Yeah, I’m thinking of getting one. Not sure how ‘complete’ I want it to be yet. My questions are:
How badly will it hurt? I’ve never waxed any of my body hairs, so I have nothing to compare it with.
How long should I let my hairs grow? I understand they have to be a certain length in order for the wax to grip them properly - what’s the optimum length?
How do I find a good waxer/salon? I don’t know anyone that gets this done, so I can’t ask for recommendations from my RL friends. Specific reccommendations in the L.A./San Gabriel area would be awesome if you have it, but otherwise just tips on finding a good one/avoiding a bad one are appreciated.
How long will it last?
Am I clinically insane for even thinking about this?
Never had one. Never will. Eyebrow waxing is about as much as I can take.
But this is an entertaining account of getting a Brazilian wax job. Granted, that’s more extreme than what you’re talking about, but maybe you’ll enjoy :eek: reading it.
I’ve only had one. It wasn’t because of the pain, but because you have to grow the hair to about a quarter of an inch and I can’t stand doing that. I’d rather use the razor.
It honestly didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. It’s a lot like ripping off a bandaid that’s been on for a bit. It will depend on how much you want to get waxed since each area has a different sensitivity. I would imagine it would also depend on the type of hair you have and how thick.
I have very fine hair so it lasted about 4ish weeks. I have a friend who has coarse hair who told me it only lasted about two weeks for her.
Another vote for “Not that bad” I’ve had a few, but my most recent one was at a pretty notable full-service salon and spa in the area. I can’t recommend places in your area, but maybe you can figure out where a good spa is.
The general rule of thumb is that it has to be a week’s worth of hair growth in order to wax.
Haven’t had the full on bikini, but I’ve done various other body parts.
Yes, the hair should be about a quarter inch. If it’s shorter, the wax won’t grip properly, if it’s longer, it’ll hurt more. I don’t know why, but it does.
It stings the first time - the amount of discomfort seems to vary widely between individuals, but it hurts much less on subsequent times. I don’t know why, it just does.
It should last about 4 - 6 weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows.
You’re not insane, perhaps a little masochistic, but even that depends on how much you enjoy the experience
YMMV but I found a leg wax hurt more than bikini or underarm - that surprised me. It’s not that bad, it’s brief and if your waxer is swift about applying pressure after pulling off the strip, it doesn’t actually hurt all that much. It also hurts less each time you get it done if you have it done regularly.
I’ve had a full Brazilian done a couple times, and I didn’t think it really hurt–there were a couple ouchie spots around the bottom of my labia where the skin is very thin and sensitive. Otherwise no worse than yoinking off a band-aid.
Hair growth should be about two weeks from your last shave, according to my waxer. Can’t recommend anyone in your area, but I would really, really advise asking around your lady friends for word-of-mouth recommendations. A good waxer is golden and a bad one a nightmare.
In my experience: a bikini wax isn’t too bad. It stings, but the pain fades pretty quickly. You might be a little tender and puffy for a few hours, but it’s reasonable and, in my opinion, worth it.
A full brazillian, on the other hand, is one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever had. I don’t know if the aesthetician was particularly unskilled or what, but it HURT. As in, “hey, look, there’s actually blood seeping from my pores.” :eek:
As for finding a good aesthetician…it’s kind of a crapshoot. Do you have a regular hairdresser? S/he might have some good suggestions.
I haven’t had a bikini or Brazilian, but I’ve had my eyebrows, upper lip, armpits and legs done. In fact, I’ve moved and need to find a salon so if I get a date I can go get my legs and pits done first (it’s going into winter, I’m in Idaho, I’m not going to be wearing shorts until…oh, June?)!
For me, the lip hurts more than the rest of them. Legs…eh, not so bad, except for the one time I went during my period. Do not get waxed during your period. Apparently I’m not the only one who it hurts a lot more for. That was the only time I was at all “YEEEEOW!” at the waxer lady. She kept apologizing, and I told her to just get it over with!
okay okay okay here is what I have to say about these things
I’m a little concerned with some of you having never had a bikini wax. I know you cant all be Scandinavian hairless blonds. Seriously, get that taken care of tout de suite before you have to break out a weed wacker.
