Women’s waxing can be intimidating at first, but once you learn the basics, it opens up a whole world of smooth, lasting hair removal. We’ll cover everything you need to know about pubic hair removal – from Brazilian bikini waxes to at-home maintenance. I’ll walk you through the major waxing services, benefits of waxing, how to prepare for a waxing appointment, what to expect during the process, and of course – avoiding dreaded ingrown hairs. Buckle up as we dive into the wild world of women’s waxing!
Types of Waxing
Women have a few waxing options when it comes to below the belt hair removal – mainly bikini and Brazilian waxing. Let’s break down the differences:
Bikini Waxing
A bikini wax keeps hair removal to the areas covered by your actual bikini underwear, meaning the top and sides of your pubic mound mainly. Within bikini waxing, there are two options:
Classic Bikini Wax: This removes hair that would sit outside of bikini underwear lines along the sides and top of your pubic mound.
Full Bikini Wax: This includes everything involved in a classic bikini wax, as well as removing all hair from the outer pubic mound area. A lot of people choose this in-between option if they aren’t quite ready to take the full Brazilian plunge.
Bikini wax timing usually lasts around 30 minutes, including about 20-25 minutes for the actual waxing service since the area is relatively small. Bikini wax hair also regrows within 3-4 weeks generally, so you’ll get into a waxing routine if you stick with it!
Brazilian Waxing
When you hear “Brazilian wax,” it’s code word for removing all hair down there – from front to back. Traditional Brazilian waxing leaves no hair on the pubic mound, labia, backside, or in between. Sometimes a small strip or triangle of hair is left on the pubic bone, but other than that, it’s all coming off!
Because a Brazilian wax covers a larger surface area than a bikini wax, you can expect the whole process to take 30-40 minutes typically. The waxing itself takes 20-30 minutes, with extra time set for consultations and learning aftercare tips from your esthetician. With Brazilian waxing consistently, you’ll start to see hair regrowth around weeks 3-5.
The key difference between a Brazilian and bikini wax comes down to how much hair gets removed from down there! A bikini wax keeps it simple, while a Brazilian leaves nothing to the imagination – no hair in sight.
Benefits of Waxing
Once you push past those first-time jitters, waxing becomes a life-changing hair removal treatment. Let’s get into why you’ll fall in love:
Hair Regrowth Patterns
Wax hair removal from the root, instead of just cutting the ends of hair like shaving does. This means waxing leads to longer time periods between hair regrowth sessions. As you stick to regular waxing, hair also starts to grow back thinner and wispier over time.
Avoiding Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs often plague pubic hair when removed by shaving or friction from clothes. Esthetician-performed waxing gently removes hair from below the skin’s surface to help prevent painful ingrown hairs from forming under the skin post-wax. Properly cared for waxed skin stays smoother for longer!
Skin Exfoliation
The waxing process itself removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin to reveal fresh new skin. Regular waxing leads to healthier skin cell regeneration around the pubic region. Gentle exfoliation post-wax continues sloughing away dead cells and debris.
Confidence and Comfort
Once you settle into a regular waxing routine, you’ll start to feel more comfortable in your skin around the pubic region. Eliminating the hassle of frequent shaving or trimming boosts confidence in swimsuits and lingerie and reduces general irritation down there overall. Feel confident as you bare it all!
Preparing for a Waxing Appointment
Preparation is key leading up to your big waxing day! Proper pre and post wax care ensures the best results possible.
Finding a Waxing Salon
Do your research to find a licensed esthetician specializing in Brazilian and bikini waxing services. Look at online reviews and chat with the front desk about pricing options. Ask what type of wax they use or if you can come in for a free consultation.
Scheduling Considerations
* Menstrual Cycle: Schedule your wax 1 week after your period ends. Pain tolerance goes down dramatically during PMSing and menstruation when getting waxed.
