12 Things your bikini waxer wants you to know 70 Fit and fabulous for TV
the most important thing: no one is judging.
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Let’s get this straight: there’s no wrong choice when it comes to removing your pubes or not. From hairless to full bush, how you groom down there is a purely personal decision. But if totally bare is what you’re after, there’s no denying that a Brazilian wax is the fastest, least bump-inducing way to smooth things out below the waist.
That said, it doesn’t matter how advanced you are in the Brazilian arts, we get that it can be a nerve-racking experience. Here, our favourite bikiniwaxing specialists share what they wish they could tell you before you lie down on the table.
1 ONE IS JUDGING YOUR VULVA First thing’s first, “Don’t be nervous about the way your vulva looks,” says specialist Krystal Cordova. “We see all sizes and colours on a daily basis. Our job is to make you look and feel better about it.” It’s a bikini wax, not an audition to be a pubic-hair model. 2 IT’S NOT AS BAD AS YOU’RE EXPECTING IT TO be If you’re a newbie and anticipating pain levels that rival that of Steve Carell’s character in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, know that a bikini wax certainly isn’t a paid vacation, but it’s likely going to go better than you think. “For firstno
“We see all sizes and colours on a daily basis. Our job is to make you look and feel better about it”
time waxers especially, the buildup before you get in the room is the worst part,” says pro Shobha Tummala. “If you’re seeing a pro, the act itself will be much faster and less painful.” 3 DON’T COME STRAIGHT FROM THE GYM “Come in tidy, like brushing your teeth before a dental exam, but more along the lines of prepping for your annual exam at the gynaecologist,” says Shobha. She notes that the drier the area is, the better the wax will adhere and the better the results will be. “If you know you’re a sweater when it comes to physical activity, most likely you’ll sweat in your bikini area as well,” she explains. Wiping the area of other natural – and completely normal – bodily fluids like discharge is appreciated as well. 4 GO EASY ON THE BOOZE A glass of wine to temper your nerves before is one thing. But showing up drunk is a different story. “Don’t come into your appointment drunk; it will only make your blood thinner and more sensitive to pain,” says Krystal. There’s also the fact that it’s just kind of rude. Salon owner Cindy Thorin once had a client arrive so drunk she didn’t know what to do. “I told her we had to take off her pants, not her underwear if she didn’t want to,” Cindy recalls. When the woman couldn’t get them down on her own, Cindy had to help her. (Don’t worry – she came in to apologise a few days later.) 5 PEE BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT If you’re nervous, prewax jitters can lead to a nervous bladder. “Make a pit stop in the powder room first because undressing and then redressing once you realise you have to go slows things down and adds more hassle for you,” notes Shobha. She says this is a common occurrence: “Oftentimes, after disrobing from the waist down for a bikini treatment, you might feel a little colder, which can intensify the need to pee. Also, during certain parts of the treatment your skin is pulled taut, so even a light press on a full bladder can be uncomfortable.”
6 DON’T SHAVE “Hair needs to be half a centimetre long to be pulled by wax from the hair root,” says aesthetician Angela Marinescu. She says that after shaving, it takes three to four weeks for hair to be the best length to be waxed. “On those with blond hair, it takes about two to three weeks; dark hair takes longer because the roots are stronger,” she says. 7 SERIOUSLY, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS BEING TOO HAIRY “A lot of clients get embarrassed about their growth if it’s been a while,” Krystal says. “I’d rather wax overgrown hair than a twoweek-old shave. It’s easier for the specialist and less painful for you.” 8 TIMING MATTERS Avoid scheduling a wax five days before your menstrual cycle, during or immediately after. “Your body is very sensitive during this time,” says Angela. If you’re sensitive or it’s your first time getting waxed, taking an ibuprofen half an hour prior to your appointment will help. 9 DON’T WORKOUT AFTER YOUR WAX “The friction in tight leggings or yoga pants can cause irritation,” says Angela. “Additionally, you should avoid any physical activity 12-24 hours after your wax,” Krystal says. “The less heat you bring to the area, the better.” Steering clear of another – more private – athletic endeavour can be beneficial as well. Aesthetician Elana De Damian suggests holding off on getting busy
post-wax for 24 hours. 10 WEAR LOOSE CLOTHES It’s not just yoga pants and leggings you might want to avoid. Anything tight-fitting can rub raw spots and make matters worse, says dermatologist Dr Kally Papantoniou. So think more maxi dresses and harem trousers, and breathable cotton fabrics.
11 BE VOCAL “If you have a specific idea of how you want your bikini line to look, speak up,” Krystal says. “Transparency is welcome.” Krystal says she and her team can create clean edges like a tapestry or just clean up what’s visible outside of your bikini. 12 RESIST THE URGE TO DO REDO WORK POST-WAX JOB “If ingrown hairs appear after your wax, don’t pluck them,” advises Krystal. “Let us handle it.” If you pick at your ingrown hairs with your nails, you risk scarring and infection. “We have tons of bacteria underneath our nail beds,” she says. If you can’t make it back into your waxer’s, an ingrownhair treatment can help safely address the issue, as well as a gentle exfoliation of the area three days after your wax.