I've only had one bikini wax before braving the full Brazilian; but I'd heard so much about them from my girlfriends, it was finally time to try one myself. Finding a salon is confusing since every one of them does a Brazilian these days. I ended up choosing Circe, an Aveda spa in Old Town Alexandria, Va. because it was featured in InStyle magazine. After my making my appointment, I checked out their website where I was lucky enough to find a $25 coupon for first time waxers.
The first advise I got was from Amy who told me to take ibuprofen before going. Also, don't go while your PMSing, because your tissue is swollen which can make the procedure more painful.
When I arrived at the salon, my technician, Sarah, told me to undress below the waist and lay on my back on the table. Yes, completely bare from the waist down, no draping. I'm not modest, per se; but this was mildly uncomfortable.
First, Sarah sprinkled corn starch on my bikini area so that the wax wouldn't stick to my skin. Then she applied warm wax in small sections and removed the hair in strips. Let me pause momentarily to tell you that yes it hurts as much as you've heard. I'm not sensitive and consider my threshold for pain quite high, but this was a shock to my system. Once the waxing is complete...everywhere... the technician wiped a soothing oil all around and began tweezing the stray hairs.
My results? Well, don't expect images for this one; but I can tell you I resembled a Barbie doll (or Ken doll for that matter). Unfortunately, the next day I also had a red rash either from the shock of the treatment or from a reaction to the wax, but it went away by the second day.
The following week, I contended with a barrage of ingrown hairs and I tried everything I could find to combat the problem. The best advice (again it takes a village with me) was from my friend, Phoebe, who recommended Neutrogena's Black Head Removing Scrub with 2% salicylic acid. While I think that went a long way in keeping the inflammation and infection at bay, there's no avoiding the fact that my coarse hair had a mind of its own.
The salon recommended I return a month later for a touch up and I'm still on the fence. I liked the initial results and the idea of thinning out the hair; but contending with ingrown hairs is daunting. I'm leaning towards giving it one more chance. If that's not an easier experience, I'm looking into laser treatments and, you know, I'll tell you all about it!
Photo by Amazon: you can find the Barbie and Ken Olympic Ice Skater there; but hurry there's only one left!
Oh no!! I think you had a bad wax. First, I'll say that you should next go to Sisters3 in Clarendon (www.shopsisters3.com) and ask for Arlie. She's my go-to gal. Cutest shop ever and all they do is waxing (so you know you're not just getting a facialist on an off day). The esthetician was right- you should take a few ibuprofen before going and don't go on your period. A few more tips:
ReplyDelete1. exfoliate rather gently (but regularly) with a loofah down there... a soft one. moisturize as well.
2. use a product like "Tend Skin" if you have ingrown hairs.
3. DON'T SHAVE between waxes, and wait at least six weeks. the more regularly you do it, the less pain there is.
4. if possible, don't wear underwear for a day or so after and avoid pants that "rub" or working out immediately after - I notice more redness and irritation when I do. You'll still be a little red the first day, but it goes away.
5. No hanky panky for at least a day. Same deal.
6. take a warm (not hot) bath with some baby oil that night. it helps.
7. gently tweeze hairs as they come to the surface to maintain the wax.
8. KEEP SEEING ARLIE. She rocks.
9. Don't be scared!
A. & H. There ARE some benefits to being a Sr. Citizen!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnn
In south america we get those waxes monthly. It is a must. I get them since I was 16 years old. I can't imagine being a different way like shaving or living with that nasty bush. It just looks dirty and any men would run away (those spoiled brats!).
ReplyDeleteIn fact after all those years it doesn't even hurt and I would even compare it to getting a massage. I just feel clean and polished after it.
I have to say it is crazy expensive in usa to get a wax. I pay 200 dollars for a complete wax (legs, arms, bikini...etc) when in argentina everything would cost less than $15. Mybe the cost is what makes it so unpopular in usa. It is more painful the cost than the wax per se.
Hey girl,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about all that ingrown hairs. But there is actually a solution to that. All you need to do is use hot compress to remove the red bumps. At least that is what I do when I wax at home. Hoping to hear your next Brazilian wax adventure.
Aira
I've never experience those. I only take brazilian bikini waxing, I thought of trying those. Good luck to me....
ReplyDeleteI hope It'll work fine in me.