A
popular hair removal method in the U.S., Brazilian bikini waxes
were introduced to New York in 1987 by seven Brazilian-born sisters.
The
"Brazilian" differs from a regular bikini wax because
hair is removed in the front, back and everything in between.
Most of the time a "landing strip" is left in the front,
but some clients opt for everything removed.
1. Most waxings occur in a private room with a door. You'll be
left alone to remove your pants and underwear and you'll be asked
to lie on a table with clean paper or sheets. It is possible that
you may be provided with a paper thong and you can certainly ask
for one.
2. Because you only need 1/4 inch of hair for the wax to grab
onto, your waxer may trim pubic hair to the correct length. A
general rule of thumb is that hair needs to be a quarter-inch
if it's fine, a half-inch if it's coarse. You'll be sent home
if hair isn't long enough.
3. The waxer will liberally apply talcum powder to the skin. Talcum
powder keeps hot wax from sticking to skin.
4. 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. 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, pulling the hairs out by the root.
You might request a hard wax, which is thicker and is peeled off
when cooled. It can be less painful.
5. If the waxing is too painful, ask the technician to apply strips
to smaller areas at a time. Waxing usually starts in the front
and moves toward the back. You may be asked to help hold skin
taut.
6. Since the Brazilian means everything off except for a "landing
strip" in the front, don't be surprised when the technician
removes the hair between the buttocks. Yes, for most people, hair
grows there. If you want to be completely bare, this is called
a "Hollywood" wax.
7. Once the waxing is complete, the waxer will tweeze any stray
hairs and she may trim the remaining landing strip, or even create
designs (if there are patterns for this, I do not know where they
exist). Some women even opt to dye the remaining pubic hair.
8. The waxer will spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas.
Apply aloe lotion or a hydrocortisone cream if you develop bumps,
redness or ingrown hairs. I hear great things about Bliss ingrown
hair eliminating pads.
9. Don't forget to get the name of the waxer so when you make
another appointment you can get the same person so you don't have
to bare all for another complete stranger (wink). Typically, you'll
need to wax every 2 to 4 weeks and the more you do it, the less
painful it becomes.
Tips:
1. The procedure, like any waxing, can be very painful at first,
but frequent visits usually cuts down on the pain factor. A suggestion
is to take two (2) Advil an hour before your procedure. As for
the embarrassment factor -- we like to think 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.
2. The downside of a Brazilian wax... while it lasts 3-6 weeks,
the hair will grow back -- albeit finer and lighter -- and you'll
have to do it again.
3. Another downside... hair has to be a certain length before
it can successfully waxed. Hair needs to be a quarter-inch if
it's fine, a half-inch if it's coarse.
4. Another down side... you might experience red bumps or ingrown
hairs, caused when hairs grow curled under the skin. Avoid ingrown
hairs with regular exfoliation and a scrub that contains salicylic
or glycolic acid. Treat existing ingrown hairs with an acid-based
solution. Good ones include Vaniqa, by prescription. Get rid of
burns or rashes with a hydrocortisone cream, which soothes irritation.*
Potential Side Effects of Waxing - What You Should Know:
The medications Accutane, Differin, Retin-A, and oral
or topical antibiotics can increases the possibility of a skin
reaction and/or tear. Please inform the aesthetician if you have
begun taking any new medications since your last session.
Please note waxing does have certain side effects such as skin
removal, redness, scabbing, bruising, scarring, swelling, tenderness,
hyper and hypo-pigmentation, and/or ingrown hairs or pimples.
Waxing of soft tissue may cause the skin to tear and that could
result in the need for stitches if a tear breaks through the dermis
layer. The most common occurrence of this is in a Brazilian bikini
wax if wax is applied to the inner folds of very sensitive skin
tissue.
When Not to Get Waxed / Contraindications:
• You currently take Accutane, or have stopped taking it
less than a year ago.
• You use Retin-A or Differin.
• You are taking oral or topical antibiotics.
• You have lupus or AIDS.
• You recently got Botox or collagen injections, waxing
shouldn’t be done in that area.
• You’re in cancer therapy getting chemotherapy or
radiation.
• Leg waxing if you have varicose veins.
• You have been in direct sunlight for a long period of
time or tanning bed within the last 24 hours.
Areas Not to Wax:
• Irritated, inflamed, cut, or sunburned skin.
• Anywhere that has pimples, cold sores, moles or warts.
• The inside of ears and nose, eyelashes, nipples and male
genitals.
Post Brazilian Waxing Care:
• Don’t wear tight panties for the next few days.
• Keep hands away from touching freshly waxed skin, as this
can encourage irritation or small pimples.
• Don’t take a hot bath for the rest of the day.
• No tanning beds, saunas or steam rooms for the next 2
days.
• 2 full days later use a mild exfoliator. My pick, an Ayate
washcloth which gently exfoliates skin alone wet, or can be used
with your favorite body wash, but is more mold-resistant than
loofahs.
• If you get any ingrown hairs try Tend Skin, a huge favorite
for getting rid of pesky ingrowns and/or gentle skin exfoliation
products.
Brazilian Waxing Info:
• It is not as uncomfortable as your would think. Most people
who receive the Brazilian wax continue on a regular basses.
• Each visit becomes easier because the hair grows back
thinner.
• Most customers see about a 50% reduction in growth after
only 5 to 6 visits.
• First time visits usually take about 1 hour. Kathryn explains
the different growth cycles and how to maintain your Brazilian
wax so you minimize ingrown hairs. She will also take a little
longer during your initial waxing service to assure you're comfortable.
Wax will be applied and hair is removed in tiny strips minimizing
any discomfort associated with a brazilian waxing.
• Kathryn maintains a hospital like sterilization/sanitation
procedure assuring a safe and sanitary waxing experience.
Waxing Sanitation Procedures Used:
• A new applicator is used each and every time wax is dipped
into the wax pot. This assures the wax pot remains sanitary and
free from bacteria, staph, and/or cross contamination of potentially
harmful body fluids.
• A topical antibacterial/antisceptic spray (Bactine) with
a 2.5% Lidocaine (for numbing purposes) is applied to the skin
before and after each procedure to help potentially eliminate
any risk of infection.
• Vinyl gloves are worn during the entire procedure.
• Clean cloth and/or disposable paper towels are used to
cover the table for each procedure. The table is then sanitized
before and after each procedure.
• Kathryn sanitizes each and every tool used during all
procedures according to the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation protols for instrument and iplement sterilization and
sanitation.
*
Article References:
1. "What really Happens in a Brazilian Bikini Waxing?"
- About.com
