How Long Does a Brazilian Wax Last, and Is It Worth the Investment?
Regardless of your gender identity, hair removal is likely a part of your routine. And in case you didn’t know, a Brazilian wax is one of the most popular and effective ways to remove hair in the pubic area—which includes genitals and the anus. It’s a painful process that could lead to temporary redness and swelling. So it’s not all that hard to see why people want to know how long a results lasts before booking their appointment.
People have done outlandish experiments in the name of beauty, and the Brazilian wax might just be at the top of that list. However, there’s a reason that people have practiced this hair removal method since the 1970s. Brazilian waxes offer benefits like long-lasting smoothness, finer regrowth thanks to pulling hair from the root, and exfoliating the skin. In other words: Yes, getting a Brazilian wax is painful, but the pain may be worth it.
To help you set realistic expectations and plan your sessions accordingly, we’ll be exploring how long a Brazilian wax lasts. As an added bonus, we’ll also provide beauty editor-backed tips for how to make it last longer.
How Long Does a Brazilian Wax Last For?
Though we briefly covered it in the introduction, it’s important to get granular about what, exactly, this treatment is. We’ll get into that as well as benefits so that you can understand the process and how it may affect you.
What Is A Brazilian Wax?
A Brazilian wax is a tried-and-true hair removal process for the bikini area, but it also notably includes the pubic or bikini area, genitals, and anus. This wax service has been popular since the 1970s in Brazil, when it was created to keep up with the thong bikinis that were becoming fashionable.
We’d also be remiss not to mention that almost anyone can get a Brazilian wax: men, women, non-binary folks. In fact, there are only a handful of people who aren’t good candidates for this kind of wax. For Instance, those who:
- Have sunburn or open wounds
- Have severe skin conditions, like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or severe varicose veins
- Are taking skin-thinning meds, like Accutane
- Are diabetics or cancer patients
Unlike shaving, this treatment removes hair from the root—which is why hairs grow back thicker and slower. A Brazilian wax is also not a bikini wax, as the latter only removes hair from the bikini line. This type of wax is anecdotally the best and usually has longer lasting results.
During a Brazilian wax, an esthetician or other expert practitioner will walk you into the treatment room. They’ll ask you to undress from the bottom and lie face-up on the bed when you’re done. Of course, they’ll leave the room to give you a few minutes to accomplish this.
When the tech comes back, they should start walking you through the process. This means verbalizing when they’re applying the wax, when they’re putting on the strip, and when they’re about to peel it off. Unfortunately, this is a painful process—but it’s a quick one. If you’re wondering how long a Brazilian wax takes to do, that’s usually about 15 to 20 minutes.
The best part? There are benefits that go beyond simple hair removal, benefits that may make the pain easier to bear.
What Are The Benefits Of A Brazilian Wax?
Finer Regrowth
The Brazilian wax treatment damages the hair follicle, which means it produces finer hair during the growth phase. If you get regular waxing—like, say one Brazilian every four weeks for a couple of years—then your hair growth rate can actually slow in the waxed area.
Prevents Ingrown Hairs
If you want to prevent ingrown hairs, getting a Brazilian wax is a good way to do it. And that’s directly tied to the finer regrowth mentioned above. Ingrown hairs are essentially hairs that curl back or skew sideways, making it grow into the skin instead of out of the follicle. So if the hair is thinner, or straight-up not there, it’s harder for it to become ingrown.
Longer-Lasting Smoothness
The first two benefits lead directly into smoother skin that sticks around longer. Since finer regrowth prevents ingrown hairs, and since ingrown hairs often appear as bumps, you have smoothness in every sense of the word.
How Long Does a Brazilian Bikini Wax Last?
Brazilian wax typically lasts anywhere between four and six weeks, but this varies from person to person. That’s because everyone has a different hair growth rate. So if yours is faster, your Brazilian will may only last three weeks. But if it’s slower, you can go up to six weeks in between sessions. The good news is that the more you keep up with your regular appointments, the thinner hair your hair follicles will produce. And this may very well lead to needing fewer and further waxes in between.
Plus, there are ways to help make your Brazilian wax last longer.
How To Make Brazilian Wax Last Longer
Exfoliate your skin 24-48 hours before your appointment.
Consider doing a gentle exfoliation the day or two before your treatment. This will help remove dead skin in that area—which, in turn, makes the wax more effective and helps prevent ingrown hairs.
Avoid shaving in between appointments.
Listen, we know it’s tempting to shave or pluck a hair when your pubic hair starts to get a little unruly. But you should fight against that urge, because giving into it may disrupt the hair growth cycle. And that could lead to ingrown hairs, stubble, or more coarse strands.
Practice proper waxing aftercare.
Just as it’s important to prep for your appointment, it’s crucial to take care of the waxed area post-treatment. Proper bikini wax aftercare includes staying out of direct sunlight, wearing looser clothing, avoiding getting wet or sweating, and waiting to exfoliate. Ideally, you should wait 48 hours to participate in any of these activities.
So, let’s answer our main question: How long does a Brazilian wax last, and is it worth the investment? In short, the treatment lasts between four to six weeks and is absolutely worth the time, money, pain, and investment.
