Seriously you will get the best Brazilian of your life under her expert care! I simply cannot say enough about her fastidiousness, professional disposition and delightful sense of humor. She will wax and tweeze every last hair (as she charmingly declared the first time I came here, «I hate hair!») in the most efficient and expert manner imaginable, using a combination of hot and cold (according to your hair type) French wax followed by Stark’s own proprietary calming treatment. She will take her time to ensure the most complete and virtually painless waxing experience with an exactitude that you rarely encounter in other salons. In addition she will dispense invaluable post-​waxing treatment and upkeep advice (dry loofah exfoliation and/​or Bliss ingrown eliminating pads). And the best part is this waxing lasts and lasts, in fact in my experience it lasts longer than any other previous waxing.
Stark Waxing Studio which originated in LA is simply the best waxing establishment ever! I first tried came here armed with a Gilt coupon for a full Brazilian a little more than a year ago and had such a wonderful experience that I now refuse to get waxed anywhere else. Stark in Meatpacking lured me away from J. Sisters. I totally look forward to my regular appointments at Stark Waxing Studio with Liliya. Everyone at the front desk is unfailingly polite and gracious. In addition the beautiful white décor evokes such a lovely sense of calm, Stark provides a welcome respite from the urban jungle outside. Waxing services are on the pricier end and absolutely worth it.

I’m so so happy I found this place! It’s clean and a really relaxed atmosphere.
I got waxed by Cerina and she is amazing! the best brazillian I have ever had. She is so thorough and it’s the first wax I’ve ever had where I still had my dignity when I left– I didn’t have to get on all 4’s! I’ve never been made to feel so at ease.
Totally recommend this place!

This place is pretty out of the way for me, but I keep coming back because Lura and co do an awesome job!
First off, the girls at the front desk are much more friendly and helpful than what I’m used to in New York. Whenever I’ve been a few minutes late (which is more than I’d like to admit), the front desk has always been gracious and accommodating.
We all know that bikini waxes can be incredibly awkward. But Lura is so easygoing and fun to talk to, that she makes a potentially awkward experience a lot less uncomfortable. Everything else is great as well — I’m a HUGE fan of the wax & after wax essential oils they use.
In terms of price, they charge you within a range (based on how much you get taken off), which I really appreciate. I don’t think it makes sense for everyone to get charged the same amount if they are not getting the same type of Brazilian!
Like a few other reviewers, I almost didn’t want to write such a positive review because I don’t want Lura to start getting overly booked up, but I love them so much I just had to!

Stark was definitely one of the best waxing experiences I have encountered. Lura was very chill and knew what she was doing. She put me at ease and was very efficient, even using tweezers! She’s very easy to talk to. Also, unlike any experience I’ve had before, I was not uncomfortable after getting the waxing; I could have a normal afternoon.
The look, as other Unilocalers have mentioned, is very minimalist and sleek. Simple and superb.