Kayla Young
Close your eyes and take a deep breath… ouch!
Is this your first time going for a Brazilian wax? It can be a little bit stressful. You hear about the awkwardness, the pain, the possibility of bleeding, and more!
However, the best way to stop scaring yourself away from the procedure is to be well informed. Do you know how to prepare for a Brazilian wax?
Continue reading this to help you know what to do to prepare for a Brazilian wax. In that way, you can make up your mind if you really want to undergo the procedure or not.
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How To Prepare For A Brazilian Wax
If you are new to waxing, it can be traumatizing to have your down-there hair waxed, especially if you didn’t prepare enough for it.
That can make you swear never to do it again.
Brazilian wax has many benefits! That’s why there are many who become convinced after trying it. However, one of the most common mistakes that they make is not preparing properly for it.
In order to prepare for a Brazilian wax, you don’t just physically prepare your body. You also prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for it. That helps make sure you have a better experience with the waxing process. Plus it helps you know what to do in different situations.
In order to prepare for a Brazilian wax, you don’t just physically prepare your body. You also prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for it.
That can help make sure you go through the entire process and not run out of the salon half done.
Mental & Emotional Preparation For Brazilian Wax
Many may laugh at the thought that you need to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself just to get a Brazilian wax. However, doing so does help.
What’s the Procedure?
Mental preparation involves getting to know what it is and what the process entails, as well as the etiquette involved. Being able to do that will help you better understand the process and why certain things happen during the procedure.Â
First of all, you need to know what a Brazilian wax procedure is. Well, it is a procedure that involves removing your pubic hair.
Unlike a bikini wax that only removes the hair on the bikini line and the areas most exposed when you are wearing a swimsuit, a Brazilian wax procedure removes more.
The Brazilian wax method will remove all of the pubic hair that you have. Every corner or area where it grows will be stripped off.
Do You Like Your Pain Hot or Cold?
Waxers can use either hot or cold wax. Both work the same way by sticking to the hair that is at the appropriate length, and then pulling it out by the root.
As you know pulling hair out from the root can be painful, even if you do it in a single hair strand. This can help you mentally prepare that there could be a pain as many hair strands will be removed at the same time.
Although there will be pain, do remember that different people have different pain tolerance.
Some people who’ve done repeat sessions feel the most pain during their first time, and less as they get used to it. This may be due to their anxiety because it is their first time getting a Brazilian wax treatment.
Brazilian waxing is less painful than childbirth. A little. Well, at least it’s shorter.
Aside from the pain, it is possible for you to develop a rash or itchiness in the area. When this happens, muster all your strength to avoid scratching the area because it can get further irritated.
You have to know what things you should be doing and not be doing after the Brazilian wax treatment. By following proper aftercare, you can soothe the area if needed and avoid getting the area more irritated with the activities that you usually do.
Letting It All Hang Out
Some people may have awkward, embarrassed feelings when exposing themselves to strangers who will wax them or do laser treatments. The waxer will typically ask you to undress from the waist down and lay on the table.
They could ask you to be in different positions so that you can fully expose the hair and private parts and the waxers can get to them to remove them.
After waxing, don’t be surprised if they use tweezers to remove anything they may have missed.
Remember that waxers have seen a lot of people already and this isn’t new to them. Sometimes, your insecurities about your private part don’t really matter to them, they’ve done it a million times and don’t even notice anymore.
There is really nothing to be embarrassed about because seeing everything is part of their job. They don’t really feel the insecurities you might have with your private parts and won’t really gossip about it.
They’ve seen it all before.
They’ve seen it all before.
Knowing that your waxers don’t really notice your insecurities will help you become more relaxed about getting into position or exposing yourself to them.
The amount of time you can enjoy the smoothness down there will vary from one person to another. However, the average is at about 3 to 4 weeks.
Once the ideal length of the hair has been reached, you can have another Brazilian waxing session to maintain the result. As you go through more sessions, you’ll eventually get used to the pain and the aftercare.
How To Physically Prepare For Brazilian Wax
Apart from preparing yourself mentally and emotionally for the procedure, there are physical preparations that you should do for the Brazilian wax treatment and they are as follows:
Assess Yourself
The first thing you have to do is to assess if you can go through the Brazilian wax procedure. Brazilian wax treatment is not advisable for those who have very sensitive skin or major pain sensitivity. If you’re concerned, you could try a numbing cream, but again talk to your waxing technician.
Waxing removes hair plus the topmost dead skin cells too. It is possible for the area to get irritated and become itchy or have a rash. However, the irritation heals on its own and could be minimal.
If your skin is very sensitive, it may react adversely. It is best to skip the procedure and find other ways to remove your pubic hair.
