If you are interested in getting a bikini area waxing done, you may be considering a Brazilian wax. Not sure what that is, exactly? Hopefully this article will clear it up for you.

Origin

Here’s the history lesson you never got in school. The origin of the Brazilian wax! But don’t worry, there are no dates to memorize.

The bikini wax started with the advent of the traditional bikini, and to this day, a “bikini wax” represents waxing that removes any hair that might be exposed while wearing a bikini bottom. However, in the 1970’s the thong bikini was introduced on the sultry and sexy beaches of South America. With so much more skin revealed, more hair needed to be removed than with a traditional bikini wax, so ladies of the Southern hemisphere began more extensive hair removal techniques.

By the mid 1980’s, the thong bikini had found its way North, and a small waxing boutique in New York City was opened, run by seven sisters from Brazil. Known as the “J Sisters” (since all seven had first names beginning with the letter “J”), these ladies, skilled in new techniques from their home in Brazil, were given credit for this bikini waxing style and, because of them, it became dubbed the “Brazilian wax.”

Definition

While the traditional “bikini” wax (as mentioned above) removes hair that would be visible while wearing a regular bikini, the Brazilian goes much further. If you think about what is visible with a thong, you’ll get a picture of how much hair is necessary to remove. This involves not only hair from the front, but between the legs and up the backside. In most cases, a Brazilian will involve full hair removal from the entire bikini area. However, some women like to leave a small triangle, reminiscent of the natural shape, while others choose what is called the “landing strip” or “mustache,” a thin rectangle of hair. This is purely up to your preferences and should be discussed with your aesthetician beforehand. But the basic idea is to make the area clean and smooth in order to wear a thong bikini bottom.

Other Things to Expect

Brazilian waxes will be more expensive than a traditional wax simply because more hair is being removed and, therefore, the process is longer with more work involved. Prices will vary across the country, but usually they are only ten dollars more than the regular bikini wax. Depending on your aesthetician, some Brazilian waxes are done while wearing a thin disposable paper panty, or sometimes wearing nothing at all. Hair must be 1/4th an inch long in order for the wax to grab it and remove it. If your hair is too short, the procedure can’t be done. If it’s too long, your technician will most likely trim first. Most women return between four to six weeks for the next service, and a lot of them continue into the winter months because they enjoy the smooth, clean look year round.

DIY, no way!

If you’ve ever heard “don’t try this at home,” the Brazilian is definitely in that category! Using a razor for a Brazilian style is, how can we put this, a really, really bad idea. The skin folds and other hard to reach places simply are not designed for a razor blade. Ouch! Not to mention the contortion you’ll have to get into with a mirror to make sure you haven’t missed a spot. Plus, the bikini area is already quite sensitive, so even if you plan to wax, you’ll want to go to a licensed aesthetician. They are not only trained with techniques to get the best waxing done properly, but also to ensure you don’t get broken skin which can lead to infection. If you already know you have sensitive skin, speak to the aesthetician before your appointment for suggestions on ways to keep a potential reaction down to a minimum.