Waxing Bye Felicia opens in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch’s Felicia Michaels decided to do body building eight years ago to lose maternity weight and ended up losing 40 pounds. She worked out six days a week and did two competitions in six months. On top of working out, another thing she needed to do to prepare was take care of another thing to be successful: her hair.  

“When I was doing it, I didn't want to get spray tanned and look orange,” Michaels said. “I knew that shaving caused irritation and bumps and I wanted it to be a nice flat surface for tanning.” 

Waxing Bye Felicia, a new business in Lakewood Ranch, opened on Sept. 22. Michaels is the owner and only employee of the business and she moved to Lakewood Ranch in April. 

Michaels said waxing is better and more efficient than shaving as it lasts longer. She said it provides clients an opportunity to be more "cleanse friendly" especially in the Florida heat. She said hair can hold on to moisture and dirt. 

Prior to opening her own business, Michaels worked out of Nicholas Nails in Spring Hill for two years. 

Michaels said each waxing experience is different because some clients will fall asleep, while others may scream the whole time. 

“I like to make my customers feel welcome and loved and just comfortable,” Michaels said. “I don't want you to come in and be all nervous. I want you to have fun. They can talk their heads off about anything and everything.”

Spring Hill resident Stephen Williams was a client of Michaels until she relocated to Lakewood Ranch. Williams had bounced around to a few different places before finding Waxing Bye Felicia. 

Williams said Michaels is very self-sufficient and provided better services than other waxers. Williams said that the combination of the service and her personality made her stick out.

Williams said when in the wax industry, being an “uptight nurse Betty” doesn’t work. He said you have to set up an atmosphere similar to a hair salon with no topics off limits to talk about. 

Photo by Madison Bierl

“That was Felicia, someone you met and instantly felt like you’ve known for 10 plus years, sharing each of your secrets and problems and whatever is going on in your life.” 

Stacey Oaster is another one of the clients from Spring Hill, about 90 miles to the north. Oaster drove nearly two hours in order to be a client for opening day and she said she plans to continue. 

When Oaster first visited Waxing Bye Felicia, she had never been waxed before. She said Michaels instantly provided a sense of comfort.  

"She'll hold your hand and she'll walk you through every step of what she's going to do, and that's important," Oaster said. 

Michaels wanted her name to stick out and was inspired by the 1995 film "Friday," where one of the characters says “Bye Felicia!” Since the release it has also become an ongoing joke on the internet. 

“It just stuck, everybody loves it,” Michaels said.

Michaels said it is important to consider what sort of wax is used, especially on sensitive skin. She recalled a past experience when she got her eyebrows waxed and her face was red and swelled for three days. She said she was embarrassed and wore sunglasses to hide it. 

“My wax doesn't do that, it is gentle,” Michaels said. “Any of the facial waxes or the intimate areas I use the Coco Nuts (an Australian wax brand) because it only attaches to the hairs and not the skin. I'm not going to rip your skin where it's going to lead to scars or wrinkles.”

Michaels will be open Monday through Saturday by appointment.