waxing prep/etiquette

[raqs-loki.livejournal.com]

I'm going in for my first Brazilian tomorrow and want to know how best to prepare. I know to shower beforehand to be courteous, but...

1. Should I expect irritation & swelling (enough to prevent sexytimes that night)? Bleeding? Can I take some kind of NSAID to help reduce irritation?

2. What about, uh, wetness? I realize it's a natural thing so I'm not necessarily embarrassed, just feeling a little weird. It would probably prevent the wax sticking properly so I figure they have to have a way of addressing it and are used to it, but I'm also in that kinda "juicy" phase in my cycle.

3. And this has probably been asked infinity times and is useless/irrelevant because YMMV; and I plan to TAKE IT LIKE A WOMAN and be brave, but how bad does it hurt? The hair is at least 1/4" long (forgot to shave for a while and then figured I'd "save up" til it was waxable length). I've only ever had brow waxing before but that's much less hair and much finer.

Also yes I will tip her :)

Comments

[morgandee.livejournal.com]

1. I would expect irritation and swelling, yes. You may not experience any, but I think I would rather expect it than not (if that makes sense). I would apply witch hazel once you get home to help soothe the area. I would also take an ibuprofen beforehand.

2. I personally wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you are concerned, maybe try an instead cup?

3. I honestly don't think the pain is all that bad. Some areas will be more tender than others (I HATE the crease in between my legs and vulva (aka "barbie legs)). As long as your keeps your skin tight (and s/he may ask you to help), it won't be THAT bad. It is all over very quickly, too.

Good luck!

[kayeyem.livejournal.com]

in my experience, it really wasn't as bad as you'd think. :) If I were to equate it to something...well, it's a little like slapping a sunburn. Hurts, throbs a bit, but gets less over time and fairly quickly. Take some advil before hand. I didn't feel up to sexy stuff right after, but certainly the next day or so.

Wear loose clothing (think...um, baggy yoga pants? or a skirt if you're comfortable going commando). It's much nicer not having anything "tight" on afterwards.

When they leave you to undress (which seems silly to me since they're gonna see everything anyway, lol) they also give you/show you a box/basket/drawer with moist toilette thingies in them. "Use as many as you want, and at least as many as you need," she said. ;)

I tidied up, laid down on the table...she knocked, came in, and we got to it.

The most embarrassing part for me was holding my cheeks spread. heh.

And also--she used a powder to help protect skin/get rid of any dampness...um, probably baby powder or talc of some sort. I didn't think to ask. ;)

[xforbidden.livejournal.com]

1.) My wax goddess recommends Tylenol an hour before. I don't swell much, but ymmv. Mild tenderness. I avoid sex when freshly waxed just because I worry about bacteria, but that's just preference and not based on any medical facts. As far as bleeding, in my experience it doesn't happen very often, and when it does its a couple very tiny spots that bleed for a few seconds.

2.) If you're concerned, you could stop in the bathroom beforehand and wipe any discharge away, but it shouldn't be an issue. Its natural, it happens, and people in this profession tend to be mature and understanding. If he/she makes you feel uncomfortable, find someone else!

3.) Personally, my first time sucked a bit because I was about to get my period. When I came in, she asked when my last cycle was and warned me it would be a little unpleasant. However, it was not at all unbearable. Remember to relax and listen. They may ask you to tug at a section of your skin or to keep your legs apart, these are to make out as painless as possible! Once you're done with the mons pubis and labia (I hope my terminology is correct), imo, its all easy from then on out. Its never as bad as you imagine.

Good luck!!

[faithful-summer.livejournal.com]

It sounds like people have answered your questions pretty well, but I wanted to add that one thing I've experienced post waxing (I usually do legs and just bikini line as opposed to full Brazilian) is a bit of bruising. I think this was probably related to the skin not being held taunt enough, but that's just my theory. Anyway, I inevitably always end up with one or two little spots with bruises, usually around my inner thighs, but it's not bad and goes away pretty quickly. (YMMV-- I also tend to bruise locally when I pull off medical tape post blood draw, etc. Probably a lot of it depends on skin sensitivity.)

[shark-o-saurus.livejournal.com]

1. In my experience, there's a little swelling/irritation, and sex just doesn't sound fun until the next day. I've never had bleeding, except maybe once where I picked at an ingrown hair beforehand and had a scab. Totally my fault there. Yes, you can take something 30 min before if you'd like.

2. They'll wipe you down before waxing, so it shouldn't be a big deal either way.
Depends if you're talking blood or just discharge. They'll have a bathroom in the waxing place; if it's just discharge, go to the bathroom before your appointment, and wipe off what you can with toilet paper or something. If you're on your period, I recommend you put in a tampon/cup, and just let the person know who's waxing you. I do NOT recommend telling the receptionist; I told the receptionist once, and she nearly canceled the appointment before the person who was going to do the waxing said it was fine. If you use a tampon, the person may move the string around, or you can tuck it in before the appt.

3. If you have an average pain tolerance like me, I think you'll be fine. I find that certain locations hurt more than others, but none of them are unbearably bad. I've never taken a painkiller before waxing.

[shark-o-saurus.livejournal.com]

Oh, and definitely wear loose clothing like someone else said.

[corinthia-moon.livejournal.com]

1. It's a good rule of thumb to not plan to have sex the same day you get a wax. If you're doing it to prep for a specific date with someone, I'd give it a few days to heal first. You may not want anyone touching you later that day, and there will be some redness as well as being over-sensitive to changes in temperature (it hurts when you get goosebumps, yikes!) It won't look so pretty while it's healing, it may be kinda angry and red.

