Beginners Brazilian Waxing

Conquer Your Fear

If you have never had a bikini or Brazilian wax service, you are probably super nervous. The thought of hot wax ‘down there’ makes you cringe. But I think you are going to love the results. No razor burn, no stubble, and you can typically go 4 to 6 weeks between appointments. SIGN ME UP!!!

1. Find a Great Esthetician

The key to a great experience is finding someone who is more than a wax expert, but an esthetician, who can truly help you care for your skin before, during, and after the process.

When looking for a waxing salon, you want to ensure cleanliness in types of wax or tools that the esthetician uses. If your esthetician doesn’t use gloves, sterilize her tools, or educate you before she or he performs your waxing service, it may be time to look elsewhere.

Finally, if this is your first wax, don’t be afraid to give the salon a call and ask a few questions before scheduling your appointment. Great salons are always happy to answer any inquiries. You can see all of my services in the waxing collection.

2. Prepare Your Pubic Hair (and Yourself)

First things first, if this is your first time going to get waxed ever, or in a very long time, DO NOT CUT YOUR PUBIC HAIR! Cutting the hair, if it is shorter than 1/4 of an inch, will make the waxing experience more painful than it ought to be. And make sure it is squeaky clean down there. Any “lose particles” caught in your hair could also make for a very interesting experience. If you have NEVER trimmed your pubic hair, CUT YOUR HAIR!!! If your pubic hair is longer than the length of a nickel, it is too long. Trim it with scissors!

If you know you have a low tolerance for discomfort, some people take an over-the-counter pain reliever twenty to thirty minutes beforehand. Check with your pharmacist or doctor first if you are not sure whether that is right for you.

3. Remain Calm

All right, so you’ve walked in the salon and checked in for your appointment. The receptionist tells you to have a seat in the waiting area until your esthetician is ready to see you.

“Am I doing the right thing?” you think to yourself. Too late, she’s ready to see you.

When you lay down on the table, get comfortable. Put your hands behind your head or by your sides and just relax your body. If you’re tense, your esthetician is going to notice and you are going to make it a lot harder to give you a good wax. Talk to your esthetician. It will take your mind off the service and you will start to feel more comfortable.

Something that works well for me is deep breathing. If you inhale as the wax is applied and exhale at the rip, I find it takes the edge off. And before you know it, you’re bare down there!

Bye, bye, hair.

4. It’s Ok To React

When it comes to general waxing, there are two different types of waxes that estheticians will use: soft and hard. Soft wax is a little easier on the skin, as it uses strips and usually gets all the hair the first pull. For hard wax, there are no strips used, and the esthetician typically removes the wax after it has become tacky.

He or she will apply the first coat of wax along your bikini, and with each coat, firmly press the wax down into the hair. Then, RIP! Immediately after the rip, your esthetician will firmly apply pressure to take the edge off.

If this is slightly overwhelming for you, or too painful, don’t be afraid to ask the esthetician to perform a lighter service, like a bikini wax.

You want to make sure you’re breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Almost like you’re in yoga class. (Try it. Breathe in, now out.)

Back to the actual wax. This “wax on, wax off” process continues for about the next 10ish minutes as your esthetician moves to the more sensitive areas. It’s important to know that hair removal from the vulva lips will be the most difficult, but a good esthetician will apply pressure to the naked skin to ease some of the discomfort. Don’t worry, the wax does NOT adhere to the inner part of the vulva lips. Our bodies are designed for moisture membranes to line the inner part of the vulva lips, and wax does not stick to anything that is ‘wet.’

5. Beware of Ingrown Hairs

“Okay, I did it,” you think to yourself. But then you see your esthetician reach over to grab a pair of tweezers. You are almost finished. The esthetician is only going to remove the ingrown hairs that the wax did not get. If you’ve ever gotten your eyebrows waxed, do you remember at the end you had someone pluck the pesky hairs that were missed by the wax? This is what removing ingrown hairs feels like. Just breathe. After rubbing a few products on the newly waxed skin, your esthetician will let you know that the service is complete.

Congratulations! Your first Brazilian wax is over!

6. Don’t Skip The After Care

Exfoliation post-Brazilian wax is critical because your skin down there is so incredibly sensitive. You’ll want to use a gentle scrub or a sea salt scrub to remove any dead skin cells. You may want to put on tight clothes after getting waxed. Don’t make this mistake! Your skin will be very irritated. Make sure that you keep the freshly waxed skin moisturized. Coconut oil or any non fragranced lotion from our body care collection is great for moisturizing, keeping the skin soft and relieving any itching as the hair begins to grow back. If you do get little red bumps afterward, I wrote a whole post on how to prevent red bumps after waxing. Make sure that you schedule your next waxing appointment within 4 to 6 weeks.