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Original poster

To ask you all just HOW painful is a Brazilian wax?! (and other questions)

127 replies

Wussypants · 07/06/2018 23:06

So, after 10 years of trimming my lady garden, I'm considering trying a bikini wax for the first time out of curiosity (I don't shave down there because I get ingrown hairs). I have a few questions...
How bad is the pain - both initial and the aftermath?! Like on a scale of 1 - 10?
How long does it take for the hair to grow back?
If you get it done regularly, does the hair eventually stop growing back?
Any bikini wax tips/funny stories/horror stories?
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
dusking · 08/06/2018 02:56

I get a full body wax including bikini regularly. Not gonna lie, it really hurts but it’s definitely worth it (or else I wouldn’t go back!) I have thick, dark hair (Asian genesHmm) and for me it’s amazing. It depends on your pain threshold, if you’ve never had anything professionally waxed I’d recommend you try something else before bikini (arms or legs are least painful). Immediate pain after they pull it off is the worst but if you’ve got a good waxing lady they should be gentle and give you time to recover. Depending on where you live, I would go to an Asian lady, body waxing is quite common for us and therefore they’d had more experience in waxing your bits.

Your hair grows back thinner and often lighter in colour after waxing a few times although it’s different for everyone - my leg hair is loads less but my arm and armpit hair is the same as it’s always been.

The worst part of a full bikini wax is the awkward positions you have to get it for them to get in every corner imo!Grin

dusking · 08/06/2018 02:57

Forgot to say it takes 1-2 months to grow back depending on how lucky you are OP

Monty27 · 08/06/2018 03:11

Took mine a few days to grow back. The pain was excruciating. Never again.

DontMentionTheWar · 08/06/2018 03:27

I don’t find it that painful to be honest. Just take some anti-inflammatories an hour or so beforehand and then some paracetamol half an hour beforehand and you’ll be fine. The first time is the worst but even that wasn’t horrendously bad, just make sure you’ve cut the hair short - but not too short or you won’t be able to wax, check with the beautician beforehand.

AlaskaSometimes · 08/06/2018 03:30

It hurt me so bad. I am not usually a sook. I have tattoos, piercings in places others wouldn't and get my eyebrows regularly waxed.

Brazilian waxing HURT. I was actually crying. I must be super sensitive there as my friends were fine. I'm thinking of doing laser.

I tried it twice in two different salons and both times was excruciating in certain areas.

MonsterKidz · 08/06/2018 03:38

I used to get a light bikini wax (just the edges, the bits on show when wearing a bikini) before holidays abroad. I could just about tolerate the pain. The last time was 7 years ago - was pretty sure the now husband was going to propose on that holiday (I was right!) and thought I’d get a full Brazilian! Never, ever, ever, again! I haven’t been back since!! I had to ask her to stop it was so bad - worse than childbirth I swear!!

I now use shaving cream or shave. Although the effect of waxing is wonderful, I couldn’t go through that again!!

RooDaisy · 08/06/2018 03:56

It kills, really really bad! I don't bother anymore, I just leave it a couple of weeks and then get it all off with hair removal cream. Guess it depends if you want your bum done or not! You should defo have at least 1 in your life though! X

geezawee · 08/06/2018 04:06

I used to get waxed regularly and it really really really hurts. It's someone ripping out all your pubes. It's as bad as it sounds. It's humiliating as well because they make you get on all fours so they can wax your bum hole. I just let my bush grow free these days.

Moononthehill28 · 08/06/2018 04:19

Well I’ve been having it done for years and years and I don’t even feel it really. I honestly don’t know why people make such a fuss about it. I also have really strong dark hair. The more you have it done the less it hurts.

Rollawolla · 08/06/2018 04:39

I get a full Hollywood done the pain is literally less than a minute and after that you feel so damn good. I don't find it painful get it done once a month and a half for past three years perhaps am just used to it. My first was the most painful but if you get chocolate wax done then it really doesn't hurt as much

Caspiana · 08/06/2018 04:43

It does hurt during the procedure but it won’t take long.

Take paracetamol in advance and make sure you have hot wax not strip wax. If you have hot wax it won’t hurt at all afterwards.

JingsMahBucket · 08/06/2018 04:55

I’ve never been brave enough to do a Brazilian. Just a bikini wax. Once. 12 years ago.