It is not advisable for those who are sunburned or who just got a tan to get the area waxed.
Those who have taken isotretinoin for the past 6 months. If you go through the procedure with isotretinoin, there could be permanent scars that could develop.
Avoid Caffeine And Alcohol
It could be tempting to drink caffeine or alcohol to calm down your nerves as you get your first Brazilian wax treatment. However, it is not advisable to do so.
It would be best to cut your intake, especially on the day of the procedure. That’s because both can make it more painful to wax the area as the pores tighten.
Choose Breathable And Loose Clothing
Wearing loose and breathable clothing during the day of the procedure makes it more comfortable for you to move after getting a Brazilian wax. Loose clothes lessen friction and could lessen irritation as well.
Trim The Area
When you go for a Brazilian wax treatment, the hair should be about ¼ to ¾ of an inch so that the wax could grip it efficiently. Similarly, it should not be too long or it could snap or break when the wax is applied.
If you have been shaving, it would be best to let your pubic hair grow first until it reaches the ideal length. You could grow it longer too than just trim it. Never shave before your appointment.
Exfoliate
Do you want to prevent ingrown hairs? One of the best ways to do that is to exfoliate the area regularly. Apart from exfoliation, you should cleanse the area properly.
You could take a cold shower before your appointment to clean the area and gently exfoliate it. By removing dead skin cells through exfoliation, you can help new hair growth pop up smoothly. If it isn’t blocked, the hair strands will grow the right way and ingrown hairs will be prevented.
Take Ibuprofen
Pain is inevitable when it comes to Brazilian wax and you can prepare for that by taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen 30 minutes prior to your appointment.
Properly Schedule Your Brazilian Wax Treatment
You probably think that you can schedule a Brazilian wax at any time. Although you are correct, it would still be better if you know your menstrual cycle and the time of your appointment with it.
Although waxers could avoid tampon strings during the procedure, it would be still more hygienic if you don’t have your period while having a Brazilian wax treatment.
Additionally, the area could be more sensitive so it would be a better idea to reschedule. It is more painful for you if you get the procedure a week before or during the week of your period. This is because of the changing hormone levels in the body that make it feel more sensitive.
Benefits And Risks Of Brazilian Wax
Mental preparation for the Brazilian wax procedure involves knowing the benefits and risks involved in the procedure. In that way, you can decide whether to go for it or not.
Also, you can remind yourself why you want to go through it in case you are already at the waxing salon and still thinking twice about the procedure.
Benefits Of Brazilian Wax Treatment
Let’s first focus our attention on the benefits of Brazilian wax treatment. This type of hair removal is considered to be less irritating to the skin than a lot of other removal techniques.
When done properly by experienced waxers, the irritation like bumps or rashes could be less as compared to using a shave or an epilator.
Additionally, you’d be getting a smooth and hairless area for a longer period of time as compared to shaving. It will take a longer period for the hair to grow again and protrude to the surface of the skin.
The hair that grows is thinner and softer. It will also grow back a bit more slowly.
Risks Involved In Brazilian Wax Treatment
Apart from the benefits, you should consider the risks involved before you decide to go for a Brazilian wax treatment.
One of the side effects that are most common is the redness, bumps, or discoloration that forms right after the procedure. This is because the skin could be irritated and needs to heal.
Usually, the side effect will get better after a day. There are some serums or lotions that you can use on the area to help with the irritation as well as to help prevent ingrown hair.
In case there is itchiness, a topical hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera can be used to soothe the area.
Due to the stripping action of the wax, there could be breaks in the skin, which causes itchiness and discoloration. You may even experience sagging.
Additionally, in this state, the skin is more susceptible to possible sexually transmitted diseases.
Prepare For Aftercare
Another thing that you should prepare for when it comes to getting a Brazilian wax is aftercare. You have to know how to care for the area that was just waxed.
You have to know that the area could still be tender so make sure you prepare some ice or cool compress ahead of time so you can use it. Most of the time, you won’t have a reaction, but occasionally you’ll get bumps, and sometimes they can start to release pus. Fun times.
The waxers can give you hydrocortisone cream to help out with the irritation.
When scheduling your appointment for a Brazilian wax, make sure that you don’t schedule it on days when you have to do strenuous activities or workouts. Take a day off from your high-impact workout.
Also, avoid scheduling it at times when you’ll be having a scheduled day at the pool or beach. That’s because you won’t be able to enjoy the day. Remember that you shouldn’t expose the newly waxed area to the sun or soak it in water.
The area is more sensitive so it can easily get damaged or is more prone to sun damage. Additionally, water soaking is to be avoided because there can be micro cuts on the skin that could get infected.
