The Brazilian Waxing Process

Here’s how the process using soft, melted wax works:

  1. Kris will liberally apply talcum powder to the skin. Talcum powder keeps hot wax from sticking to skin.
  2. The best waxers are fast (and Kris is!), which means less discomfort for you. She will dip a wooden waxing stick into a pot of hot wax and then spread it onto your skin and hair in the direction of hair growth.
  3. She will then apply a cloth strip over the still-warm wax, pressing firmly so the cloth, hair and wax adhere to one another.
  4. 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. If the waxing at this point is too painful, ask Kris to apply strips to smaller areas at a time.
  5. 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, hair grows there. You may be asked to turn over and lie on your stomach or you may be asked to kneel on the table. The good news is, this part isn’t painful for most people.
  6. Once the waxing is complete, she will tweeze any stray hairs and she may trim the remaining landing strip.
  7. Kris may spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas.

How to Cut Down on the Pain

Waxing in general can be very painful, especially your first time. Be sure your waxer knows to be gentle with you if you are susceptible to pain or if this is your first time.

Here are a few tips to cut down on the pain:

  • If you are new to waxing, we might not recommend starting with a Brazilian. Try a regular or high bikini wax instead. After a few waxes, you’ll find the waxings are much less painful. Then you can graduate to a Brazilian.
  • Book the appointment for at least a week after your period. It’s best to wax midcycle, right around the time you’re ovulating.
  • Get waxed regularly every 3-4 weeks. If you wait longer or only get waxed a couple times a year, it will be much more painful.
  • We recommend taking 2 ibuprofen or acetametiphan an hour before your wax.

If, after the wax, you later develop bumps, redness or ingrown hairs, gently exfoliate the area with a body scrub and then smooth on a lotion or cleanser with alpha hydroxy acid (the word “acid” makes it sound like it will sting, but it doesn’t).

The Importance of Regular Waxing

The downside of a Brazilian wax is that while it lasts 3-6 weeks, the hair will grow back — albeit finer and lighter — and you’ll have to do it again. But on the plus side the first time hurts the worse and then the pain dramatically lessens the more waxings you get (as long as you wax regularly.

Getting waxed religiously every three to four weeks — throughout the entire year, not just during the bare-all summer months — is the secret to both less pain and better results! Why every 3-4 weeks? That’s typically the exact time it takes for your hair to hit that magical 1/4th inch length. If you have coarser hair, or hair that doesn’t grow fast, you may be able to hold off up to 6 weeks.