Fuck that noise. I use Nair or Veet now instead depending on whichever is on sale or available. Lidl’s cheap Cien brand also works and smells just fine.

5 min applying it, 10 min leaving it on, then 5 – 10 min for a regular morning shower to wash it off. The hair stays gone for about two weeks and my lady parts stay untraumatised. Plus, it’s cheaper anyway.

Candyflip · 08/06/2018 04:58

Waxing will never permanently stop/slow hair growth. But lasering does.

Pandora79 · 08/06/2018 05:00

It was pleasant. But I didn't find it very painful. The first one grew back quite quickly, because of hair cycles. But a lot finer.

After 2 , it took at least 4 weeks. I have very dark hair.

TwoShades1 · 08/06/2018 05:01

How much it hurts does depend a bit on how much hair you have and how thick and coarse it is. I don’t have a lot and it’s not that thick. It does hurt a bit but I’m able to carry on normal conversation with my beauty therapist while she does it. I’ve been getting mine done for about 5 years and I’m definitely noticing a thinning of the hair at the sides and top. I get mine done every 4 weeks which gives me about 1cm of regrowth. I do go every 3 weeks in summer if I’m wearing swimwear often.

steff13 · 08/06/2018 05:06

I get a Brazilian (I think what you call a Hollywood) anyway, there's nothing left when she's done. It don't find that it hurts, except when she does the rear, and then it's just a little annoying, nothing terrible.

moleeye · 08/06/2018 05:19

I get a Hollywood and it's the best thing. Totally worth the short term pain. For me, getting my legs waxed is far more painful!!

Mari50 · 08/06/2018 07:06

It’s not the most pleasant way to pass the time. The fact that when you go for a piss afterwards and it sprays everywhere is really annoying too.

PlateOfBiscuits · 08/06/2018 07:12

’Waxing will never permanently stop/slow hair growth.‘
It may not for you but it certainly did for me!

Also, I second the comment from a PP that the more you do it the less it hurts.

Take two paracetamol the first time and don’t go on or around your period.

crivit · 08/06/2018 07:12

I've been having various levels of intimate waxing for a fair few years and I'd echo a few points already made. Trimming may be a good idea depending on current length as too long just isn't workable (check with the therapist). Pain levels generally are fine, can chat away through them with no problem. I don't take painkillers beforehand as I find it more than workable but a tip I was given was to breathe out as the wax was being removed. Also, pain levels can vary depending on where you are in a menstrual cycle.

As to positions, if you're going Brazilian (or Hollywood if you're so inclined) and therefore the therapist will be going round the back you really can't be shy... I've heard people talk about all fours but that position has never been done in any of my appointments. I sort of lie on my side with a leg over a bit (sort of like the legs when in the recovery position) and you may have to assist the waxer a bit holding your arse if you've not got a tiny one Grin

One final thing, if you think the wax is too hot please say something. I didn't once when I was a far too polite teenager and ending up blistering. Seems far less likely these days as my therapists have used hot wax for the brazilian section for a while which seems less likely to have negative effects. Hot wax is the one which sets on you and is ripped off as is (they find an edge and go for it) rather than the kind of wax they need to press strips onto to remove it.

PlateOfBiscuits · 08/06/2018 07:13

’The fact that when you go for a piss afterwards and it sprays everywhere is really annoying too.’

Wait... what?

Pandora79 · 08/06/2018 07:18

The fact that when you go for a piss afterwards and it sprays everywhere is really annoying too.’

This has never happened to me! Shock

JacquesHammer · 08/06/2018 07:25

People have different pain thresholds surely?

FWIW I don’t find it painful at all. Mildly stinging if that.

rickandmorts · 08/06/2018 07:29

Get a hot wax where they spread wax on, it hardens and is removed. I got strip waxed for years and fuck me it hurt. I didn't realise hot waxing existed!!! It really is not that painful at all. I can have a convo with my beautician whilst she does it!

trojanpony · 08/06/2018 07:29

Great advice further up on here. Breathing out was a game changer for me

If you go, make sure the place uses Lycon wax not natural wax or any other kind of bollocks

I’m pale with fairly thick hair - lycon is x1000 better than anything else.
Standard hot wax makes me bleed... Shock
But an afternoon wax with lycon and within a couple of hours it’s business as usual Grin

It also hurts much less.

Did I mention I LOVE LYCON WAX?