Its going to hurt. Its going to be awkward but you know that going into it. For me its a “hurts so good” situation because the end result is so worth it. Yeah its gonna bleed because you are RIPPING THE HAIR OUT OF THE FOLLICLES. And I mean its your genitals. Its not going to feel like a kiss. So you can either do it or have the genitals of the missing link. PULL IT OUT!!!
I have a ritual that seems to make the experience less heart breakingly painful. (its really not THAT bad. Its somewhere between a papercut and getting shot in the knee…I can’t say where though) Take a dose of extra strength tylenol before you walk in, get it done, and then go straight to the bar (i prefer margaritas with my brazilian) no stops. don’t go to the bank or the supermarket, or the dry cleaners. go STRAIGHT to the bar.
If they try to make you get on your hands and knees or completely take off your underwear, don’t do it. I learned this the hard way.
I had one bikini wax (done by a woman whom I love to death, who has waxed and threaded various areas of my body). While I will say that the leg waxing was right up there with eating razors, I will never, ever have another bikini wax - and I’ve had two children without drugs.
So…women aren’t allowed to just shave, or heaven forbid go natural? Why would that be? What’s so terrible about not doing what the fashion industry dictates?
Um, okay, I’m not saying this happens to me but, I’ve heard that there are some guys out there who own beard trimmers. Apparently, there’s at least one who enjoys trimming ‘other’ areas, on ‘other’ people.
As part of foreplay.
Sort of … unwrapping a present before getting to play with it.
Not that I’d ever take part in anything like that.
Same here. My old waxer used to sometimes do my bikini line, but it’s not that hairy anymore. (Although my pubes are something to behold. Other than the one time a friend shaved them, I’ve never done anything to remove them. I mean, come on, lobstermonster, you never know when the pube fairy might be in town.)
My legs used to hurt bad the first time, but not so much now. The first time I ever did it was right before my period…not so smart. The only area that really hurts now are my eyebrows and the lower leg (like right around the ankles). Arms/underarms/the rest are basically okay. For a first time, I’d definitely suggest not going when you’re on the rag.
It sounds a bit odd, but not extremely so. I mean, personally I would not let anyone other than myself near my girly bits with a sharp object, but as kinks go it seems pretty tame.
Why is not having had a bikini wax so odd, lobster? Among my friends (girls in their mid-20s) I think I might be the only one who bothers to shave down there. And I just do it because I like the way it feels. Besides, I’ve talked to plenty of guys who don’t particularly find a hairless vagina erotic, mainstream porn trends notwithstanding. Whatever floats your boat.
ETA: I use Veet for my legs. It can get a bit messy, but it’s quite painless, and lasts for a couple weeks.
You know, some of us have tidy little patches that don’t require waxing unless you are wearing a little itsy bitsy bikini - and at 41 after 2 kids, I’m not wearing anything that small anyway.
Now, I know plenty of women who need a little help along the bikini line - somewhere North of mid-thigh - they always seem vaguely shocked that some of us don’t NEED to wax to wear anything other than Bermuda shorts.
And I know some that just wear bathing shorts.
Waxing is painful. Shaving is itchy. Ingrown hairs in that area are not attractive or fun.
<minor hijack>
That says salons in the UK don’t do Brazilian waxes due to hygiene concerns. What am I going to do when I move to the UK? How will I live without my Brazilian?!
</minor hijack>
And to the OP: no, you are not clinically insane. As the article said, after a bikini wax you glide. It hurts some (the first time is worst, possibly because you are expecting it to hurt, but it’s quite bearable.
I was surprised because I’d heard all the comments about ‘it’s worse than childbirth’. Hey, if it’s worse than childbirth, I’m gonna go myself pregnant now.
OTOH, everyone’s pain tolerance varies. I had my legs waxed once and will never, ever do it again. The pain was memorable.
And as others have mentioned, don’t go the week before or the week of your period. It hurts more then. And avoid waxing during the full moon. (My technician strongly asserts that a full moon will increase the pain by a factor of at least ten.)
And as others have said,
