Brazilian & Hollywood waxing
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BRAZILIAN AND HOLLYWOOD WAX?
The terms have been used interchangeably, but there are differences.
Brazilian waxing leaves a small strip or triangle shaped section of hair on the front (pubis mons), whilst taking off all the hair in between the legs from the labia, all the way to the back by your bum.
A Hollywood wax removes all of the hair, right from the front all the way to the back!
A lot of women opt for an "intimate" wax because they like the feeling of the entire bikini area being totally, or almost hair-free.
Some women and their partners believe that a hairless or nearly hairless pubic area looks and feels more erotic, and say that hair removal makes oral sex more enjoyable.
Quote from San Francisco skincare and waxing goddess Marilyn Jaeger in reference to Brazilian waxing: “If you want to sell the house, you’ve got to mow the lawn.”
Because of the specialist nature of this service, it requires extra care.
What should clients be looking for when searching for a salon and technician to get this specialist service?
Not every salon has the expertise to perform a safe and effective Brazilian wax. Keep in mind that if standard waxing techniques are used in your most sensitive areas, you stand a good chance of being bruised. This will result in soreness for several days or up to a week. Here are some of the things you will want to be aware of when choosing that perfect salon :
1. Has the technician been formally trained in Brazilian waxing?
2. How many Brazilian waxes do they perform weekly?
3. Do they use a new spatula every time the wax is applied? If they use the same spatula each time the wax is applied, there is a good chance the wax pot is contaminated.
4. Does the technician wear gloves? You would be surprised how many technicians STILL wax without gloves. The nail is a bed of bacteria and the most common is Staphylococcus. When your hair is removed from the root it is extremely susceptible to infection. When your technician wears gloves, it minimizes the chance of infection.
5. Are the tweezers or any other instruments they use sanitised?
6. Does the technician use hard wax? Hard wax is the type of wax that hardens and is removed without a cotton or fabric strip. (Hard wax should be used in the more sensitive areas. This will avoid damaging the skin on your very sensitive labia area).
If the proper steps are not taken when performing a Brazilian, you stand a good chance of contracting an infection.
WAXING AT PENIKE
Our waxing treatments take place in a private room. You'll be asked to remove your pants and you'll be asked to lie on a couch with clean paper couch roll. I have disposable paper panties and you can certainly ask for some, however, they tend to get in the way and make it more difficult to reach certain areas. I will talk to you about this to help relieve some of your nerves.
I will ask you about which areas you would like to leave some hair on (if any) and how much of it you want to leave. Because you only need about a quarter to a half inch of hair for the wax to grab on to, I may trim the pubic hair to the correct length.
I'll thoroughly cleanse the area being waxed to eliminate potentially dangerous bacteria that may exist on your skin and then apply pre-epilation oil to the skin. This stops the wax from sticking to your skin.
Then I'll dip a waxing spatula into the pot of hot wax and then apply it onto your skin and hair in small strips. I will then allow the strips to set. When the wax has cooled, I will pull the strips off, in the opposite direction to your hair growth, pulling the hairs out by the root.
If necessary, I will tweeze out any stray hairs.
Waxing usually starts in the front and moves toward the back. You will possibly have to move around in all sorts of odd positions in order for me to do my job. You may be asked to help hold skin taut.
Once the waxing is complete, I will apply a soothing Aloe Vera lotion to the waxed areas and will present you with a mirror for you to view the results and to approve your new "do". I will explain what you should do in case of bumps, redness or ingrowing hairs.
Tips :
The procedure, like any waxing, can be quite painful at first, but frequent visits usually cut down on the pain factor. I suggest taking a couple of paracetamol about half an hour before your procedure.
Hydrate yourself. Drinking plenty of water during the 12 hours prior to your appointment will keep your hair follicles more "open" and will ease the hair removal.
The best antidote to the pain of waxing is to try to relax. When wax is warm, it enters the follicle, allowing the hair to be pulled out from the root. According to many technicians, when a client is tense, the follicle closes and wax doesn't reach the root of the hair, so it isn't pulled out smoothly.
As for the embarrassment factor -- I like to think getting a Brazilian can't be any more embarrassing than a typical visit to your gynaecologist's office. This therapist has seen it all before.
Aftercare :
Don't wear tight pants for the next few days.
Keep hands away from touching freshly waxed skin, as this can encourage irritation or small pimples.
Don't take a hot bath for the rest of the day.
If necessary, apply Witch Hazel, which has antiseptic properties.
Lightly exfoliate the next day, unless you're red or tender.
No tanning beds, sauna or steam room for the next 2 days.
A Brazilian wax is not something you should undertake at home; it's definitely a professional procedure. You'll never be able to reach all the spots and crevices a professional can, and really, wouldn't you rather have somebody else making sure you're perfect?
For me, a Brazilian wax is the way to go. A little uncomfortable/painful, yes, but the results are well worth it.
All in all a Brazilian wax is one of the greatest services you can have done. It will eliminate shaving for up to 4 weeks and leave your skin beautifully soft and smooth. My clients tell me they are now spoiled. Shaving is no longer an option!
