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Original poster

lady gardening

32 replies

AntiGrinch · 17/08/2017 23:46

What exactly is a "Brazilian"? I gather you leave a bit, but which bit?

what is "hollywood"? Is this every last bit taken off, and if you have this professionally waxed, do you have an actual beautician... right... in ...there?

If you shave it, is that not uncomfortable and dangerous? Or do you get better at it?

Presumably no one goes near these sensitive areas with Veet or similar?

Yours,
70s born woman struggling belatedly into the 21st century

OP posts:
HappyAxolotl · 17/08/2017 23:55

Yep, Hollywood is totally bare. A Brazilian leaves a small triangle or thin strip of hair on the pubic mound and the labia are bare.

I've never had a Hollywood but I hear that yes, it's very up close and personal.

Veet Sensitive and the like work on the bikini line but no idea how far up it is safe to use it. Some folk do use razors - goodness knows how though.

soupforbrains · 17/08/2017 23:56

I am going to do my best to help you here but I wouldn't say I'm an authority! Grin

Brazilian leaves a small 'strip' very central. Hollywood is all hair removed.

Yes the beautician is right up in your... erm... grill... also they make you strike very unatttractive and undignified poses.

You can buy special very designed for use on the sensative patches but personally I've found they're just a bit shit at actually removing the hair.

Shaving isn't dangerous so long as you take care and it's not uncomfortable per se.... BUT the regrowth is a total bitch, it's itchy, then scratchy, can lead to chafing and/or ingrown hairs. V unpleasant.

Hope that helps!

GetOutOfMYGarden · 18/08/2017 00:17

When I've had a hollywood, the girl has been right in there. You're going to be on all fours getting the back door sorted as well, so um... be prepared.

Shaving's fine but you get stubble within a few days and it looks weird. Waxing is better if you want it all off. No veet near the fanjo ever.

Original poster
AntiGrinch · 18/08/2017 00:20

Thanks everyone! will they wax me straight away or will I need to do a patch test?

OP posts:
ThanksForAllTheFish · 18/08/2017 00:41

I use the veet sensitive stuff and have never had any issues but it does grow back faster than what you get from waxing. I really don't fancy the idea of someone being so up close and personal with a pot of boiling wax.

arousingcheer · 18/08/2017 00:50

I have an electric trimmer. No burns, no pain, no ingrowning hairs etc. I epilate anything that would be visible in a bikini and trim the rest.

torthecatlady · 18/08/2017 00:50

Also interested to hear about this! How long does the hair need to be for a wax anyway?

WiganPierre · 18/08/2017 00:56

struggling belatedly into the 21st century

There are plenty of women who don't do anything to their hair down below. Yes, young women, too. Why does it matter?

RainaBaina · 18/08/2017 00:58

How is a Hollywood more intimate than a Brazilian? Aside from leaving a random bit nowhere near your fanjo, they're the same aren't they?

I've never done it. I'm genuinely agog when I hear people talk so casually about it. I just cannot compute the desire to splay your vulva and - let's be direct - arsehole - to a beautifican to be tortured with hot wax.

You've got to feel for young women entering the beauty profession nowadays - do they really want to be fiddling with stranger's labia for a living or had they dreamed of painting nails and tinting eyelashes???

All well and good if you like it but it really makes me feel ancient that I cannot get my head around it. I am 38. I feel like an alien.

RainaBaina · 18/08/2017 01:01

The last time I saw a shaved vulva I was at the gym and I honestly had to do a double take. It seemed horrible to me, all plucked chicken and little red dots on what, as you age a bit, becomes quite a fleshy area.

I use a Panasonic trimmer to keep things short and shave up the sides. It looks so normal and nice to me but presumably to others it's abhorrent!!

CaptainWarbeck · 18/08/2017 07:07

Hear hear *raina
*
Couldn't agree more

Original poster
AntiGrinch · 18/08/2017 10:56

If you use clippers on the stuff that you don't shave - top and undercarriage - is it prickly?

OP posts:
MaisieDotes · 18/08/2017 11:06

You can epilate everywhere if you're feeling brave. Takes ages though.

I used to epilate but now (at 41) if I bother at all, I use an electric shaver/ trimmer. I don't go crazy, just a general tidy up.