* Special Events: Get waxed 4-6 weeks pre-wedding or leading up to a vacation when you plan to wear less clothing. Time the regrowth just right!
At-Home Pre Wax Care
* Exfoliate 1-2 days pre-wax using a gentle scrub containing AHA/BHA acids to lift hairs and prevent ingrown formation later on
* Avoid shaving completely at least 2 weeks before waxing – gives technician more to work with
* Trim hair down to 1⁄4 inch max if longer – makes waxing easier overall
* Wear loose 100% cotton clothing day of appointment
* Take OTC pain meds 1 hour before waxing session
The Waxing Experience
Your first waxing session can feel intimidating but starts with a simple consultation. Post-consult, you’ll get into your waxing position before the ripping and tearing begins!
Consultation and Intimate Waxing Etiquette
Your esthetician will have you fill out a brief health form and discuss your waxing goals. Bring up pain topics here! Do you need warnings before strip pulls? Get confirmation on how much hair gets removed where. Don’t worry about feeling embarrassed – they’ve seen it all before.
Positioning and Comfort
*Butterfly position: Lie back with feet together and knees falling open to the side. Most common for Brazilian waxes but adjust as needed!
*Side position: Lie on your side in fetal position with top leg pulled in towards chest. Comfortable access point for technicians.
Speak up if you get uncomfortable! Estheticians will reposition you in each session.
Wax Application Techniques
Wax gets applied in the direction of hair growth typically then pulled in reverse. Hard wax adheres better to coarse pubic hairs over soft wax for gentler removal. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra padding if a section seems too sensitive!
Communication During Service
Conversation helps distract from waxing discomfort! Give feedback on ways to make it easier – maybe you need strip rubbing before pulling or countdowns to anticipate pain. If it ever feels like too much, ask for a break.
Aftercare and Maintenance
You did it! Pubic hair removal complete. Keep that skin glowing and stubble-free with some TLC between waxing sessions.
Post Wax Lotions and Serums
Look for hydrating, anti-inflammatory lotions containing ingredients like aloe vera or coconut oil. Ingrown hair serums with glycolic acid keep bumps at bay.
Cooling Masks
Soothing gel masks meant for faces help post-wax inflammation. Think cucumber, green tea extracts. Pop those bad boys into the fridge then relax!
Avoiding Friction and Irritation
Ditch tight clothing that could rub up on tender skin for 24-48 hours post-wax. Avoid heat – skip hot tubs, baths or harsh scrubbing. Let pores breathe!
Exfoliation Schedule
Gently manually exfoliate waxed skin 2-3 days post-appointment after the skin calms down to prevent ingrown hairs from starting. Use a soft cloth or exfoliating gloves to slough away debris.
Hair Growth Cycles
Hair grows in phases and not all follicles sync up initially. After 2-3 waxing sessions, regrowth should even out around the same rate. Stay consistent!
Developing a Waxing Routine
Every 4 weeks exfoliate then wax, exfoliate again 2 days later, repeat. Hair and skin thrive off this predictable schedule of removal then regeneration.
At-Home Waxing Risks
DIY waxes seem convenient but raise the chances of infection or severe irritation majorly. Seek out an esthetics office for your intimate hair removal needs!
Costs and Pricing
Professional Brazilian and bikini wax prices vary based on your location and individual hair growth but average $40-70 per session. Factors like extra thick hair or appointment add-ons also impact the final price tag. Value the artform of waxing – when done properly, it’s absolutely worth every penny!
Conclusion
Hopefully you feel equipped to book your first – or maybe fifth at this point – waxing session after getting the inside scoop on women’s waxing procedures. We learned the differences between major pubic hair removal techniques, waxing benefits, Brazilian vs bikini breakdowns, managing pain levels, ideal aftercare tips, and avoiding ingrown hairs. That’s a whole lot of knowledge skin deep! Enjoy the journey to becoming waxing connoisseurs together. Go embrace your inner smooth goddess!