This may sound counterintuitive but in order to get a good ol' shiny vaginy, you need to grow it out until your hairs are about a grain of rice in length (¼ of an inch). It can be longer, too. The length is needed so the wax can grip the hairs. Whatever you do, do NOT shave before your appointment.
Avoid tanning for at least 24 hours before your appointment, as this can cause the skin to be more sensitive. Cut down on alcohol and caffeine the day of your appointment. Both can cause your pores to tighten and make waxing more painful.
Up to 1/2 inch should be fine. If your hair is any longer you may feel some discomfort when the wax is applied. It will also make it trickier for your therapist to get the job done. Trim excess hair down beforehand or shave and wait a couple of weeks for it to grow back before returning to the salon.
Be hairy. Your hair should be at least 1/4 inch in length (which makes it long enough to lay flat on your skin). Please don't shave for at least 3 weeks prior to your appointment to ensure that your hair is long enough! Also, if you've “let it go” down there and it seems out of control, don't worry!
After a client's first waxing, the results can last 3 to 6 weeks depending on the individual's hair re-growth rate. In most cases, hair growth is minimal during the first week or two and noticeably increases in the third and fourth week.
Pubic hair needs to be at least the length of a grain of rice or ¼ of an inch long. Many people feel self-conscious about hair being too long before their Brazilian wax, but longer hair is grabbed by wax better. If you trim beforehand, you could cut it too short and forfeit the ability to wax.
Hair follicles remain open for hours after waxing, so it's best to avoid contact with any excess moisture for at least 24 hours. If you must bathe the same day as your wax, take a shower, not a bath. The bacteria, skin, and product in the water could cause infection.
Bikini/Brazilian
First, apply a numbing cream to the bikini area 30 minutes before you're about to wax. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Aspirin to minimize the pain. Also, ensure that the wax is cool before application.
Although your hair needs to be at least a quarter inch to be waxed, hair that's too long can make waxing more complicated and painful. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends trimming hair to three-quarters of an inch.
Make Sure Your Hair Is the Right Length
If your hair is longer, waxing will be more painful. If it's shorter, the wax won't have enough to grab onto, so it may not come off at all or could lead to pesky ingrown hairs.
Although the results are fairly similar, there's one key difference: how long they last. On average, waxing lasts around 3 or 4 weeks because the hair is removed at the root. Hair grows back much faster with shaving, though — within 3 days to a week. This is because shaving only removes the top layer of the hair.
Can My Hair Be Too Long for Waxing? Yes. If your hair is more than a half-inch long, you should consider shaving it and “starting over.” Then schedule an appointment so that it lands about one full growth cycle out. That is, give the hair 1 to 4 weeks to regrow to about ¼ inch.
A groomed bikini area is not cleaner or healthier. (
On the contrary, removing most or all of your pubic hair — whether by waxing, shaving, or using depilatory creams — is actually inviting dirt and bacteria into your genital area.
For at least 24 hours, you'll want to avoid saunas, tanning beds, and even the gym. Wait for Sex: Give yourself about 2 days, or 24-48 hours, to recover from the wax before engaging in any sexual activity. Keep it Loose: Avoid tight and constricting clothing for a few days after your wax.
"Patients tell me that the most painful areas for waxing are also the most overall sensitive areas, especially in the pubic area," Ciraldo says. Hair around the genitals and bikini line tends to be thicker than on other areas of the body, requiring more force to yank it and, thus, causing more pain.
Bikini wax pain is a hard measurement to report since our pain tolerance varies. According to most clients, on a scale of 0-5, with 0 meaning no pain, and 5 meaning maximum pain, the average rating is a 3.5. If you prefer a hairless look without the pain, we recommend IPL Hair Removal.
Hard wax is gentler on your skin. It's better suited for sensitive areas, and is less painful to remove. Soft wax is better suited for large areas, like your legs or back. If you're new to waxing, you may want to start off with a waxing session from a licensed esthetician or dermatologist.
Avoid touching your newly hair-free skin—and that means taking care to ensure nothing else touches your skin, either. Since your skin will be more sensitive in the first 24-28 hours after a wax, skip any activities that could cause friction.
Brazilian waxes last about three to six weeks. The best thing you can do for your skin is to wax regularly. The more you do it, the longer the results last. If you wait longer or only get waxed a couple times a year, it will be much more painful.
Application of the Wax
This process will be repeated until the targeted hair is completely removed. After finishing on the front side, you will be asked to turn over or get on all fours so that hair between your buttocks can be removed .
Get comfortable with the exposure level.
Before your wax, you will have to strip off your pants and underwear. Some places offer disposable underwear for simple bikini waxes, but if you are having more hair removed than just on the sides, you will likely be completely naked below the waist.
Do take a warm shower before waxing. This will help to open the pore for easy hair removal. Do relax during your waxing service, because tense muscles make the area more sensitive. Do not take extremely hot showers or sauna after waxing.
Breakage happens when the wax doesn't pull out the entire hair at the root, and instead it breaks it off at surface level. This means that the hair will grow back faster.