I got my first Brazilian wax when I turned 21. For most of my life, I had strictly used a razor to shave and occasionally dabbled in the Nairs, Veets, and whatever drugstore hair removal creams I could find.
The most I had done outside of shaving was waxing/threading my brows, and that was as far as I was willing to go.
While mindlessly scrolling through Youtube one day, I was recommended a Youtuber’s vlog of her first Brazilian experience. The vlog didn’t show her actual nether regions being waxed, but each wince and eye twitch gave me a good picture.
From there, I went down a rabbit hole of watching other women who’d vlogged their experiences as well. All the women seemed happy with their end results and I was genuinely curious to see what it looked like.
It didn’t take much convincing before I googled waxing centers in my city and made an appointment. I will try anything at least once and figured it couldn’t hurt to go for the experience if nothing else.
For many women, waxing is part of a typical monthly maintenance routine, similar to getting a mani-pedi, lash extensions, and even massages. You could say it’s on the self-care list for women who don’t want to deal with hair throughout the month.
Most women have at some point had their eyebrows, underarms, or bikini areas waxed. However, a good chunk shy away from a Brazilian wax…something to do with not wanting anyone in their crack or near their lips. It’s understandable since a Brazilian is not your typical bikini wax.
A Brazilian wax is a step up from a bikini wax. I mean, hair is not just removed from the bikini line, it’s removed from EVERYWHERE! I mean FULL-ON BALD, though you have the option to leave a landing strip if you’d like. The entirety of the pubic area and the butt crack all get the business are devoid of hair.
Healthline defines a Brazilian as “(removal) from the front of the pubic bone, around the external genitals, between the upper thighs, and around the anus”.
Yes, this includes the vaginal lips and those hard-to-reach areas that we blindly shave and hope for the best.
Now, I am no wax specialist, but I will be sharing 6 tips that were helpful for my first time. I can guarantee that these tips will help you have a much smoother experience.
Plan around your cycle
Before my first Brazilian wax, I read somewhere that pain tolerance increases during ovulation (mid-cycle). I looked into this and found several studies showing that our perception of pain is lower during ovulation or mid-cycle and much higher right before and during your period.
This means that you’ll probably have an easier time if you avoid scheduling an appointment when you’re PMS-ing.
Avoid going on your actual period…if possible
I say this for the sake of being considerate. There are spas and waxing centers that’ll tell you it’s okay to come to your Brazilian wax appointment during your period. While I leave that up to these businesses’ discretion, no one wants an up-close visual of all that, if we’re being honest.
During a Brazilian wax, everything (and I mean everything!) is on full display. I mean, the whole point is to remove hair from the entire area. While you can possibly wear a tampon to your appointment (a pad will not work), you run the risk of the string accidentally sticking to the wax and being yanked out. I doubt that you or your waxing specialist want that.
If you absolutely can’t avoid it, a menstrual cup may be a better choice because there’s less risk of being pulled out, and less possibility of leaking while waxing. An added bonus is that your waxing specialist won’t even have to see it. If it’s not that serious, just wait until Aunt Flo is done for the month.
Exfoliate!
Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and weaken ingrown hairs on the surface of the skin. This provides a smooth base for the wax to stick well and pull the hair out properly, preventing ingrowns.
Exfoliating is great, but you need to do it right. Be gentle, your pubic area is already pretty sensitive, and try to do it frequently. I did not exfoliate enough before my first appointment, and better believe I paid the price with in-grown hairs.
Most professionals recommend exfoliating the days leading up to your appointment but not on the day of. You also want to continue exfoliating a few days after your appointment to keep ingrown hairs away.
You can use a loofah, mild exfoliating scrub, or bath gloves for exfoliation, but try to avoid chemical exfoliants because they can be harsh and leave your skin sensitive to the wax.
Don’t shave!
The thing with waxing, in general, is that the hair has to be at least a quarter-inch for sufficient hair removal. Anything lower and it’ll be a struggle for the wax to adequately grab on to the hairs.
Now, what does shaving have to do with this? A quick look online will tell you a million reasons why you shouldn’t shave if you’re a new or frequent waxer. For a new waxer, you need to give your hair follicles enough time to grow out. If you’re one of those that shave frequently, you’ll need to let those fellas run wild for some time.
Shaving, without sufficient exfoliation, breeds ingrown hairs. When you shave, you’re pretty much breaking the hair strand at the surface of the skin and not from within. The broken strand gets trapped under the skin surface and continues to grow, causing what we know as ingrown hairs. These ingrown hairs will then need sufficient exfoliation before your waxing appointment.
Long story short, ditch the razor for the weeks leading up to your appointment.
Pause all rigorous or skin-irritating activities
Remember, along with the hair removed, you’ll be getting rid of old skin cells in that area. Bacteria can easily infect your newly exposed skin, and lotions, or rubbing motions can also irritate it.
For this reason, avoid sunbeds, spray tans, pools (*ahem* chlorine), heavy creams, and feminine washes altogether. The last thing you want is chemicals messing with your raw skin.
Also, try to avoid exercise, sex, and any other activity that may cause sweating in your pubic area. Remember that bacteria like moist and dark areas and you’re pretty much already exposed as-is. Wait at least 24-48 hours to resume regular activities that may affect your waxed areas.
Unfortunately, I was careless with this part, and my parts broke out in not-so-pretty hives afterward. Do as I say! Not as I do!
Read the website/business guidelines
Most established waxing centers give really good information and tips on their website or business pages, especially for first-timers. It’s important to rake through these websites as you can get solid info on the wax used and if the wax will work for you.
You can also get information on their esthetician licensing; For me, I like the peace of mind knowing that I’m working with professionals who know what they’re doing. The website and business pages may also offer some product recommendations, as well as do’s and don’ts before your appointment.
Quite frankly, a brazilian wax is not one of the most comfortable or pleasant experiences you’ll have. But, you have some level of control over prepping for your appointment and guaranteeing you’ll have somewhat of a slightly smoother experience.
All in all, I can guarantee you’ll love your results!