How to Prepare for Brazilian Wax
If you’re a first-timer, it’s best to know how to prepare for a Brazilian wax. It’s true that preparing for a Brazilian wax can feel intimidating, but if you prep the right way, it can make your whole experience a lot more comfortable and seamless. Plus, it could dictate how smooth the results turn out.
Knowing what to do before your appointment can help reduce sensitivity, improve hair removal, and minimize the risk of ingrown hairs. I would know because I’ve gotten about a million and one Brazilian waxes in my day. Below, I’m sharing a guide on how to prepare for a Brazilian wax so your appointment is as efficient and comfortable as possible.
Interested to know the difference between a bikini wax versus Brazilian? Check out my blog post.
How to Prepare for Brazilian Wax
Understanding what to expect and how to care for your skin before and after your appointment makes the whole process so much more manageable, especially if you’re newer to it. Waxing works best when the skin is clean, lightly exfoliated, and free from irritation, which means a little bit of prep work goes a long way in terms of both comfort and results. And the good news is that the more regularly you go, the more your body adapts to the process. So the right preparation can make Brazilian waxing a much more predictable and less stressful experience over time. Think of it less like something you have to survive, and more like a routine you get to master.
What Is A Brazilian Wax?
A brazilian wax is a hair removal method that removes most or all hair from the bikini area using warm wax. Most of the time, a Brazilian wax will include going fully bare down there from the front, sides, and even in your butt crack! However, the level of hair removal will really depend on your preference. For example, if you don’t want the wax technician anywhere near your butt, you can request to not have that area waxed. Some people ask for a “landing strip” when getting a Brazilian wax, which is basically just a strip of hair on your pubic bone that’s about the width of your finger.
What Does A Brazilian Wax Include?
A Brazilian wax is one of the most thorough hair removal treatments you can get in your bikini area. This is what’s included:
- Front bikini area—all of the hair in the pubic area, including the sides and top. You can choose to leave a small strip or triangle of hair here if you prefer, or opt for complete removal.
- Labia and surrounding areas—yes, all of it. This is the part that first-timers tend to be most nervous about, but a skilled esthetician will move through this area quickly and efficiently. It’s over before you know it!
- Between the buttocks—this is the part that surprises most people when they find out it’s included, but a true Brazilian wax covers the backside as well. Your esthetician will ask you to shift positions so they can access this area comfortably.
How Does A Brazilian Wax Work?
A Brazilian wax works by removing hair directly from the root using warm wax, rather than cutting it off at the surface the way shaving does. Your esthetician will apply warm wax to small sections of the skin at a time, press a cloth or paper strip firmly on top, then pull it off quickly in the opposite direction of hair growth. This will take the hair with it from the root. For more sensitive areas, many estheticians prefer to use hard wax, which hardens on its own and doesn’t require a strip, as it tends to be gentler and more effective on delicate skin.
Because the hair is removed from the root rather than the surface, the results of a Brazilian wax last significantly longer than shaving. Like anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on your individual hair growth cycle.
With consistent waxing over time, many people notice that their hair grows back finer, sparser, and softer than before, which makes each subsequent appointment a little less uncomfortable and the results a little more long-lasting. It’s one of those treatments where the more regularly you go, the better and easier the whole experience becomes.
What Happens During A Brazilian Wax?
During a Brazilian wax, you’ll be guided into a private room and asked to undress from the waist down. That means everything off! Sometimes, the esthetician might give you some wipes to cleanse the area—use those on your vaginal area and your butt crack, too.
Next, you’ll get up onto the table and your esthetician will direct you on how they want you to lay. Usually, they will ask you to splay out in a “butterfly” pose, where you bring the soles of your feet together and drop your knees to the side while laying on your back.
Then they will start applying the wax to areas around your vagina. Most salons I’ve gone to use hard wax, where they don’t need to use a strip to remove the wax. The hard wax just hardens after a few sections, and then they rip the hard wax off. Some salons use strips, however. So they will apply the soft wax, place a paper strip over the wax, and then rip it off in the opposite direction of hair growth.
You’ll probably be asked to move positions so that the esthetician can reach everywhere.The waxing session will probably last between 15-30 minutes, depending on how much hair you’ve got down there!
How to Prep for a Brazilian Wax
Let hair grow to about ¼ inch (about the length of a grain of rice)
Letting your hair grow out a bit will help the wax adhere to the hair more easily. However, if your pub hair is too long, it will make it more difficult for the esthetician to get the wax to the root of the hair follicle. If your hair is too long, don’t worry—your esthetician will trim your hair to the appropriate length for waxing.
Gently exfoliate 24–48 hours before your appointment
Exfoliating your bikini area before waxing is a good idea because it helps loosen the hair follicle a bit, which will make it easier to remove the hair using wax. But considering it’s such a sensitive area, you don’t want to go too hard with the exfoliation.
Avoid lotions, oils, or creams on the day of waxing
Applying any lotions, oils, or creams to the waxing area will just make it harder for the wax to grab onto the hair. So make sure you avoid them on the day of waxing!
Wear loose, breathable clothing to reduce friction after
This is an important one. You don’t want to leave a Brazilian waxing appointment in your tight leggings. Not only is it uncomfortable, but you’ll probably get some of the wax residue on your leggings. And sometimes, there will be leftover white powder that the esthetician uses at the beginning of your waxing session that ends up on your clothes—so maybe avoid dark pants if you can!
Frequently Asked Questions About Brazilian Wax
Does the Brazilian wax hurt?
I’m not going to lie to you—yes, Brazilian waxes hurt. The first time you get it, it’ll hurt more than the other times. Especially because you don’t know, exactly, what it’s supposed to feel like. Once you start getting waxes more regularly, the pain is a lot more manageable because you usually have less hair growing in. And it’s usually finer and thinner than previously.
Personally, I think the pain is worth the results, so I don’t mind it. Also, everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so it might be super painful for some, and less painful for others. It really depends.
How long should hair be for a Brazilian wax?
Hair should be about ¼ of an inch for a successful Brazilian wax.
How often should you get a Brazilian wax?
You can get a Brazilian wax whenever you want, and there’s no right or wrong time of when to get one. If you want to get consistent waxes, you can try to go every 4-6 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows back.
I hope you found this blog post about how to prepare for Brazilian wax helpful! Got any questions? Add them below!
Not sure what to do post-wax? Check out my blog post for the best tips for Brazilian wax aftercare!
