Welcome to the world of Perfection by Elena, a Brazilian waxing studio in Cary, NC. Founded and operated by Elena Zendzian, a licensed esthetician, this studio offers more than just waxing services – it’s a testament to personal dedication and professional excellence.
What sets Perfection By Elena apart is her ability to reduce the pain and discomfort typically involved when receiving a Brazilian. With more than a decade of experience, Elena has developed a method for giving a Brazilian that goes much faster than the standard technique. She has also studied and experimented with many different waxes, and now uses only the highest quality wax that comes from a lab in Italy. By using her own technique and a superior wax, Elena is able to make the process of receiving a Brazilian fairly painless and much more comfortable.
When asked to describe her studio’s services, Elana replied, “My specialty is Brazilians. Most people are scared to get a Brazilian. I really do everything I can to make my clients feel comfortable. In fact, clients tell me all the time that the experience was way less painful than they thought it would be, and they felt at ease during the experience. That’s really important to me – making sure they’re comfortable and that the experience isn’t as daunting as they might expect.”
Located at 301 Kilmayne Drive, Perfection By Elena offers hair removal waxing services for both men and women. And, yes, men too can get a Brazilian. The studio itself is designed to provide a safe, private, and an ultra-clean environment. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned visitor, the thoughtful studio environment and Elena’s expertise ensure a pleasant and effective waxing experience.
Recently we had the chance to sit down with Elena and learn more about her background. We talked about her journey from Siberia to Cary, NC, how she overcame the challenges of immigrating to a new country, and why she chose to build a career in waxing.
Q&A With Elena Zendzian, Owner of Perfection By Elena in Cary, NC
WL: Tell us about your family.
I’m currently not married. I have a daughter, Yana, who’s grown now. And, I have two fur babies. One is a toy poodle named Charlie, and my newest is a miniature schnauzer named Ollie.
WL: Tell us about Ollie.
We just got him recently. He’s 10 months old. He’s so sweet and loving to me. Like he just chose me right away. And, every move he does, he looks at me like, “Did I do the right thing?” He’s just so cute, and he has beautiful blue eyes. He follows me everywhere I go. I love him to death.
WL: Tell us about your journey from Siberia to Cary, NC?
It’s quite a story, actually. So, let’s see… always from my childhood years, I was dreaming about leaving for the United States. It’s such a cliché, I know, but the U.S. really is the land of opportunity and freedom. Sounds cheesy, but it’s incredibly true.
Since I was 14 I wanted to leave Siberia. I remember visiting my aunt and cousins in Vladivostok, a port city in the far east of Russia. There, I observed the many sailors who traveled to places like Japan and Los Angeles. They would bring back all these vibrant items – colorful chewing gum, bright paints, pencils, books, and t-shirts. Everything just seemed to glow, you know? It felt like there was a bright, exciting world out there, and I just didn’t want to be in Siberia.
So, I asked myself, “How do I go with these sailors?” The only women on the ships were cooks, so I decided that I’d be a cook. But, of course, it wasn’t that simple. I was young and quite small, and the idea of handling huge pots on a ship seemed impossible to others. But I was determined. There was this one college in the entire Soviet Union that trained cooks for international ships, and I set my heart on attending it. I even cut out the advertisement for the school from a newspaper and showed it to my parents, declaring my dream.
But, by the time I finished high school, I realized that maybe it was a bit too crazy to just jump onto a ship. I was older, perhaps a bit wiser, and the idea seemed too far-fetched. So, I went to college, got a degree in education, and started working. Still, the dream of leaving the country lingered.
Teaching didn’t pay much, so I eventually started my own staffing service, an agency to help people find nannies, housekeepers, drivers, cooks, and home health workers. It was successful, I even sold it later, and it’s still running today. But throughout all this, the United States was still on my mind. It was tough, though. You can’t just move to the U.S.; you need a legal reason like employment, marriage, or political asylum.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Next to my office was a marriage agency, known for matching American men with Russian women. And no, I didn’t get matched through them. But I was friends with the owner, and once she needed a place for one of the American gentlemen to stay. Since I had an apartment nearby, I rented it out to him while my daughter and I stayed with my parents.
