Your first Brazilian wax: what to expect and how to prepare

Feeling nervous is completely normal

Almost everyone feels nervous before their first Brazilian. It is an intimate treatment, and people wonder whether it hurts, whether it will be awkward and what they need to do beforehand. The good news: for a cosmetologist this is an everyday, familiar treatment – and once you know what will happen, the nerves ease a lot.

We've gathered the questions clients ask most often before their first time, with honest answers.

What is a Brazilian wax?

Brazilian means the whole bikini area is waxed – including the labia area and between the buttocks. You can keep a narrow strip or a small triangle on the mound if you like; just tell your cosmetologist at the start of the visit.

If the whole area feels like too big a step for the first time, you can start lighter:

• Bikini line: tidies whatever shows outside your swimwear
• Extended bikini: goes further in at the sides as well
• Brazilian: all hair from the whole area

Many start with the bikini line and move to a Brazilian once the treatment feels familiar.

Does it hurt?

Honestly: you'll feel it, especially the first time. But the pain is a quick tug, not continuous, and it eases as soon as the cosmetologist presses her palm on the waxed area. Many say afterwards that they expected worse.

What affects the sensation most:

• The wax. LYCON hot wax is made to hold on to the hair first of all, which is why many find it more comfortable than ordinary wax.
• Hair length. Hair of the right length comes out more easily.
• Your cycle. Skin is most sensitive just before and during your period. The best time is a week after.
• Tension. Breathing out calmly at the moment of the tug makes it feel smaller.

It usually gets easier on later visits: when you wax regularly, hairs become finer and come in more evenly.

How long should the hair be?

Wax works once the hair is at least 2 mm long. If you've been shaving, let it grow for 2–3 weeks. Wax can't grip hair that is too short, so some would be left behind.

There's no need to shorten long hair at home. Your cosmetologist evens it to just the right length at the start.

How to prepare

• Exfoliate gently 1–2 days before. It removes dead cells and helps the wax grip the hair.
• No lotions or oils on the area on the day.
• Shower before you come – cleanliness is a courtesy, not a demand for perfection.
• Wear loose clothing so your skin can rest afterwards.
• Tell us if you use retinoids, isotretinoin or blood thinners, or if you are pregnant.

Waxing during your period is possible with a tampon or menstrual cup, but many move the appointment by a few days because the skin is more sensitive then.

What happens during the visit?

The visit starts with a short chat: what you'd like removed, whether your skin is sensitive and anything your cosmetologist should know. Then you have time to change in peace.

The skin is cleansed and a thin protective layer of oil is applied. Warm wax goes on one small section at a time, and once it has set into a flexible layer it is removed quickly. Your cosmetologist works systematically and tells you what comes next. If you need a breather, just say so – we'll stop for a moment.

Finally, any stray hairs are tweezed and a soothing product is applied. The whole treatment takes about 45 minutes.

Afterwards

The skin may be red and slightly bumpy for a few hours – that's normal. For the first day the skin is sensitive, so:

• avoid the sauna, swimming pools, hot baths and sun for 24–48 hours
• wear loose cotton clothing
• don't use perfumed products on the area
• skip tight workout leggings on day one

Once a few days have passed, exfoliate gently a couple of times a week. That keeps ingrown hairs to a minimum. The rest of the aftercare is in before and after waxing.

How often should I come back?

Results usually last 3–5 weeks. For the first few times, come back about every four weeks so the hairs fall into a shared growth cycle. After a few visits many notice there is less hair and it's finer, so the gaps can get longer.

Avoid shaving between visits. It disrupts the growth cycle, and the next wax feels stronger again.

Ready to try?

A Brazilian wax costs €65 and takes about 45 minutes. When you add other areas to the same visit, a combination works out cheaper: Brazilian and underarms is €75 and Brazilian, underarms and full legs €125. Other areas and combinations are on the hair removal page.

At Skinique, intimate waxing is for women only.