The V Lady

The V Lady was founded by Chrystia Bowen with the aim of rethinking the waxing experience. The business is at 1256 Sycamore Square in Midlothian, and it describes itself as Richmond's favorite Brazilian waxing spa and as a premier spa known for care, luxury service and education-focused client visits; those are its own claims. The stated goal is a comfortable, clean and enjoyable hair removal visit. Clients can call or text 804-625-8044.

A visit begins at the front desk, where clients check in. The provider then goes over personal information and the most recent service, if there was one, before treatment. The provider steps out so the client can undress in privacy, then returns to begin.

Waxing and sugaring are both offered for the Brazilian, bikini and underarm services. The Brazilian covers the front of the pubic bone, the outer genitals, the inner thighs and the area between the buttocks. Guests can remove all of the hair or keep a narrow strip or triangle at the front. The bikini service reaches roughly four finger widths out from the body's fold, staying within the line of the underwear, and does not include the full labia, the whole pubic bone or the area between the buttocks. Underarms are also offered. Sugaring presses a paste onto the skin against the way hair grows and lifts it away at the root, while waxing spreads warm wax in the direction of growth and removes the cooled strip against it. Brazilian appointments are booked for 30 to 45 minutes, bikini for 20 to 30 minutes and underarms for 30 minutes, although the hair removal itself takes less time than that.

The Maintenance Program has no membership fees, no monthly auto drafts and no commitment. Clients qualify by keeping a regular schedule of every 4 to 6 weeks, with 4 weeks recommended, and are enrolled automatically when they keep it. Members get exclusive pricing, a free monthly gift that can be a product or add-on service, and priority pre-booking. Online changes and cancellations are allowed up to 48 hours before a service, while changes within 48 hours carry a fee of half the scheduled service and must be communicated directly to Chrystia. Same-day cancellations and no-shows are charged the full service, and clients more than nine minutes late are rescheduled and charged the full no-show fee. The cancellation fee is waived in the case of a death in the family. An active card must be kept on file, and the accepted payments are Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Amex, with cash in exact change only. Checks, Venmo, PayPal and Zelle are not accepted. Open Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 7 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm.

Clients under 18 are welcome, but a parent or legal guardian must complete the consent forms and may need to be present. Only the person receiving a service may attend unless another guest is also booked, and small children are allowed only in a stroller or carrier or if they can sit quietly. A health history form is required for every appointment and service, and a general intake form is required for first-time guests and yearly or when information changes. Appointments outside regular hours or squeezed into a full schedule carry a fee of 50 percent of the requested services, paid as a non-refundable deposit and arranged directly with the business. The business also runs an online shop with free two-day shipping and no minimums.

The focus is on a comfortable, clean and enjoyable hair removal visit, with an education-first attitude toward clients.