Ever had it done? How much does it hurt? How much does it cost?
One thing I read is that there must already be some hair there to grab onto. So what does one do if one is already shaved?
Yes. A LOT. $60 or so.
Yes, there must be pre-existing hair there. If one is already shaved, one waits a couple of weeks without shaving, so that the hair grows out enough for the wax to adhere to.
(Full disclosure: I have a fair amount of Germanic/Austrian/Native American heritage. My hair growth is thick, dark and deep, especially in delicate areas. That contributed mightily to my perception of the amount of pain. Folks with thinner or less deeply rooted hair have reported much lower pain from the same procedure.)
That seems pretty extreme. How often must it be done, and how hairy do things get before you make a return visit?
$60 is a bit much. I’ve seen plenty of places closer to $40. Like anywhere else, it gets a bit better every time you go (not 'cause there’s necessarily any thinning going on, but because the hair’s been ripped at the root and is growing in in different stages). It hurts less than getting your ankles waxed, IME.
One tip: Go to someone who knows what she’s doing, preferably from a country whose women are known for their hair removal methods (e.g. Iran). A Russian lady in a back room will do the job better than a 21-year-old beauty school grad in an upscale spa.
About $60 (NYC), it hurts, but not that much. For me, eyebrows hurt way worse. Every person is different. The most important thing is to find an experienced, fast, professional. (I do have extremely thick, coarse hair).
I believe the hair has to be at minimum 1/4" to be waxed, but you will get a better job if its longer than that. I don’t shave (my skin is way too sensitive), but if you do, you just have to wait.
I get it done about every, oh, 6 weeks or so. By that time, I’m not 100% au naturel, but more than I’d want to show in a bathing suit.
That’s great advice, thanks.
I’m also wondering how close the waxing gets. Does it go all the way right up into the folds?
And how long before stubble appears?
Yes. Its at least as personal as the gynecologist, but much faster 
. FYI, my waxist IS a Russian lady (although she works out of a small West Village salon). I’d recommend her any day - the whole thing takes under 10 minutes.
As to stubble, it depends how you define it really. Because the hair doesn’t come in all at once, and it’s not sharp and scratchy, so it isn’t really like stubble at all. So, you’l get some hairs begin to grow in within a week, but they will be sparse and not very noticable, in my experience.
I am not convinced that BW is all that safe. it must cause many tiny tears in the skin, and at the hair roots. Could these sites become infected?
Sounds pretty dangerous to me.
Yes, and a proper esthetician is trained to ensure things are hygenically done and disinfected. In addition, she should provide you with correct information about aftercare, such as using an antibacterial ointment that night.
Its certainly no more dangerous than shaving daily.