Brazilian Bikini Wax
Are you thinking about baring it all and going with a Brazilian bikini wax?
It’s a popular waxing style for the bikini line. It will leave you completely hairless (even on your bum), though it often leaves “landing strip” of hair in front.
Brazilian waxes do come with pain, though many women say it’s worth it and that it gets better with each session. If you’re a waxing newbie, it’s typically advised to begin with a basic bikini wax because they tend to be less painful and allow you to dip your toe in the water, so to speak.
But if you’re ready to jump all in and go with a Brazilian, here’s what to expect.
What Is a Brazilian Bikini Wax?
Brazilian bikini waxes were introduced to New York in 1987 by the J Sisters, seven Brazilian-born sisters. The Brazilian remains a popular hair removal method in the United States.
Brazilian waxes differ from regular bikini waxes because hair is removed in the front, back, and everything in between. Sometimes a “landing strip” is left in the front, but many clients opt for the where everything is removed.
What Happens When You Arrive?
The treatment will occur in a private room with a door closed and takes between 15 and 30 minutes. You’ll be left alone to remove everything from the waist down and lie on a table covered with clean paper or sheets.
Booking a Brazilian Wax, the waxer will see everything so your modesty is going to be tested.
We like to think that getting a Brazilian can’t be any more embarrassing than a typical visit to your gynecologist’s office. These technicians have seen it all before.
How Much Hair Should You Have?
A general rule of thumb is that hair needs to be 1/4 inch (about the length of a grain of rice) if it’s fine, and a half-inch if it’s coarse.
Any shorter and it’s too hard for the wax to grab. You’ll be sent home if your hair isn’t long enough.
You also don’t want your hair to be too long, because this makes it more painful. You can help the waxer out by trimming your pubic hair with an electric razor before you go in. If your hair is much longer than required, your waxer may trim your pubic hair to the correct length.
The Brazilian Waxing Process
Your waxer should wear gloves during the wax and she should never double-dip the wooden waxing stick into the wax. Instead, she should use fresh sticks for each application.
Waxing usually starts in the front and moves toward the back. You may be asked to help hold skin taut. Be sure to let your waxer know if you want a landing strip or everything off.
There are hard wax and soft wax processes that can achieve the same look. Most salons use soft wax and use this method:
- The waxer will liberally apply talcum powder to the skin. The talcum keeps hot wax from sticking to skin.
- The best waxers are fast, which means less discomfort for you. The waxer will dip a wooden waxing stick into a pot of hot wax and then spread it onto your skin and hair in the direction of hair growth.
- She will then apply a cloth strip over the still-warm wax, pressing firmly so the cloth, hair, and wax adhere to one another.
- When the wax has cooled, she will pull the strip off, in the opposite direction of your hair growth. This quick motion pulls the hairs out by the root. If it is too painful at this point, ask the technician to apply strips to smaller areas at a time. If it’s unbearable, you might have to ask them to stop completely.
- Since the Brazilian means everything off except for a “landing strip” in the front, don’t be surprised when the technician removes the hair from between the buttocks. Yes, hair does grow there. You may be asked to turn over and lie on your stomach or you may be asked to kneel on the table and don’t be embarrassed if you’re asked to hold your cheeks apart. The good news is, this part isn’t painful for most people.
- Once the waxing is complete, the waxer will tweeze any stray hairs and she may trim the remaining landing strip.