Intimate waxing
What is intimate waxing?
Intimate waxing is when warm wax is spread over the area of pubic hair to be removed. A strip of fabric or waxing paper is applied firmly to the area in the direction of the hair growth. It is then quickly removed taking the hair with it in the wax.
This process is repeated until all the hair is gone and any stray hairs can be removed by plucking with tweezers.
How is it done?
The length and shape of wax fabric / paper will vary according to the area being waxed.
- Hard wax is wax that is peeled directly off the skin with fingers
- Warm wax is heated up and applied using a spatula
- Roll-on wax is heated in containers in a wax heater and applied with a roller that should be sanitized between every use
Side effects
Bleeding at the site of the hair removal can occur as little dots of red if your hair is especially thick or hard. Removing a patch of skin is not considered a successful waxing outcome and should be avoided.
It’s normal to see some redness which will generally go away in a few hours. If there is a little stickiness that remains it is a little bit of the wax left over on your skin. It can be removed by sprinkling on some talcum powder and lightly rubbed off.
Regrowth
The optimum period to redo your bikini wax is every four to six weeks depending on how quickly your hair grows back. It can be waxed most easily when it re-grows to a quarter inch in length.
Why Wax?
- Waxing lasts longer
- Re growth becomes soft
- Hair can be gone after 2 years
Pubic Hair Styles
Natural
No trimming or maintenance.
Trimmed
Hair length is shortened but not removed or shaped.
Triangle
Hair is removed (generally waxed) from the sides to form a triangle so that pubic hair cannot be seen while wearing swimwear. This can range from the very edge of the “bikini line” to up to an inch reduction on either side. Hair length can be from an inch and a half, to half an inch
Landing strip or Playboy
Somewhere between the Brazilian and the Hollywood; not quite bare, but not far off, with only a very narrow strip being left at the front. Hair sharply removed from the sides to form a long centered vertical rectangle, hair length about quarter of an inch.
Brazillian
So named after the Brazilian women who needed a barely-there bikini wax in order to sport their much-loved itsy-bitsy thongs on the beach!
This wax traditionally leaves a small rectangle of hair, or ‘landing strip’, behind, though the latest trend is for a neat triangle instead. The Brazilian usually includes the waxing of the sensitive labia as well as between the buttocks, which is why it can feel a little more painful than a traditional bikini wax, though many people claim the pain isn’t much different.
It takes about 45 minutes for a Brazilian wax which can lasts between 4-6 weeks.
Full Brazillian or Hollywood
Pubic hair completely removed – say no more! For the very brave only.
Variations
- V-shaped
- Heart-shaped
- Arrow
- Initials
- Crystals / Gems
After waxing off almost all of the hair in the bikini area, body gems or crystals are stuck on to the skin in various shapes. Many salons are now offering a choice of templates to create special bikini designs.
- Dyed — colouring hair to match hair on the head, or to give it a unique look (for example, red–in the shape of a heart)
Handy Waxing Do’s & Don’ts
- Do exfoliate regularly after a wax to prevent ingrown hair.
- Use tea-tree-based cream to reduce redness and inflammation from in growing hairs.
- Do go prepared if hairs are long i.e. never been or not been for a while.Trim your hairs to about 2cm or less.Ripping out long hairs is guaranteed to give maximum pain.
- Do be prepared to take your pants off (not for a normal wax – just for a more extreme wax such as a Brazilian/Playboy).
- Do take a Paracetamol 15 minutes before waxing – it will help with the pain.
- Do make sure that your beautician has a legally recognised qualification.
- Don’t have a wax mid-cycle (during period) it will be more painful.
- Don’t tense up when being waxed – take long deep breaths, relaxing will make it easier and don’t suffer in silence – if it is too painful tell your beautician.
- Do not swim immediately after waxing as chlorine and sea water can irritate the skin.
Thanks to Nicky Moore of Bond Beauty, Cardiff for this information.
