Hollywood wax pain, need perspective

[Pandasandflowers]

First of all I want to stress this: I like my esthetician a lot. She's fab and always makes me comfortable. She wasn't being an arse at all. So when I couldn't go through with the hollywood, also I only got one leg done, it was horribly painful, she was trying to get me to go ahead by encouragement and said things about how I have more pain coming my way in life like giving birth and this is nothing (I'm 30f, recently married, no kids yet). So my question is (forgive if I sound ignorant, it's difficult on here to word correctly what I want to ask, and I'm being really careful not to cause offence)...

While I know and fully appreciate that giving birth is excruciatingly painful (I hold so much admiration for all mums and giving birth is something I hope to do in the next couple of years), those of you who have given birth who would NOT/could not go through waxing (legs or anywhere for that matter), what makes you not able to handle it? She said I need to be strong and I won't handle childbirth if I can't handle a wax and I need to take pain in life as my child will suffer if I am weak in life, but then I know there are thousands of mums who would scoff at the idea of a wax and be adamant that they are never putting themselves through the pain. Is shaving not a chore for you? Are you happy with it and you just deal with ingrowns, fast regrowth etc. Do you not care?

This sounds ridiculous I know, but it's got me thinking she's right, if I can't handle pain, how will my child be strong in life? Since becoming a mother you would obviously muster up every ounce of strength to do anything for your child but what about other painful things? What is your perspective on them and please tell me if there are other things apart from waxing that you find are easy to do since becoming a mum and having your life changed by a child who relies on you for everything. Hope this makes sense, I just feel weak and pathetic at the mo, got some ice on my red legs and feel crap that I can't even deal with a wax while there are amazing women out there who give birth and are mothers. Thanks! x

@SilverCatStripes I most likely will do ;)

Having your fanny waxed will not 'prepare' you for having it stretched to allow a kid through it. She is bat shit crazy and you should see someone else. Probably also don't combine appointments, get kegs and bits done separately, and a smaller area that a Hollywood. It flipping hurst, it's hair being ripped out. Some people tolerate that better than others. It has flip all to do with child birth.

Woow, she sounds v judgemental! I've naturally had both of my kids and had my first Hollywood last month. I can't say that the feeling that they're ripping your flaps off much compares to birthing a child, although the pain is highly concentrated in one VERY specific area for a short amount of time! I also thought it was highly overrated as the hair came back in about a week or so. I wouldn't recommend it anyway and wouldn't recommend childbirth to most people, but we go on to tell the tale anyway! 😁

@Switcher Yep I need to just get with it that it's a different sort of pain. I guess I'm just curious as to if you've given birth if women feel like waxing is a breeze and if they don't feel that way, then they managed childbirth just fine so I should be OK too

Ha! When you give birth you get a child. Good payoff.
A Hollywood gives you a hair free vulva. I know what I'm likely to put myself through pain for.

@Howdoesitworkagain The shin definitely hurt the most because it's closer to the bone but back of legs was OK for me too :) I will not be giving it a go any time soon but in the future if I do, I might try just literally thinking about anything else. It helped a teeny bit, but I'd love to find it pain free. Most of the pain is in my head

@Cj19877 I think I know the area you're referring to and it makes me wince every time. I don't know what's wrong with me, I used to be able to get a few done back in 2019 but recently keep attempting and I just back out when she lays the first strip on. I guess as you didn't find it that amazing you won't be going back again

Your waxer is an idiot, in both the waxing and the social skills departments.

I just didn't find the payoff worth it, but it's very easy to forget about the pain of childbirth when you've got a little one in your arms. If it was that horrendous, we wouldn't have the next gen. Please don't let a bad waxer make you doubt your child-bearing abilities! 💐

Waxing smarts a bit. It’s not comparable to childbirth in any sense. Your waxer sounds like an idiot and perhaps a poor waxer if it’s too painful to deal with.

The pain of childbirth isn’t comparable at all. The difference is you can choose not to wax, as many people do, or choose not to proceed with a painful wax if you change your mind.

