This may sound counterintuitive but in order to get a good ol' shiny vaginy, you need to grow it out until your hairs are about a grain of rice in length (¼ of an inch). It can be longer, too. The length is needed so the wax can grip the hairs. Whatever you do, do NOT shave before your appointment.
2. Gently exfoliate the area with a washcloth 2-3 days before your wax. What that does is help remove any dead skin cells and makes sure that when the wax is applied, there's maximum wax-to-hair contact, rather than the surrounding skin, which makes it less painful to pull out, according to Santos.
Never use an exfoliant on the inside of the vagina or buttocks. We recommend using a gentle exfoliator like the Grumari Body Exfoliant, at least 48 hours before your wax appointment to make the process quicker, easier, and less painful.
First, apply a numbing cream to the bikini area 30 minutes before you're about to wax. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Aspirin to minimize the pain. Also, ensure that the wax is cool before application.
"Patients tell me that the most painful areas for waxing are also the most overall sensitive areas, especially in the pubic area," Ciraldo says. Hair around the genitals and bikini line tends to be thicker than on other areas of the body, requiring more force to yank it and, thus, causing more pain.
A day or two before you wax, gently exfoliate with a mild scrub, brush, mitt, or loofah to remove dead skin cells that surround the hair follicles. Exfoliating helps loosen existing ingrown hairs and improves your waxing results.
Along with exfoliating, it's recommended you moisturise a few days before waxing. Moisturising the area will nourish and soften the hairs, making them more supple, and therefore easier to remove from the skin.
If you don't exfoliate two days before waxing, you run the risk of not only uncomfortable waxing services but ingrown hairs, acne, excess irritation, and increasing your chances of a less than flawless wax.
Whether you're comfortably stretched out at a studio or straddling a chair in your own bathroom, Brazilian waxes aren't known for being an easy process—or a painless one. While seeing a licensed professional is always recommended, it's not always possible—and you can give yourself an amazing wax at home.
Some feel slight pain, some feel none. But the pain will never be completely unbearable and the discomfort is it's worth it and that it gets better with each session. If you're feeling uneasy, just speak with your wax pro before your appointment and she will provide you with a complete education on the process.
Similar to waxing, sugaring removes body hair by quickly pulling the hair from the root. The name for this method comes from the paste itself, which consists of lemon, water, and sugar. The ingredients are all heated together until it reaches a candy-like consistency. Once it cools it's applied directly to the skin.
The bottom line. Both sugaring and waxing can be great forms of hair removal if you're looking for lasting results. There's no clear “winner” between the two, because it's ultimately down to preference. Those with sensitive skin types might prefer sugaring because of its gentler nature and more natural formulation.
Use Baby Powder– For hairless (and baby-smooth) skin, you'll want this at-home waxing insurance policy. After cleansing your skin, sprinkle a bit of baby powder to the area about to be waxed. It'll absorb any excess moisture so the wax and cloth strip can adhere properly.
At-Home Waxing Tip #2: Prep the Skin For Waxing
Many of the same rules apply here as they do for professional waxing — exfoliate is key. "It's important that your skin is clean and free of oils, dirt, and moisturizers," said Ismiel. "A well-timed scrub has plenty of benefits.
Using cortisone cream: Applying cortisone cream to clean skin after waxing may help relieve inflammation and swelling. Applying fragrance free moisturizers: Applying fragrance free moisturizers, such as aloe vera gel, may help soothe irritated skin post-waxing and reduce inflammation.
Companies that make waxing products also sell a pre-wax moisturizer made to prepare the skin for waxing. Just be sure the moisturizer you use absorbs into the skin and does not leave a residue. Oil or lubricant on the skin will prevent the wax from grabbing the hairs.
Prior to waxing apply something to numb the skin like No Scream Cream. Take an aspirin or ibuprofen about 30 – 45 minutes before your wax. This is especially helpful when getting waxed above the lip, chest, bikini and genital areas- which top the list as the most pain-provoking areas.
What Areas Should I Not Wax? Irritated, inflamed, cut, or sunburned skin. Any area that has a rash, recent scar tissue, a skin graft, pimples, cold sores, moles or warts. Anywhere you're having dermabrasion services or have gotten them in the past three months.
If the hairs are too short in the bikini area, they will not adhere to the wax for removal. The same goes for hairs that are longer than 1/4 inch. You always want to make sure you trim any longer hairs before the waxing appointment.
Sugaring is actually a really safe and organic alternative to traditional waxing. The sugar paste is made of just three simple ingredients: sugar, lemon juice, and water. "There's nothing inorganic in the sugar paste. It tastes like a citrusy cotton candy and it's edible," Schwartzman explained to me during my visit.
Brazilian wax remove all hair from and around the pubic area, right from the front to the back. It will cover the inner side of the bum as well as the butt crack.
A vajacial is typically a 50 minute treatment, which includes a cleanse, mild enzyme exfoliant, extractions of ingrown hairs, followed by a custom mask, completed with a skin brightening serum or spot treatment. A light chemical peel can also be done in this area.
Luckily, a number of hair removal techniques are easy to perform at home — sugaring, for example, is a prime method to experiment with from the comfort of your own bathroom.