HISTORY OF PARISSA
3 min read
For 40 years Parissa has been reinventing how we wax. As a global leader in natural wax, this female-founded, family-run company has been providing Canada and the entire world with the most luxurious at-home waxing experience possible. From Organic Sugar Wax and Hot Wax made with nourishing beeswax to the first-ever ready-to-use Wax Strips on the market in North America, Parissa has been revolutionizing the at-home hair removal industry - one hair at a time.
How Parissa Started - Our Story
Azar Moayeri, the founder of Parissa, was the first female Chemical Engineer to graduate from the University of Edinburgh. After this rare accomplishment, she returned to her native country of Iran to work as a Senior Project Manager at the National Petrochemical Company. Azar climbed that ladder of success in an otherwise male-dominated industry - reaching positions previously reserved for men many years her senior.
The sky seemed the limit until political turmoil caused Azar to leave Iran with her husband and two children. The family arrived in Vancouver, Canada in 1981 in search of a new life for themselves.
Upon their arrival, Azar found that the only hair removal products available were chemical-based lotions, bleaches and creams. Despite her best efforts to find effective natural alternatives on the market, she came up empty-handed. From her home kitchen, Azar began to formulate Canada’s first all-natural hair removal product and found her new calling. The whole family got involved with this new home-based venture and Parissa was born. Success in local shops spurred interest in other stores across Canada, and then the world!
Parissa continues to manufacture, package and ship products from its award-winning eco-facility on the beautiful north shore of Vancouver. After 40 years in business and international success, Parissa remains a family affair to this day. Azar is still at the helm alongside her children and an extended family of employees, suppliers, and loyal customers!
About Us – Our Values
The Parissa Brand is always striving to make the lowest impact on the earth’s resources. Our products are made with only sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients and packaging. The materials in our packaging are easily recyclable and sustainably harvested, adhering to guidelines from Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
Parissa is a proud member of The Leaping Bunny Program, a program that administers a cruelty-free standard for companies producing cosmetic, personal care and household products. No animal testing is used in any phase of product development by Parissa, our laboratories, or our suppliers.
Our waxes are made from simple ingredients like tree resin, cane sugar, beeswax, vegetable oils and plant extracts. When you choose Parissa, you can feel confident that the products you choose are safe, gentle and from natural, sustainable sources. Don’t worry, we only use the good stuff!
Over the 40 Years – the Parissa Journey
Throughout the last 40 years, we have experienced many milestones, including expansion into the United States, the United Kingdom, Korea, China, Australia and more! We have won awards for our packaging design, the quality of our products and for our efforts in sustainability and global responsibility. Above all though, we are proud of the innovative products that we have launched to help YOU with your at-home hair removal endeavours. From the Organic Roll-On Sugar Wax and the Brow Waxing Pen to our Wax Strips and the Mini Pro Wax Warmer, we strive to provide our customers with leading at-home hair removal products unlike anything else on the market.
So much has happened for Parissa over the past 40 years, and we are so happy that you, our wonderful customers, have been with us on this journey. Here’s to the next 40!
WHY YOU SHOULD EXFOLIATE
5 min read
Every 30 days or so, your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells to make way for the new cells which will form the top layer of your skin. If those dead cells don’t shed on their own, you are left with dry, dull and flaky skin. When you exfoliate, you are helping your skin to reach its softest and smoothest potential by speeding up the process and removing your dead skin cells manually.
It’s important for you to find the right exfoliation regimen for your own skin care routine, so as to remove dead cells without stripping away too much of your skin’s natural oils.
7 Reasons To Regularly Exfoliate:
- REMOVE DEAD SKIN CELLS AND INCREASES CELL TURNOVER:
When too many dead skin cells build up, your skin will start to look dull and rough. Your body naturally sheds these dead cells to make room for newer, fresher skin, but sometimes the dead skin cells that should be leaving your body linger. Exfoliation helps to clear away these dull dead cells to make room for your beautiful healthy skin to shine! - UNCLOG PORES AND PREVENT ACNE:
Unfortunately, shrinking your pores is not an option, but you can prevent your pores from getting any larger! When dead cells are left on your skin, they combine with the natural oils of your body, becoming sticky and attracting any and all types of dirt and debris. As your pores fill with guck, blackheads are developed, causing your pores to become larger and more visible.
