Body, Bikini and Brazilian Waxing

Loose tendrils, scruffy strands or even itchy stubbles — how much “carpet” could you really keep? The choice is yours on whether you want to stay bushwhacked or go bald.

Hollywood icons love this procedure. Kirstie Alley once said, “It feels like a baby’s butt, only all over.” Why, you ask, would you do this to yourself? To be honest, the pain isn’t at all a death sentence and the benefits are undeniable; you’ll have a smooth, bump-free bikini area that looks fabulous in a bathing or au naturel.

But what, you ask yourself again, is the big deal of having a Brazilian (all-off) wax anyway? Why not just keep the mop of hair on? For all you wax virgins: a Brazilian wax removes everything in your nether regions, front and back, leaving you completely smooth everywhere beneath your underwear — meaning, you’ll never have to worry about straying strands again.

Are you still prudish toward waxing? Waxing has become an important part of a woman’s beauty habit, and because Lay Bare uses the cold procedure, it is less traumatic — especially for first-timers.

Waxing uproots the hair from its follicles for the longest-lasting (up to eight weeks), smoothest results of all temporary hair removal methods. Long popular in Europe, it was introduced to American women in Europe primarily through beauty salons, hence the phrase European Hair Removal. This phrase is frequently used today in skin care salon and advertising. European Salon Formula, on the other hand, is used to describe some at-home waxing products. Indeed, the popularity of waxing is increasing with the variety of in-home products that offer convenience and affordability.

There are two kinds of wax commonly used today: warm and cold. Both methods remove hair at its root below the skin’s surface.

What we call warm wax or hot wax was developed in the 80s in Australia. Made of a sugar mixture, it is heated and applied to the skin and then removed with muslin or cotton strips, which absorb the wax, allowing it to grip the hair. Most salons now use the hard, sticky wax, which resembles a resin-like substance, but nonetheless, proven to be reliable and most effective.

A cold sugar wax is less traumatic, inexpensive and reusable as compared to hot wax. However, most cold waxes are messy to apply (delivery from container to skin is difficult) and thickness of application cannot be controlled. But it is much easier to clean up after than hot hard wax, requiring only water as a solvent. In addition, if the mixture is used unheated rather than warmed up, it is stiffer and there grips the hairs more effectively, and smaller quantities of the wax will be needed. Sugar waxing is not very effective on damp skin or greasy hair, so avoid doing it immediately after a bath or if you are perspiring. Also, one should consider having it down after her flow, so her skin will not be as sensitive to the discomfort of hair gripping and pulling.

A Brazilian wax is not something you should undertake at home. It’s definitely a salon procedure. A professional can reach all the spots and crevices and really, wouldn’t you rather have somebody else making sure you are nice and neat?

There really is no real preparation for a waxing job. Just make sure to come to your scheduled treatment in a good mood after taking a warm shower, with your private area clean. You also need at least about a quarter-inch of hair for the wax to grab onto. After being ushered into a separate room or a chamber with a curtain, you will be asked to lie on a bed with your knees up or legs down. Then, the therapist will down the short hair with scissors to a length of about a quarter inch. She then applies talcum powder over the area to be waxed to prevent swelling or itching. Then the therapist will start the waxing process. She will apply low-temperature or warm wax on your pubic area. Warm wax supposedly causes less pain. When the wax cools, the therapist will pull it out, along with your hair. This may be painful especially for first-timers but there will be less pain and discomfort in succeeding visits, with hair coming off more easily. The therapist may ask you to get into some awkward positions — holdings your legs up, to the side and even over your head. Depending on how zealous your therapist is, she may ask you to flip over to remove the hair on your buttocks. She doesn’t have to, of course, if you’re uncomfortable with it.

If the therapist is a good one, the painful part will be quick. If you feel it’s taking too long or that the pain is unbearable, just tell the therapist that you need a little rest. When the waxing is done, a soothing lotion will be applied to your pubic area. The lotion helps prevent occurrence of red bumps and irritation. And to be sure you are really smooth, your therapist may remove any remaining stray hairs, if any, with a pair of tweezers.

After the procedure, your bikini area will stay smooth for at least three weeks with no maintenance at all. You can use a post-depilatory hair reducer cream to further delay hair growth.

Finding a Salon. The first step to smoothness is to find a salon that offers a Brazilian wax option. Once you find one, make sure that the salon’s therapist is a professional. Ask the salon how man bikini or Brazilian waxes this person typically does in a week. One thing you absolutely do not want is somebody performing her first job on you!

Going from hair to bare can be a jarring experience. Take it slow. Start with a standard bikini wax, which will remove the hair around your actual bikini line. Next, try a “full” bikini wax, which removes most of your little hair, leaving only a small amount of it enough to tickle you. When you’re ready, move on to the Brazilian wax.

The results will last anywhere from 10 days to three weeks. No amount of shaving can get you as smooth as Brazilian wax will. In fact, that’s the biggest benefit — no more razorblades involved.

The drawbacks? You may still experience red bumps and ingrown hairs, just like with shaving. If you have a job where you can never have stubble (for instance, lifeguards) waxing won’t work for you. You have to wait 10 to 14 days between wax jobs, so you’ll have a period of time with stubble.