Brazilian?

missjean81302 · May 2011

Ok so I've never had anything waxed before. Sure, i've tried those horrible at home waxing kits and was smart enough to only try it on my legs because it would leave a sticky mess and didnt do the job, but i'm thinking of going to a professional to get a brazilian like a week before my wedding...but i'm scared! Has anyone else gotten one and how intense is it? I can handle pain like a champ (I have 30 tattoos and have had everything above the belt pierced at some point) so i feel silly even being nervous about this. I think if anything, the embarassment factor is my biggest issue, especially since I am not a skinny girl. I'm not like some monster trucker chick, but still, i'm insecure about my weight. Any tips or advice? Should I get one done now just to be prepared? My wedding is July 24 so i dont have much time.

fallbride1109 · May 2011

You will get lots of feedback on this--this topic always does. And you'll get lots of suggestions and girls saying, the pain is nothing, it's not that bad, I get them all the time blah, blah, blah.

But my experience was: it hurt. Alot. Like I didn't know if I would make it through the whole thing it hurt so much. And I will never do it again. And yes, it's quite the intimate experience so be prepared. I'm not shy or anything but, yeah, they get all up in your business for sure.

Some tips I've seen: take an Advil before you go, and there's this stuff called "no scream cream" that you can use beforehand. I think a good technician is key--I went to an expensive Aveda spa. You don't want to get a Brazillian at "Spas-are-Us."

ETA: Here is the huge thread on this topic with lots of great tips:

http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-beauty_advice-brazilian-virgin

jcatherman · May 2011

They do hurt, but its not total agony. I would suggest going about a week before, just incase you have any sort of reaction to it (i did my first time) they usually last 3-4 weeks. Definitely look into a few places before you pick one. I love the salon I go to, I thought it would be terribly embarassing! my first time i kept laughing i was so embarassed, but they're used to it. They understand. Good luck!

CeliaKH · May 2011

It hurts - but not as much as a tattoo probably hurts (don't have one so don't know). The part that hurts the most on a wax is the labia area - and you can opt out of that area if you like. It will essentially still look the same.

As for being embarrassed - it's a lot like going to the gyno. The people who wax women see dozens of vaginal areas a week and your body type or whatever else you're worried about is nothing new to them. Ask a friend where she goes - best to go somewhere you'll trust.

Do whatever you're comfortable with. Maybe start with just a bikini line wax and see how you feel after that.

TheCranberry · May 2011

Make sure you go to a place that doesn't double-dip the wooden stick.

I'd also go now to get one out of the way to make sure you don't have a bad reaction. The first time I got a bikini wax (not even brazilian), I was like "no way am I letting this lady finish". It definitely hurts, but different people have different levels of pain tolerance.

Murfle11 · May 2011

All of the above advice is fantastic! It is very true though that you need to watch for a reaction. I do waxing all the time, but one time about 2 years ago someone used a chocolate wax and my whole face was swollen by the time I left and I was drinking Benadryl cocktails until I could ask someone what to do, so it may be wise to go a few months before the wedding just to be sure (and the more you do it, the less it hurts because your skin builds a sort of tolerance). Good luck!

Oh, and don't go during or the week before your cycle, that is when your skin is the most sensitive.

Car&Ry · May 2011

In my experience (I've been getting waxed every 2 months for 3 years) pain is related to the type of wax and how long your hair is.

Hair should be 1/4 of an inch and no longer. The aesthetician should be able to trim longer hair for you if you need her to. Ask people that you trust about their experiences with certain salons. You want to find out if the wax is sticky or if it pulls of FAST, if the customers get a lot of ingrown haihrs (should be pretty rare), bruising (extremely rare) and cleanliness. The bed should have paper over it (like a doctors office) and the aesthetician should never contaminate the wax by double dipping the stick once it has touched your skin.

My aesthetician has me help hold my skin taut while she concentrates on waxing and ripping -it is as awkward as it sounds, but there is less pain if your skin is taut (like pulling off a band aid). Pressing down on the area immediately after the strip is ripped off can ease some pain.

Make sure you get ALL the wax off with baby oil -soap and water won't take it off!! I recommend having a shower and washing the area VERY gentle when you get home, then putting an aloe lotion on it. The first couple of times you do this, you are more prone to ingrown hairs, so make sure you exfoliate and get them as early as possible. Oh and no sex for 24 hrs after. OK that's the extent of my knowledge... I pay $50 per session, once every 2 months and leave a little strip down the front because that's where it hurts (for me).

Kalithia · May 2011

I was talked into a few years ago. I must admin they have great results but hurt so much. The worst part for me is the top. When she did in between and my backside I was fine. I actually bleed my first time but only on the top. I gues my hair folicales didn't like the hair being rip out! After the first time I never bleed again. I even stopped for a while because I got deployed but when I got to the salon again I was fine. I say go for it. You will love it after about 2 days once the pain fully goes away!

meep2 · May 2011

Definitely get one now. It will give you a much better idea of how fast your hair grows back, whether you'll have a reaction, how long it takes for redness to go away on your skin, that sort of thing.

I know you're going for a Brazilian this time, but you could also consider just a regular wax. The interesting thing about a Brazilian is that it leaves you with, uh, nothing there. I had a waxer take off more than I was used to once and I was not prepared for that feeling. You will be surprised how much, uh, friction, is going on down there when you walk; without any hair, it's just skin on skin. Some people love it, but there's a happy medium option out there.

I always (and have on these boards) recommend Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas. I don't know if there's one near you, but I find their wax formula to be the best. Also, if you're prone to ingrown hairs Tend Skin is great after the wax.

Jade0085 · May 2011

If you can handle pain like a champ you will be fine. It will hurt, yes. But so worth it. I've been getting them for the last few months. Have plenty of water, a few advil and don't go the week before your period. Also, get tend skin, it works magic for ingrowns. It hurts less each time because the hair grows back thinner and sparse. Good luck!

missjean81302 · May 2011

thank you all so much for the advice! Unfortunately there aren't a whole lot of "fancier" spas around here that i could go to. I know of one place I was considering, but after reading everyone's advice, I think I might look a little harder instead of going to a place in the mall lol.

I'm really not worried about the pain as much as the embarassment and the potenial for ingrowns. But yoru advice has it pretty much covered! THANKS A BUNCH!

Habs2Hart · May 2011

My aesthetician works from her home and it makes me so comfortable. See if you can find someone reputable that works from a home salon.

I've been going for years and it doesn't hurt. If you bleed, that is actually good. It means the hair will not grow back there. My girls actually says some of her clients come in and say "make me bleed".

I had a friend who went to a fancy salon and got butchered. It took a lot to convince her to come to my girl, but she was happy she did. She said the pain was a fraction of what it was at the other place. It really has a lot to do with who does it and what technique they use.

As for ingrowns, use a loofa down there for a bit. In growns aren't bad. i get one or two every once in a while. You pop 'em like a zit and then they are gone.

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