When I started working as a beautician 14 years ago, getting
Brazilian waxes was the domain of strippers, dancers, and porn stars. But they
have since become mainstream. Everyone from his younger sister to his
60-year-old neighbor gets one.
Despite the ubiquity of this particular waxing practice,
there are still plenty of people who come for waxes or are considering doing it
and are surprisingly clueless.
If you fall into this class, don't worry: I support you.
Prepare to earn a gold star from your esthetician.
Brazilian wax tips
1. Cut before entering.
Your pubic hair should be long enough to be plucked (about a
quarter inch long), but if it is too long it will become a painful, tangled
mess. If we have to take the time to trim it for you, you'll find out why we
put the phrase "and more" in our waxing service fees.
Use a beard trimmer and put things in order before you get
on the table.
RELATED: What Guys Think About Women Who Are All Waxed
2. These in-room baby wipes are for you.
Go ahead, calm down. It will improve the experience for
everyone.
3. We have seen it all.
No matter what embarrasses you, we've seen it before. It
is almost impossible to be surprised when it comes to bodily things.
4. We love when you ask us questions.
They educate us on much more than waxing. Most of us have a
huge knowledge base that covers everything from skin care and lasers to skin
physiology, product chemistry, and anatomy. So ask us questions. We are here to
help you.
5. Be set to get on all fours.
Estheticians have different techniques and you may not have
to, but be mentally prepared for the job.
6. For the sake of all that is sacred, do not have sex
before entering.
Seriously, don't do it. It's a quick way to get on the list
of people we will never book again.
7. You have hair on the slit on your buttocks, so don't make
it weird by insisting that you don't.
If you don't poverty to wax it, that's more than fine.
But when your esthetician asks if he wants his back waxed, understand that he
is not asking about your health. A simple yes or no will suffice.
8. Wait until the week afterwards your period to wax.
When you have PMS or have your period, you are more
sensitive to pain. There is no reason to make things worse.
9. Avoid UV rays before waxing.
It can lighten the skin. So avoid rays at least 24 hours
before your appointment.
10. Prepare your skin.
Make preparing your skin a part of your pre-wax outine.
Gently exfoliate the area to be shined 24 hours before
waxing (i.e. using a washcloth in the shower).
Pro Tip: Exfoliate the depilated area regularly as part of
your post-wax routine to prevent ingrown hairs.
11. Avoid shaving between appointments.
This will only surge the pain and make ingrown hairs more
frequent.
12. Wear loose clothing for your date.
For the rest of the day, avoid applying too much friction
with tight clothing or exercise, lest you end up with more irritation or
ingrown hairs on the shaved area.
RELATED: The Definitive Guide to Safe Hair Removal at Home
Brazilian wax myths debunked
Myth No. # 1: Homemade Brazilian waxing is simple.
I know your best friend has a waxing kit and you've been
getting your holes done for years, but trust me: a Brazilian wax is a
completely different animal.
What about a Brazilian wax that went bad? Well, let's say
closing the anus is the easiest complication.
Myth 2: Getting Brazilian wax is rude and uncomfortable.
It is neither strange nor disgusting to us. We promise.
We can look you in the eye afterwards, even if we know you.
Myth No. 3: You need to take medicine to make it less
painful.
Definitely not. We really need to know your medical history
and current medications.
Certain conditions, medications, and supplements make waxing
unsafe or riskier because it causes thinning of the skin, easy bruising or
bleeding, sensitivity to heat, or other relevant side effects. There is nothing
more horrible than waxing someone's skin because
