How to Make Your First Brazilian A Great Experience

If you've never had a Brazilian wax before, you may be scared of the unknown. There are so many women that have thought about doing an intimate wax, but never take the plunge. So let's discuss how to make your first wax the best possible experience for you. Here are the most common questions I hear and my responses.

General Questions

How do I find a waxer?

Most cosmetologists and estheticians are able to wax under state laws. Just because they can, doesn't mean that they do Brazilian waxing. You want to find an expert that does more than one a month. Just like if you were having a heart surgery... you want a professional that does them daily, not occasionally. The best way to find a waxer is through word of mouth. So get your girlfriends to talk!!!

Will it hurt?

Well, waxing is removing hairs and is at best, uncomfortable. So, yes. It's going to hurt a little bit. The good news: All of my first time clients say that it wasn't as bad as they thought they would be. By the time you are getting dressed, you are ready to schedule your next appointment and do it all over again in 4 weeks.

I'm a shaver and just don't know about this waxing thing. How long do I need to grow out my hair?

If you are a shaver, you will want to grow out the hair until it is about 1/4 inch long. How long is that? Think grain of rice length. Typically it is 2-3 weeks... but when in doubt, longer is better than shorter. Believe it or not, if it's too short, it will actually hurt more. There are many rewards for waxing such as thinner, finer hair making it much more manageable. 

Can I wax when I am on my period? Yikes.

The answer is yes. Just wear a tampon or cup and we'll work around the string or stem. You can be more sensitive around your cycle, so you may want to schedule at least 3 days before you start or 2 days after, but it definitely does not bother me. 

How long will I stay smooth? I would love to be hair free!

The longer you wax, the longer of period of time your skin will stay smooth and hair free. The first time you wax, we may not be able to get all of the hairs. This is normal and to be expected. You may also feel hair growing back in within a couple of days. These are hairs that weren't up out of the skin to be waxed when you came in for your appointment. The next appointments you can expect to have more hairs cycled through that can be removed so that you continue to go longer and longer hair free. 

What about ingrowns? I get ingrowns a lot with shaving. 

More good news here. Ingrowns are much more common with shaving than with waxing. I do everything possible to help you avoid them. Exfoliating is a great way to help prevent them and I offer 2 great solutions in the treatment room. The Supracor Spa Cell I recommend to everyone (trust me... this will be your new bestie for showering) and Ingrown Hair Buster for those prone to pesky ingrown hairs. 

Waxing Questions

What do I do to prepare for the wax?

The day of your wax, go ahead and take a nice warm (not hot) bath or shower and exfoliate the skin. This means to gently buff away the dead skin cells, which will help the hair follicle release easier. Avoid caffeine at least 3 hours prior to a wax as extra stimulates means you will feel the wax more. Wear clean cotton underwear to your appointment. Avoid caffeine and alcohol the day of your appointment. You could also opt to take a pain reliever.

What do I need to do during the appointment?

The most important thing to do is to breathe. From there, I will have you help hold and keep the skin as tight as possible. The tighter the pull, the less pain you will feel. 

How long will the wax take?

First time appointments generally take about 30 minutes. Your next appointments usually will take 20-25 minutes (depending on how much we are talking and not working - haha!)

Is there anything that I need to know for after my waxing appointment?

Schedule your next appointment before you leave the spa. You didn't do your first wax to have it be your only. Try at least one more wax 4 weeks later to see what a maintenance Brazilian wax feels like. Hard sweaty workouts and sexual activity should be avoided for at least 24 hours. Avoid tight clothing. You will also want to avoid tanning, hot tubs, and hot bathing/showering for at least 48 hours. Start using your Spa Cell one to two times a week after day 3. 

What if I have more questions?

That's what I'm here for! Ask away. I'm an open book and will be happy to answer for you.

Don't forget to Breathe. Let Go. Relax

Zoey Jolley, Licensed Esthetician