The American was there to meet a Russian woman, but things didn’t work out. The owner of the agency then introduced him to me, and well, we hit it off. A couple of months later, I was on a plane to the U.S. on a three-month visa. And guess what? It worked out! We got married, and that’s how I ended up in Cary, North Carolina.
WL: What was it like when you arrived in the United States?
It was quite an experience. You see, I already had some vocabulary when I got here. I could read and understand a lot, especially the everyday stuff, you know? But, oh boy, when I started talking, that was a whole different story.
I had this really thick accent. And I mean thick. It was really bad. Imagine trying to blend into a new place, and every time you open your mouth, your accent just lays it all out there, that you’re not from around. Conversations sometimes turned into a bit of a challenge, not because I didn’t know what to say, but how to say it in a way that sounded… well, more ‘local’, if you get what I mean.
It’s funny now when I think about it, but back then, it was a mix of amusing and slightly intimidating. Trying to fit in, trying to make sure I’m understood, it was all part of this big adventure of starting a new life in a new country. But yeah, that accent of mine sure did make things interesting in those early days!
WL: How did you get into the waxing business?
After moving to the U.S., I was trying to figure out what profession I could get into with my overseas education. I had to consider the language barrier, my accent, and financial limitations. I couldn’t pursue certain careers like being a surgery technician or flying airplanes because of my accent. It was actually quite a hurdle. Funny story, I even tried to get a job with the railroad at one point, and they turned me down saying, “We cannot take you because of your accent. We will crash all the trains!”
For the first couple of years, I was mainly focused on improving my language skills. I took general education classes, trying to find my way. Initially, I planned on becoming an X-ray technician. I even got into the program at Wake Tech in 2008. But once I was there, I realized I was older than most of the other students and still struggling with the accent. Plus, the economy was falling apart at the time, so job prospects weren’t looking great. I knew I’d have a hard time competing for jobs.
So, I decided to rethink everything. I needed to find a path where my broken English and thick accent wouldn’t be such a barrier. That’s when I stumbled upon the idea of the waxing business. It was a field where my language skills wouldn’t hold me back. And, I already had an entrepreneurial background, so I felt it was a service people needed, and I could find a path to building a successful practice.It was all about adapting to the circumstances and finding where I could fit in without letting my limitations define my opportunities.
WL: What’s been the biggest surprise about your business?
How many people actually want to have waxing services done, especially Brazilians.
WL: What do you wish your neighbors knew about your business?
That everything that happens here stays here. It’s very, very, very private. And our facility is super clean. And, honestly, it’s not as painful as you think it’s going to be.
WL: What’s your proudest moment or experience since opening the studio?
I think it’s the friendships I’ve developed with my clients. Most clients stay with me for many years. And, they trust me. They open up and talk to me honestly while they’re here. On more than one occasion someone has told me that they’re pregnant before they’ve told their partner.
Perfection By Elena: Journey to Excellence
Elena’s journey from Siberia to Cary, NC, is a narrative of resilience and determination. Her childhood dream of leaving Siberia for the United States, eventually became a reality through persistence and adaptability. Despite the challenges of immigration, language barriers, and cultural adjustments, Elena’s entrepreneurial spirit thrived. Elena’s story is not just about building a business; it’s about building relationships and trust with her clients, marked by moments of personal connections and confidences shared within the walls of her studio.
Elena’s unique approach to Brazilian waxing, which involves a faster, less painful method using high-quality Italian wax, sets her studio apart. Her specialized technique, honed over a decade, offers a less daunting and more comfortable experience for her clients, many of whom express pleasant surprise at the reduced pain and discomfort. The studio’s ambiance, marked by a clean, private, and safe environment, further enhances the client experience, making it ideal for both first-timers and seasoned visitors.
So if you’re on the fence about getting some hair removed from down there, worried about how much it will hurt, take our advice, and visit Perfection By Elena. You’ll be in great hands!
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