Not only do your dead skin cells attract dirt but they are bacteria's best friend! Bacteria feed on dead skin cells which results in pimples. Pimples spread more bacteria which feed on more dead skin cells, creating more blemishes, and the cycle continues. This is the number one reason for people with acne to exfoliate. Finding the right exfoliation regimen can stop those problematic dead skin cells from wreaking havoc on your skin! - PREVENT DARK SPOTS AND BLEMISHES:
Exfoliants can smooth the texture of your skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, scarring and rough textures. Using the right method of exfoliation will help brighten and even out your skin tone. Your skin will become clearer and more uniform over time!
- ANTI-AGING:
The thicker the layer of dead skin gets on your body, the more dull and dead the surface of your skin will appear. Dead skin has less elasticity than healthy skin, meaning your skin won't bounce back the way it once did, resulting in wrinkles! You can help your skin keep that younger look for longer by getting those pesky dead skin cells out of the way and making room for new skin cells to shine. Sticking to the right exfoliation regimen, in the long run, will increase collagen production, which is the secret to healthy, nourished, and vibrant skin!
- IMPROVE BLOOD CIRCULATION:
As an added bonus, exfoliation aids in lymphatic drainage and gets your blood flowing. Oxygen-rich blood rushes to the surface of your skin, detoxifying as it feeds and nourishes your cells, for a little cleanse from the inside out!
- HELP SKINCARE PRODUCTS PENETRATE DEEPER:
Even if you spend all of your money on the best skincare products out there, you will see little to no improvement in your skin if you don’t exfoliate first! Dead skin cell build-up creates a barrier on the surface of your skin that keeps everything out. The thicker the layer of dead skin, the less your products will be able to penetrate. Exfoliating dead skin cells will give products better access to your healthy new cells, so they can work their magic!
- PREVENT INGROWN HAIRS:
Ingrown hairs are those tiny, irritating red bumps that can appear on your skin after waxing, shaving or any other type of hair removal. As your new hair grows, dead skin cells can block the opening of your hair follicle, trapping the hair under the surface of your skin. As the hair curls in on itself, it causes inflammation, resulting in those unseemly red dots!
Exfoliation removes dry skin, preventing skin cells from forming and blocking your pores, improving cell regeneration for newer, softer skin, so your hair can grow easily.
Exfoliation Regimen And Skin Types:
There is no one size fits all exfoliation regimen, as not all skin types are the same! Finding the right technique for your skin will produce the best results while minimizing the risk of damage or irritation.
People with “normal” skin usually find that they can use any exfoliation technique or product without experiencing unfortunate side effects. However, if you have more sensitive skin, you will want to stay away from more aggressive forms of exfoliation and find a gentle option that won’t cause you irritation. We recommend exfoliating twice weekly, though people with oily skin types may be able to exfoliate more often.
How To Exfoliate - Physical And Chemical Tools:
There is more than one way to exfoliate your skin and finding the right solution for you is important for achieving the best results!
- PHYSICAL EXFOLIANT:
Any method of exfoliation that involves manual scrubbing is known as physical exfoliation. Using a physical exfoliant, such as the Parissa Konjac Sponge twice a week, is incredibly simple and easy to do at home, providing immediate results.
- CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT:
This method of exfoliation uses different chemicals, including hydroxy acids and retinol to renew your skin. As with all forms of exfoliation, if not done correctly, chemical exfoliants can irritate or damage your skin. Contact a dermatologist or healthcare professional if you are unsure how to incorporate chemical products into your beauty routine.
Avoid exfoliating when you have cuts, open wounds, or sunburns on your skin, and always remember to use a gentle moisturizer, such as the Parissa Ultra Soothe Oil after exfoliation to replenish and restore with essential oils.
Features Of The Parissa Ingrown Rescue Kit:
The Parissa Ingrown Rescue Kit has all the essentials you need to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize. A complete kit that contains Parissa’s Exfoliating Konjac Sponge, made with finely ground walnut shells for 8x the exfoliation of a regular sponge, the Parissa Tea Tree Soap, a lightweight lather to rinse away impurities, and the Parissa Ultra Soothe Oil, the perfect blend of essential oils to soothe and moisturize while encouraging new cell generation, for a softer feeling and fresher looking skin.
