Brazilian waxing - first time - nervous!

[dasheranddancer]

Have namechanged for this, sorry
I've met a new man and though he's put no pressure on at all (as would run a mile) and despite usually having somewhat feminist views of unwanted hair - I've decided that just once I'm going to have it all off and see how I like it.
I'm nervous though! Where do I go? Does it matter - lots of places seem to do it. Do I tell them I'm nervous? Do they remove it all right back to the anal region? Will it be someone female? Can I just turn up? Does it matter that I had sex yesterday?
Sorry for all the questions and not even a Friday - any answers gratefully received :)

I'm getting my micro dermabrasion on my bikini line tomorrow.

The first time I ever read about someone having her pubic hair removed was in a book called "Princess" about the gilded cage life of Saudi royal women. A bride was coated in melted sugar and all body hair removed.

This seemed to me to be part of the long list of horrific abuses against objectified chattel women portrayed in that (admittedly rather sensationally written) book. Having one's pubic hair ripped off is up there with foot binding as a torture perpetuated for the sexual gratification of men.

I'm 46. I don't think I know anyone who does more than trim the wild edges. How come Brazilians/Hollywoods now seem to be almost compulsory amongst younger women? I'm inclined to think that it is the pornification of culture and the increased requirement that "normal" women participate in that culture; but I do note the comments on 80s porn above. What other factors can be involved?

Cannot, for obvious reasons, assist with Op's question

I'm 39, I would hardly class myself as a young woman.

Can I ask though (I am genuinely interested)?

Does this argument apply to all removal of hair? Legs/underarm ?

I'm 27, and I don't know women who have it all off either.

Until I came on MN I had assumed it was something people talked about in films but didn't really do.

north - I think it does apply, but for me personally, there is something more odd about the arguments applied to removing hair on your fanjo and more worrying. My legs are not very sensitive and while it is not nice to get a gash or a red rash there, it's not awful.

Also I think practically, whereas you have to be quite a strong character and/or work in a job where people don't judge in order to flaunt unshaven legs or pits, the only people who see your fanjo really shouldn't care!

Thanks LDR, I find it all very interesting. I shave my legs, under my arms & I do get a Hollywood, but at some point in time the first two have become acceptable & the latter obviously still causes a divide.

When women first started shaving legs/under arms were these discussions had? Were feminists outraged ?

Am intrigued.

I think it's the other way around - shaving legs/arms rapidly became acceptable in the 20th century and only later the 70s feminists were suggesting maybe it was a little odd?

I shave my legs and arms, but less than I used to. It's nice to feel I don't have to shave before swimming or something similarly practical. I would love to feel I didn't want to shave at all, because it'd be so cheap and easy, but I don't always. So it goes.

Btw, about 1/3 of posters call me LDR, and you are the first person to do it and then correct it! There must be a reason why it's easier to type ...

Sorry - I tried to correct myself & got it all wrong

Thanks again.

I did figure out what you meant!

Underarms and legs are not particularly erotic areas.

Legs are on show all the time.

Hairy arm pits are smelly.

That's why pubic hair is different.

Oh, and the growing of leg and arm pit hair is not generally considered an indicator of adulthood. Or at least, not to the extent that pubic hair is.

Seeker, I consider myself a feminist and I worked for a feminist organisation. I've been having brazillians for more than 10 years! It has NOTHING to do with men or society - I simply LOVE how it feels and looks, and yes, it is more hygienic, especially during periods.

The pain level really depends on the person doing it. I know a fantastic beautician in N London if anyone is looking for one - she is quick and has the most painless technique, apart from being plain nice. I am not at all embarassed in front of her, and yes, she regularly waxes around my anal area too (she even waxed a hairy sack belonging to one of her clients' husbands - what a job!).

Good luck and try not to go when you are due or tired/unwell as you do feel it more.

How could it not have to do with society?

I mean, razors are a social invention, they're not naturally occurring.

I'm not saying we should never do anything because of society - I think lots of things we do because of society are really good and I'm very glad we do them. But I think this must have to do with society.

The hygiene thing is very much up for debate, I think. You could also argue that pubes exist partly to trap pheromones etc, and thus have a sexual function. I don't know why I'm even on this thread though- it has been done to death

I think when medical advice is that people with weakened immune systems and other medical conditions shouldn't have waxes because of the hygiene and infection issue, it is not really on for people to still be posting the incorrect advice that it is more hygienic.

Dinamit can you not say it's more hygienic please.

It's not - the link is quite clear on that. And it's ever so slightly insulting to the majority of women in the world who have hygienic pubes.

DIY, and save the money. If it doesn't look nice just turn the lights off.

I was trying not to go there with the hygiene ... but since you did BoF ... frankly, if someone needs to wash, they need to wash. Hairless or not. If an adult woman cannot keep her own genitals clean without resorting to removing the hair, that woman needs to see a doctor.

Quite Milly.

I'm fed up reading it.

I expect Elizabethan court ladies went round telling everyone how much cleaner they were than all these low-foreheaded peasants.

Crikey that was a shedload of cross-posts.

However, it's not point to go Brazilian if your boyfriend is hairy

Genuine question. Could someone explain how genital hair removal is more hygienic, given that we, as a species, have evolved to 'operate' at our best?

I mean, surely if no hair = optimum hygiene, we'd have evolved to have no hair?

Cross posts with everyone !