I've never been to a salon for a wax as the idea of it scares the living shit out of me. Not the pain, epilating is also painful. Just the awkwardness

YorkieDorkie · 18/08/2017 11:14

Hi OP, I specialise in female intimate waxing...
Most of the world determines a Brazilian as everything gone. But the UK refers to that as a Hollywood. A Brazilian being a strip of hair left - you can determine how much is left. You can opt for a "natural" Brazilian where the hair that's left follows the natural triangle shape of the pubis.

If you're considering wax, I would recommend a brand called Waxperts. Easily the most comfortable wax around Wine.

Please, for the love of god do not put harsh chemicals like creams down there. And definitely do not epilate - unless you'd like to know what sitting directly on a hot poker feels like. Grin

arousingcheer · 18/08/2017 13:46

OP, do you know what you want to look/feel like? Are you aiming for bald or tidy or somewhere specific on that spectrum?

For me the clippers/epilator are the perfect compromise. I guess cut hair is never super-smooth (if you run your hand over it it feels prickly I guess?) but it doesn't itch or irritate. I'm lazy and do it very short so it lasts. I have very sensitive skin and get ingrowing hairs at the drop of a hat and this is the best method for me. I don't like the ongoing committment of waxing and the way you have to wait for hair to grow out. I run the epilator over the appropriate bits every few weeks, no waiting, no appointments etc. To be honest I hate waxing and don't intend ever to go back to it.

Lol, the idea of either waxing OR epilating the entire area is just... I mean, I don't even wear heels. I''m not going to put myself through that kind of pain.

I used to work with an amazing beautician who introduced me to hot wax (she's known as 'the woman who brought the Brazilian wax to the UK). If you have access to someone who has a lot of experience with hot wax, that is always better than the warm wax/strip wax option. It doesn't hurt as much when the wax is removed, it lasts longer and you get fewer ingrowing hairs. But they call it hot wax for a reason. If you're sensitive, hot wax going on may feel as uncomfortable as strip wax coming off.

Imo beauticians who do a lot of waxing will tell you that waxing is best. I had one trying to convince me to do my armpits ffs. Hammers and nails etc.

Crispsheets · 18/08/2017 13:50

I have a Hollywood and have never gone on all fours Grin
My beautician seems to manage just fine

InigoTaran · 18/08/2017 13:52

Get a bloke who doesn't care about pubic hair.

Job done! Grin

YorkieDorkie · 18/08/2017 19:40

Oh yes, hot waxing is a must. Forget strip waxing down there! Very out of date.

dementedpixie · 18/08/2017 19:47

I'm a 70s born woman and have no desire to get my pubes waxed off. I trim with clippers or scissors when it gets too bushy

motmot · 18/08/2017 19:50

I used to trim and wax but got so many ingrown hairs. Plus I didn't like waiting in between waxes for the hair to grow long enough. I trim and shave every three days or so now, so much better. Hairy labia (hair is short though) as I like a bit of cushioning!

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 18/08/2017 19:51

I shave it all off; it's not uncomfortable or dangerous, and no it doesn't itch on regrowth.

Because I shave my underarms, legs and pubic/anal region bare, I do it every time I shower which is every two days, so it only takes a matter of minutes to keep it topped up; it's no hassle.

I've done it for years and I much prefer it so I won't be stopping.

Dustbunny1900 · 18/08/2017 19:53

I've always shaved, not a big deal if you use a good NEW multi-blade razor, coconut oil, and a sugar scrub afterwards. I also do an astringent to close up the pores. Don't do it everyday and you should get a nice clean shave. I'm sure it's not good for the skin, but putting deodorant on it gets rid of razor burn in a pinch.
I'm interested in electric razors..think I'll try this weekend.

I could never get a wax. Good god that would hurt, and the hair needs to grow out first.

Shadow01 · 18/08/2017 21:45

I get terrible shaving rash even on my legs if I shave them every few days so keep razors well away from the fanjo.
I epilate either it all off or epilate outside the knicker line and trim the rest depending how I feel.

ScarlettDarling · 18/08/2017 21:52

I can't get my head round shaving your labia....how on earth does that work?

And Dustbunny, you put deodorant on afterwards? Ouch Shock

Mummaofboys · 18/08/2017 21:56

When I was younger and I cared about keeping my 'bits and bobs' nicely groomed I would go for a Brazilian wax, easy to maintain and lasted a few weeks, now I'm older with kids and have no time or inclination I just close shave the bikini line and trim the rest with clippers. If you have the time just go and get a Brazilian wax I would say it's a good starting point for a beginner. Shaving doesn't hurt and isn't dangerous a bit of practice for a nice shape though.

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