Our proven three-step routine effectively treats and prevents ingrown hair at the root by preventing skin cells from forming and blocking your pores, improves blood circulation, increases cell turnover, and prevents acne and other skin problems by removing dry skin while emollients in our Ultra Soothe Oil soften and moisturize to prevent dry skin from forming in the first place!
THE HISTORY OF HAIR REMOVAL
3 min read
This may be shocking, but hair removal is not a modern trend. The earliest documentation of hair removal dates all the way back to 3000 BC! For centuries, people have relied on some rather creative methods to get rid of unwanted body hair. Nowadays hair removal is as simple as a trip to the salon, or, even more conveniently, at-home waxing!
Let’s take a deeper look at the history of hair removal, from ancient civilizations to today!
Timeline:
ANCIENT EGYPT
In Ancient Egypt, both men and women removed their body hair - including the hair on top of their heads! Following the trend set by Cleopatra, all body hair was removed using seashell tweezers, pumice stones, beeswax or, a common natural hair removal method that is still used today, Sugar Wax!
ROMAN EMPIRE
As body hair was considered uncivilized and lower caste, upper-class Romans removed their body hair with razors, tweezers, stones and DIY creams. This societal view on body hair can be seen in Ancient Roman art, as the gods were always depicted hairless everywhere but the tops of their heads!
MIDDLE AGES
Queen Elizabeth I was a fashion icon, setting the beauty standard for all to follow at the time of her reign. While Elizabeth removed hair from her face (including her eyebrows) she did not remove hair from her body. Women of the time followed suit! While their bodies remained au naturel, women removed all facial hair using strips of cloth soaked in ammonia and vinegar or by manually scrubbing the hair away with pieces of walnut shells. Do not try this at home!
19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY
In 1844 Poudre Subtile, the first hair removal cream, appeared on the market! Though the product was effective it contained ingredients such as quicklime (a highly caustic chemical compound) and arsenic (which is both toxic and carcinogenic)!
The first modern razor was invented exclusively for men in the 1880s, but with the rise in popularity of sleeveless dresses at the turn of the century, it became en vogue for women to shave their armpits. As a result, the first female razor made an appearance in 1915.
1940S TO 1960S
The electric razor for women was created in the wake of World War II, as a nylon shortage left women of the 1940s bare-legged and searching for new and effective hair removal solutions.
By the 1960s, wax strips were widely accessible and became the go-to method for body hair removal as miniskirts and bikinis grew in popularity!
1970S TO 1980S
The rise of “Short Shorts” in the 1970s pushed chemical hair removal creams, as we know them today, into the cultural consciousness.
Societal expectations for women to remove their body hair continued to increase as fashion became more daring and women’s clothing continued to decrease. In the 1980s, however, the fitness craze suddenly gave men a reason to get involved in the hair removal process, too!
1990S TO TODAY
While men were only just getting started, women were getting braver and going barer than ever before! By the start of the 1990s, The J. Sisters Salon in Manhattan had popularized the Brazilian wax amongst their New York clientele. This hair-free waxing style from the beaches of Brazil left women with little to no hair “down there”.
The style took on a whole new cultural relevance when Carrie Bradshaw, the lead character in the HBO series Sex and the City, confidently lifted her feet (designer heels and all) to receive a Brazilian wax in one episode's opening scene. Having made its mark in pop-culture history, The Brazilian Wax is seemingly here to stay, as this style remains hugely popular some 20-odd years after the airing of that episode!
WAXING TODAY
Though hair removal and grooming have vastly changed over time, the need for effective hair removal methods has always been prevalent. People are still choosing to remove hair from their arms, legs, chests, backs, bikini area, and everywhere else!
Throughout history, some wild and dangerous methods have been used to remove body hair. As waxing has evolved, the demand is rising for safe, natural and non-toxic products.
Whether waxing at home or in a salon it is important to know what you are putting onto your body. At Parissa we are highlighting transparency and saying “no” to synthetic materials and harmful chemicals in our hair removal products. That is why all Parissa products are natural, ethically sourced and cruelty-free - we aren’t living in the Middle Ages anymore!
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