Brazilian waxing procedures and ten waxing tips  

So how does it differ from a regular bikini wax? Basically, with the Brazilian, hair is removed in the front, back & everything in between. Most of the time a 'landing strip' is left in the front, but some clients opt for everything removed. 

Difficulty: Average

Time required: 15-45 minutes

Here's How:

1. Most waxings occur in a private room with a door. I have heard of some with just a curtain between you and others. You remove your pants & underwear & lie on a table with clean paper or sheets. It is possible that you could be provided with a paper thong, but chances are... you won't.

2. Because you only need about a quarter-inch of hair for the wax to grab onto, your waxer will start by trimming your pubic hair to the right length.

3. The best waxers are fast, which means less discomfort for you. The waxer will dip a waxing stick into a pot of hot wax & then spread it onto your skin & hair. She will then apply a cloth strip over the still-warm wax, pressing firmly so the cloth, hair and wax adhere to one another. When the wax has cooled, she will pull the strip off, in the opposite direction of your hair growth, pulling the hairs out by the root.

4. Most likely, your waxer will tweeze any stray hairs.

5. Waxing usually starts in the front & moves toward the back. You'll likely have to move around in all sorts of odd positions in order for the waxer to do her job.

6. Once the waxing is over, the waxer will spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas. You should ask what to do in case of bumps, redness or ingrown hairs. Your waxer should be trained in this.

7. Don't forget to get the name of the waxer so when you make another appointment you can get the same person so you don't have to bare all for another complete stranger (wink).

Tips:

1.The procedure, like any waxing, can be very painful at first, but frequent visits usually cut down on the pain factor. I suggest taking a couple Advil at least 15 minutes before your procedure. As for the embarrassment factor -- we like to think getting a Brazilian can't be any more embarrassing than a typical visit to your gynecologist's office. These aestheticians have seen it all before.

2.The downside of a Brazilian wax... while it lasts as much as 3 weeks, the hair will grow back & you'll have to do it again.

3. Another downside... hair has to be a certain length before it can successfully wax.

4.Another down side... you might experience red bumps or ingrown hairs.

How to avoid nicks, ingrown hairs & irritation

Shaving first became popular during World War II when nylon stockings were in short supply & bare legs became a trend that has yet to cease.

Today, more & more women are turning to waxing & some are trying laser hair removal, however, shaving remains the least expensive form of hair removal. Here are 10 tips & tricks to ensure you're doing it the right way & cutting down on the nicks & irritation so common to shaved skin.

1. The trick to shaving is to wet your skin & let it soften from the heat & moisture. You don't want to shave dry skin. Shaving is a natural exfoliate & you'll clog up the razor with dead skin while putting yourself at risk for nicks.

2. There's no need to waste your money on shaving creams formulated especially for women. They are virtually the same as the creams sold for men. (Now if you can just find a scent you can live with).

3. You are going to have to experiment with razors until you find the perfect one for you. Ask your friends for recommendations & look for a razor with lubricated strips, pivoting heads & spring-mounted multiple blades. I've sampled several types & varieties & was amazed at how different each feels. My favorite? The Gillette Venus razor. Another great & new bet: Schick Quattro for Women, which has 4 super-thin blades & a pivoting head.

4. be sure to change razors or cartridges on a regular basis, a dull blade can lead to nicks. Also, it's best not to borrow your guy's razor. His hair is coarser & will dull a blade. (Plus, don't men typically hate it when women borrow razors?)

5. be sure to exfoliate your skin before shaving. It gets rid of all the dead skin cells that could clog up your razor, preventing a close shave.

6. Since your leg hairs grow down, you'll want to start at your ankles & shave up. For your underarms, you'll need to shave in every direction since the hair there grows every which way.

7. When finished, apply oil or moisturizer. The skin on your legs has few oil glands & has a tendency for dryness.

8. Ingrown hairs are caused when the hairs curl back under the skin. Avoid ingrown by exfoliating daily & using a glycolic acid body lotion.

9. If you have a chronic case of ingrown hairs, try Mankind ingrown zone, an over-the-counter lotion for ingrown hairs, applying it in the morning and at night. The bumps should disappear within a couple days.

10. Consider opting for waxing, at least on your legs. You'll find that if you have coarser hair, it won't grow back as fast.