Before we get started, let's get one thing very clear: People have hair on their bodies. Women have hair on their bodies. It's completely natural and totally healthy. If you have an issue with women who have body hair — or women who talk about having body hair — turn back now.
Now let's get more specific. In addition to having hair on their heads, women have hair on their arms, legs, underarms, and, yes, pubic area.
Many women are embarrassed about having pubic hair, but there should be absolutely no shame about it. We all have it. And there's a good reason we have it. Pubic hair has a number of benefits, including protecting against chafing during sex and protecting your body from infections.
That said, many women feel uncomfortable with their pubic hair and decide to get rid of it in some way or another — and that's totally OK! The most beautiful thing in the world is feeling confident in your own skin, so if making minor cosmetic changes to your body makes you feel more confident, go for it.
When it comes to getting rid of pubic hair, there are a handful of primary methods: shaving, waxing, and laser hair removal. For most of my adult life, I've stuck to shaving, since it's the most convenient and inexpensive method. In recent years, though, I've become more interested in waxing.
Last year, I tried waxing my own bikini line at home, and it was… interesting. Even though it wasn't a pain-free experience, I liked the result. Because it was challenging to work up the nerve to wax myself, though, I started looking into professional waxing. I was surprised to find out that there are actually eight different types of bikini waxes!
After doing some research, I decided to go all out with a Brazilian wax. I'd never gotten a Brazilian wax before, but I figured I might as well get the full experience with my first professional wax.
What Is a Brazilian Wax?
A Brazilian wax is a type of bikini wax in which all pubic hair is removed. While a traditional bikini wax removes only the hair in areas that wouldn't be covered by a bikini (closer to the thighs), a Brazilian wax removes the hair on every part of the pubic area (including toward the butt hole).
My Experience
Although I'd done at-home bikini waxes before, I really didn't know what to expect with a professional Brazilian wax. I knew it would probably be pretty painful, but I hoped it wouldn't be too much worse than my previous waxing experiences.
Even though waxing never bothered me that much, I was still pretty nervous. Not only would I be getting all my hair ripped out, I'd also be exposing myself to a complete stranger.
Before getting a Brazilian wax, you have to make sure to not shave for a while. Most waxing places recommend you let your hair grow to at least 1/4 inch, but every salon is different.
Basically, your hair has to be long enough for the wax to grab onto it. I made sure my hair was in tip-top condition for my waxing experience — I didn't shave for at least a month before my appointment.
During my research about Brazilian waxes, I found out some really helpful information:
- You shouldn’t get a Brazilian wax right before or during your period. When you’re on your period, your pain tolerance decreases, so it’s best to get a wax after your period.
- You shouldn’t get a Brazilian wax right before or after working out, because the increased blood flow could increase your pain.
- If you’re worried about the pain, you can take painkillers (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) a little while before your appointment.
- You shouldn’t drink before getting a Brazilian wax. Although it’s OK to have one drink to take the edge off, drinking too much can make you more likely to bleed.
I went to my appointment straight from work, so I definitely wasn’t going to be working out or drinking beforehand. I did pop some painkillers about half an hour before my wax.
When I got to the salon, I was instantly put at ease. My aesthetician, Zori, was extremely kind as she brought me into the room. Her salon is a one-room studio where they do waxing, facials, Reiki, and massages.
One of the most important things you can do when getting a Brazilian wax is to make sure you're comfortable with the person who will be working on you. Try to find someone with enough experience and a good bedside manner, especially for your first time.
I found Zori on Yelp, and I was impressed with her stellar reviews. Once I arrived, I realized why everyone loved her so much.
Because it was my very first Brazilian wax, Zori spent time explaining exactly what she'd be doing during the waxing process. After she put some paper down on the table (the kind they use at the doctor's office), she gave me a wraparound towel and told me to undress from the waist down.
Before I took my clothes off, I made sure to take a look at the wax Zori would be using. Zori uses hard wax, which looks like the photo above. It begins as hard little pellets of wax before it is melted down. Some aestheticians use soft wax, but my research convinced me that hard wax was the way to go for Brazilian waxes.
When Zori left the room to let me undress, I took off my jeans and underwear and quickly wiped myself down with a sanitary cleansing wipe I'd brought with me. Although aestheticians don't judge you for the way you look "down there," it's always a good idea to make sure you're fully clean — plus, feeling clean will probably make you feel more comfortable as you're lying spread-eagle on the table.
Once I was feeling nice and clean, I took one last look at my hair and said goodbye. I called Zori back into the room and lay down on the table. Zori lifted up my towel wrap, had me put my feet together and knees apart, and immediately started applying warm wax.
While Zori was applying the wax, she explained to me that unlike many other aestheticians, she prefers to wax large areas all at once. Some people think that doing smaller sections will make waxing less painful, but Zori thinks large sections aren't actually more painful — and the whole thing is over much faster. She told me, "The pain may be intense, but it's intense no matter what. And doing big sections means you can be finished faster."
So for all of you who are wondering if getting a Brazilian wax is awkward, the answer is no, not really.
If you've ever gone to the gynecologist, you're more than familiar with how it feels to show your "lady parts" to a stranger. Getting a Brazilian wax is much less awkward than, say, getting a Pap smear, because nothing is going inside of you.
I felt awkward for a minute in front of Zori, but that quickly dissipated as we chatted.
When Zori ripped off the first section of wax, I was surprised at how little it hurt. Because it was such a large section, I thought it would be really painful — but it wasn't.
There were a few areas that were more painful, though. As you might imagine, waxing the labia hurt, but it was over pretty quickly. To deal with the pain, Zori had me breathe deeply in and out, only pulling the wax when I breathed out.
The final section of waxing was the part toward my butt. Zori had me flip over onto my knees and elbows before applying the wax. Shockingly, this part didn't hurt at all.
Each time Zori ripped off a piece of wax, she would apply baby powder to soothe my skin. After the entire process, she applied oil and more baby powder to keep the irritation to a minimum.
After about 45 minutes, my appointment was over. I put on some loose-fitting clothing and left the salon, thanking Zori for her time.
My skin was a little bit sore, but within about an hour, it felt totally normal again. When I took a look at my pubic area after I got home, I was stunned at how smooth it was!
Final Thoughts
Brazilian bikini wax before and after: Overall, I was very pleased with my wax results.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! It wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it might be. That said, I don't mind having a little hair "down there," so I might opt for a regular bikini wax next time around.
Would I recommend it to a friend? It depends on the person, but yes, probably. I don't necessarily think Brazilian waxing is for everyone (like if you have a really low pain tolerance or don't like strangers looking at your lady parts), but if you're interested, you should definitely give it a try!
Brazilian wax provided by EuroStyle SkinCare by Zori. You can learn more about her services on her website, Yelp, or Facebook.