2. You could ask to use the bathroom and wipe off beforehand if you're concerned about wetness.

3. It hurts, and I have a pretty good pain tolerance. I'd recommend taking some deep breaths during the procedure, as focusing on your breathing can help. Like, take a deep inhale when she prepares a strip, and let it out when she rips it off, etc.

[realt-stea.livejournal.com]

i've only had a brazilian done once, but it was about what i expected. my waxer was pretty awesome, she knew how to work the worst areas and to prepare me. most spots it was like "really? that's it?" but there were definitely a few that brought tears to my eyes lol. personally, i would recommend taking a NSAID about 30 minutes before. that's what i did and i feel that it helped a lot, not so much in the moment but reaction wise. it was a few years ago, but i don't remember being that irritated afterwards, more so when the hair started to grow back in

[la-violeta.livejournal.com]

The best experience I have ever had with waxing (I have since refused to shave any where near my nether regions, it's too painful) was with a lady from my hometown who did Sugaring. It's basically a really thick honey-like substance that is rubbed in and ripped off.
I have also had the traditional hot wax experience but Sugaring is far superior in all kinds of ways; 1) it is less messy, as in, I don't stick to my underwear after, 2) Even though I do bruise a tiny bit after (the shock of having hair ripped out of a sensitive area will cause it to bruise- it's normal- It actually doesn't hurt that much, 3) it lasts about 3 months (for me) until things are back to their wildebeast-ish ways AND 4) when it does grow back it's not so mangy. It grows straighter and obviously lighter.
I don't take any thing before I go, but my ladies have either "blown" the area (haaa sounds so sexual) or pressed over the area that was just waxed to dull the pain.
Also- DO wear light bottoms, and shower blah blah blah, usually wetness isn't a big deal. Your girl may use baby powder not for your wetness but to help the wax stick to the hairs and not your skin. If it does hurt you can always ask her to put on more powder!

[raqs-loki.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I made a sugaring gel to use at home so I'm gonna give that a shot tonight to maybe save myself $50.

And 3 months?! Wow, I was expecting a couple weeks at best. My husband is insisting it's not worth it, because when his friend spot-tested waxing on him he supposedly had regrowth within a week, but 1) he exaggerates so bad and 2) my junk isn't hairy like his chest is hairy.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Beware - It is a lot more painful if you cannot hold the skin taut. And holding it taut yourself WHILE trying to rip the sugar off is a lot more difficult than having it held taut or holding it taut while someone else does the ripping.

[la-violeta.livejournal.com]

Yes, 3 months. Because I don't do any touch up usually I just let it keep going until I need to do all of it over again. I got one done over the Easter break and it's still lookin alright, I mean there is hair but it's not a "full bush" for lack of a better term. What's your home sugaring recipe...? I'm intrigued and totally afraid for you...!

And the comment below this one of yours is right with the whole "keeping the skin taut". That's important. I waxed my friend's nethers once and it was a mess... I blogged about it, we are waaay too close...

[mewsicfreak.livejournal.com]

This would be a hilariously awesome post to read...and as weird as this sounds, I'd love to check it out if you don't mind sharing the link LOL

Waxing adventures can be rather comical.

[la-violeta.livejournal.com]

http://la-violeta.livejournal.com/16228.html
Alrighty- here it is!! Enjoy!! :D

[mewsicfreak.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha that was full of epic win :-P Loved reading it. The humor was awesome :-P
Thanks.

[caddishness.livejournal.com]

I can only speak of my own experiences, ymmv.

1. I think I've had some swelling, but not too much. My skin was red and slightly sore. I'd compare the feeling to when you're waxing off your upper lip, it feels kind of tingly after. I didn't bleed much (only those occasional spots on a pore or too, like some people get when they're sensitive).

2. I'm sure that if you're being waxed by a professional, they're more than used to it! Whenever I've done it's usually a bit weird, I think it's mostly sweat and feeling everything differently because you don't have the hair. I don't think wetness will be a problem if it happens, I don't know but like you say they probably have a way of addressing it. If you're nervous tell them about your cycle, I don't know what exactly you mean by "juicy". I'd say that if it's not a huge amount then the wax will still stick.

3. For me it was like waxing off any other body part, especially sensitive ones like your upper lip/eyebrows, just slightly more and the area is wider. My shins hurt more, in fact. (I just read that you haven't waxed anything other than your eyebrows, so I don't think I can offer a comparison.) I'm told that if you shave it might hurt more the first time you wax after shaving because of how the hair grows back but I don't know if it's true at all or just a myth. Communicate w/ whomever is doing the waxing, in my case they have always been nice and talked to me to distract me and even stopped briefly when it was unbearable.

[dark-deity.livejournal.com]

1. Depending on the wax they use, expect some irritation for the first time. Mine hurt enough to make me walk a bit funny to keep my panties from rubbing too much. I've been getting them for a year or so now, and I could go to a 2.5 hour belly dance WORKSHOP and not feel anything.

2. At my salon, I just wipe down with a wet cloth that they provide (disposable, of course). I'm sure they run into that a lot so it's not a problem.

3. My stylist said the longer the hairs, the more it hurts. Which is true. For me atleast. The first time hurts like a b*tch... I have no pain tolerance so maybe other people are different. I would say, keep going every two months or so as this will lessen the pain because there will be less hairs and they won't be as long.

Good luck!