So you had a half and half fanny and one hairy leg?

@CallieQ Got one leg done and a few strips on the bikini area before I felt nausea like I was going to throw up. Really want to go in and try again tomorrow, but can't see how it will be any different so will probably shave the rest and wait for it to grow out evenly. Safe to say I look a bit bonks at the mo!

Don't put yourself through that pain just go natural

@Pandasandflowers your waxing person sounds rubbish. Childbirth / labour / cesearean stitches recovery is no way the same as a leg wax.

Memo to self get legs waxed next week. Yes it smarts a bit but couple of nurofen early doors and it isn't that bad.

and ( I should not laugh @CallieQ ) or @Pandasandflowers - sounds a bit like half a hobbit. I do think legs are less painful for waxing than eg a Brazilian ) but depending on age and removal required - shaving could do ?

post menopause I have less hair everywhere except where I do not want it so I am going to get legs done next week.

Thank you thread

Getting waxed should not be causing that level of pain. It sounds to me she isn't very good/experienced?
My beautician isn't a dedicated waxer but she does do several a day. Whilst when I first went, it wasn't pain free, in no way was it like you are describing. The first few times I did take a soluable pain killer 30 mins before and was fine, but don't bother now.

I like it for exactly the reason you describe. Feels nice, much nicer with sexy lingerie ....and of course it really is DH favourite as well.

Try going somewhere else

It's hardly comparable because it's not like you can just say halfway through labour that actually it's too painful and you'll just not have a baby, on second thought.

Get a new waxer.

I used to do waxing for a job, and not only was she super unprofessional for talking to you like that, it should not hurt that much. She must have her technique wrong. The only other thing I can think of is that if it was the really hot day you went, she might have been struggling with the wax but that’s no excuse

She sounds horrible.

Waxing does hurt, especially if you've never had it done before. Basically the more you have it down, the fewer hairs grow through at any one time so it hurts much less.

Find a new waxer if you want it done. But there's no law saying you have to wax!!

Wow she was an unprofessional bitch!

It's not the same thing at all.

Also a gradual build of pain is not comparable to a shock of pain

I disagree.
Taking hair off your legs is an utterly pointless visual atheistic. Society / men say women should present as hairless. It’s of no benefit to us and makes no odds if you have hairy legs

Getting rid off all the hair round your neither regions makes it super easy to wipe and wash. No bits of anything caught in pubic hair. Not saying women with hair are unclean btw. It’s just less hassle. I speak as a very hirsute woman and it helps me. No one else sees it except my husband who couldn’t give a rats arse whether I have hair or not.

@Pandasandflowers I don’t like the sound of strips . Most bikini waxes and my wax at home ( facial) is hot wax.
Just slap it on and peel it off. Hair roots are stuck in the hardening wax.

Why do you need a Hollywood wax?? I've never had one in my life and I'm mid 30s. I just trim and shave the bits visible if I'm going to be in swimwear. I honestly have never understood the obsession with walking around with hairless genitals. I don't feel there has been a single consequence of not doing it. Also, I've had 3 kids and she sounds ridiculous - you get offered strong painkillers when giving birth, plus you get a baby, plus you do it, realistically, 1-3 times, not every 6 weeks or whatever the wax routine is!

Is it hot weather where you are? It's the worst time to have any waxing/threading/sugaring if it is - well, that and if you're in the last week of your cycle - menstruation, because the skin is all soft and flushed.

Always book for cooler weather and mid cycle, days 12-24.

I find getting my bikini line waxed absolutely excruciating. I will only tolerate it before going on holiday as shaving or using hair removal cream give me lots of ingrown hairs so it feels like waxing is the only option. Otherwise, it's an absolute no and I certainly wouldn't do more than a standard bikini line. Had two kids though.

You need a new waxer. I have a low pain threshold (went for an epidural without hesitation!) but my waxer is brilliant. Over the years I’ve gone elsewhere a few times and very much regretted it. It’s a real skill waxing with minimal pain.