Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

First-time waxing... erm... down there

119 replies

ElleDubloo · 20/08/2014 08:09

I have an appointment tomorrow for a wax. Never had one before. Been doing some reading about it beforehand and decided I'd like a normal bikini wax, but when I mentioned it to my husband, he revealed that he'd quite like me to have it all off (i.e. I believe it's called Hollywood or Brazilian?)

Is it going to hurt awfully to have it all removed in one go? How should I prepare? Should I shave/trim beforehand? (I'm completely au naturale at the moment)

Quite embarrassed to be asking, but thanks in advance Blush

OP posts:
highlighta · 20/08/2014 08:25

Yes all off is a Hollywood, with a landing strip is a Brazilian.

There will be folk coming along and saying it doesn't hurt. But I'm not going to say that because it does hurt a bit. Especially as you haven't waxed at all before. You can take a paracetomal before hand, which takes the edge off.

With regards to bikini wax or all off - this is up to you completely. Bear in mind that a Hollywood is all the way round, so you will be waxed in between your butt cheeks too Wink.

Nowaysis · 20/08/2014 08:37

I agree with highlighta - it does fucking hurt.

I'm currently on holiday and decided to have a wax last week, testing out the hollywood as my beautician had just trained with some new wax that is used on celebs. Two words: Never. Again. I described it worse than childbirth and utterly personal/intense. I was on all fours with my bum in the air whilst beautician is up close to everything.

Perhaps my area is more sensitive (beautician said I was, perhaps she was being nice) as I have never waxed before and only shaved, which apparently makes the hairs thicker.

Advice: shot of vodka before hand OR strong painkillers Grin

Original poster
ElleDubloo · 20/08/2014 08:49

Oh no, I'm a bit scared now :( Also, I bought this as a special offer from Groupon, so it's super cheap. Is that a bad idea for my first time? Will they be less professional?

OP posts:
Nowaysis · 20/08/2014 10:19

I doubt they will be less professional. The training my beautican has gone through, and stock she has brought has cost a lot. She did deals when she first started doing it to get people interested so she could make her money back.

I almost wish I'd gone to someone I didn't know.

Perhaps my pain threshold is wank it has always been good this experience bloody hurt me, so I'm only being honest. Where my stretch marks are (pube line) hurt the most so it is an extra sensitive area for me.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 20/08/2014 10:32

Tell your husband you'll have it done if he has his done first!

rubyflipper · 20/08/2014 10:52

Don't have it done just before your period as waxing hurts more then.

The beautician may ask you to hold an area skin taut just before she applies the wax. This helps to lessen the pain because the hair follicles are stretched (I think).

And take a couple of paracetamol before you go in.

sansucre · 20/08/2014 11:00

Take a few Nurofen 30 minutes before you go. And make sure they use hot wax as it's far less painful than the strip waxing.

twoweeks · 20/08/2014 11:08

It hurts. A lot. I have had Brazilians. They absolutely fucking kill, but it was just about bearable. I wouodnt be brave enough for a Hollywood. The thought of wax being ripped off my labia? Nah.

Hakluyt · 20/08/2014 11:10

Tell your husband that you'll give him the voucher- if he does it, you will.

highlighta · 20/08/2014 11:13

But a Brazilian is all off labia twoweeks. Its just a little strip left and everything else off including bum.. Well that's what it is in our salon... Do you get different Brazilians?

OP, why not chat with the beautician, she could start with sides like a bikini, and if its ok pain wise then let her do the rest. If not just do the bikini...

YY don't go a week before or a week after your period.

HalfTheSky · 20/08/2014 11:19

I had a Hollywood for the first time last week. You know what? It was ok. I talked to the beautician more or less throughout, there was only one point where I made a sort of gasp. I hadn't taken anything beforehand. It was a different kind of wax from when I'd had my legs done (that was always sort of green and gloopy; this was a dark brown and she put it on and put the strip on and then let it set before taking it off don't know if made a difference). Anyway, it was a lot less painful than having the back of my thighs done (which I always find really stings). It was also me just lying there on my back for most of it and then at the last minute she made me lift my knees to my chest to do the underneath not ages hanging around on all fours as I'd heard.

Will do it again.

Original poster
ElleDubloo · 20/08/2014 11:51

OK. I'm going to do what highlighta suggested and start with a bikini, then move onto the rest if it's not too bad. HalfTheSky I hope my experience is as good as yours!

Btw I actually quite like body hair on my guy... it would be weird to have him without. Though I'm tempted to suggest it just to see his reaction ;)

OP posts:
greyhoundgymnastics · 20/08/2014 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

itsbetterthanabox · 20/08/2014 12:06

Nowaysis if your beauty therapist told you shaving makes hair thicker then I'd be looking for a new one. A waxer should have some basic knowledge about skin and hair growth!

dippinmytoe · 20/08/2014 13:32

The hollywood is ok... hurts a small bit , but no pain no gain. Make sure they use the hot wax.. yes all wax is hot , but the hot wax uses no strip. If they use a strip on you they are bonkers. Take a painkiller , and don't be embarrassed the therapist has seen it all before.. trust me i used to be a beautician. Go for it, you will love it !!

StripyBanana · 20/08/2014 13:40

I still find it hard to believe people willingly do this...! (I know, I know... it really isn't unusual these days and each to their own etc...)

ToAvoidConversation · 20/08/2014 13:48

I had a Hollywood before my summer holidays and it hurt a lot! I've only had a brazilion before and that's much better. I didn't realise it at the time but on the day of my Hollywood I had just conceived a few days before so maybe that didn't help the pain! To do my bum area I had to lie on my side with my leg in the air.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 20/08/2014 13:52

I find it hard to believe beauticians are actually prepared to wax someone else's bumhole.

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived · 20/08/2014 14:04

Aren't you quite pregnant at the moment OP? Beware, it can be extra painful during pregnancy. I would definitely start with a normal wax and work up (Apologies if I have you mixed up and you aren't pregnant!)

SlightPanicAhoy · 20/08/2014 14:11

I really want this done don't like being hairy and am sick to death of itching from shaving but im fat and covered in stretch marks. Can't bear to let some pretty beautician see me!

SlightPanicAhoy · 20/08/2014 14:11

I really want this done don't like being hairy and am sick to death of itching from shaving but im fat and covered in stretch marks. Can't bear to let some pretty beautician see me!

creamhearts · 20/08/2014 14:19

I have a Hollywood every 6 weeks, it is painful, but not that painful, the more you have it done the easier it gets. I lie on my side with my leg up for her to wax around my bum - much more dignified than all fours. Oh and I am fat and my beautician doesn't bat an eyelid.

PurpleWithRed · 20/08/2014 14:25

I've just gone from au natural to Hollywood (sorry real life friends tmi). initial plan was high bikini but I just told her to keep going as it was perfectly manageable. End result is wonderful!

Hakluyt · 20/08/2014 14:42

"I find it hard to believe beauticians are actually prepared to wax someone else's bumhole."

I find it even harder to believe that people actually think their bumholes boned waxing..........

StripyBanana · 20/08/2014 15:51

I was thinking that... I can sort of understand the front even if its not to my taste.... but the ack?!