Exfoliate and cut your hair down to between 1/4 and 1/2 an inch before the appointment. During the wax, communicate with your technician over your comfort level. Be courteous and don't comment or request anything that could make both of you uncomfortable.
Table of Contents
1. Be Sure
Only 1-2 out of 10 people get it done. Before you book a Brazilian wax (or any kind of hair removal), you should be 100% sure that you want to go ahead with the treatment. This means doing your research into the amount of pain this causes, any potential side effects, and the way it will look once it is done.
Brazilian waxes can be expensive and will look ridiculous if you get halfway through the waxing experience and pull out. So be sure you want the treatment before you book in.
2. Find the Right Salon
Do your research and find a salon with experienced wax specialists and estheticians with a good track record of providing excellent waxing services. The waxed area for a Brazilian features a lot of sensitive skin.
Having a stranger anywhere near your bikini area can be a strange and uncomfortable experience, especially if it’s your first time. Going to a reputable salon ensures the waxing experience will be more pleasant.
Research online, looking for any reviews of the establishment, and ask around friends and family to see if anybody has any recommendations.
3. Be Prepared
Before a Brazilian wax, your pubic hair should be no shorter than 1/4 inch long (about the length of a grain of rice) and ideally no longer than a half inch. If you have any longer hair than this, trim it with scissors.
Exfoliate the area gently a few days before your appointment to prevent ingrown hairs. If your salon gives you any specific instructions to complete before your bikini wax, be sure to follow these to the tee.
4. Punctual and Polite
It is always good etiquette to show up on time to your appointment so as not to keep your technician waiting or delay anybody who has an appointment after you. If you are very late, you might even lose your slot and won’t be guaranteed a refund.
Be polite and courteous to your technician. Ask about their day, and be friendly towards them. Remember to communicate – if you have any specific worries or skincare questions, ask your waxer!
5. Be Professional
Try to avoid making any comments that might make the technician feel uncomfortable. Getting a full Brazilian wax involves the technician getting very up close and personal with some of your most private parts – don’t make this any harder by making rude or suggestive comments.
Some people make inappropriate jokes when they are feeling uncomfortable. Try to avoid this during a body waxing, as it can put the technician in an awkward position.
6. Be Hygienic
Being hygienic is an important step for both your comfort and the technician’s. Be sure to shower and wash the area before you go in, including some exfoliation for your own sake. Try to avoid tanning the area for at least 24 hours before your appointment, as this increases skin sensitivity.
7. Pain Management
Brazilian waxes are painful – however, there are a few steps you can take to manage the pain. Avoid coffee and alcohol before the appointment, as these cause the pores to tighten around your hair follicles and increase the pain of waxing.
Avoid scheduling a wax during the on days of your menstrual cycle, as your pain threshold reduces at this time. If you’re worried about the pain, find a salon that uses hard wax, which often hurts less than soft wax.
Take an over-the-counter painkiller (such as ibuprofen) about 30 minutes before your appointment to help reduce the pain. Keep breathing, and try to distract yourself with thoughts of other things – ask your technician if you can listen to a podcast or music during the process.
8. Communication!
Remember to keep communicating with your technician throughout the wax. If you let them know your pain levels and keep them updated, they may be able to adapt their techniques to reduce your pain. And if you need a break, tell them! There is no point in suffering silently.
9. Aftercare
Here are a few tips for what to do after your appointment:
- Apply a hydrocortisone cream or cool compress to reduce redness and swelling
- Avoid sexual activity for 24 hours to give any micro tears time to heal
- Try to avoid any strenuous activity that might make you sweat for 24 hours
- Avoid tanning post-wax for 24 hours
10. Be Appropriate
Don’t make any inappropriate comments or requests during your wax. Be professional and courteous, respect the technician’s boundaries, and allow them to get on with their job.
11. Leave a Tip!
As with any service industry, it is important to tip your technician properly. A tip of 15-20% is usually an appropriate amount for a professional wax.
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12. Repeat Appointments
If you want to keep the bikini area hair free, you might consider booking regular appointments. The best time frame to leave between waxes is 3-4 weeks. Avoid shaving in that period, and wait for the hair to grow out to 1/4 inch.
If you uphold a monthly waxing schedule, you’ll find that each wax gets easier and less painful as time goes on!