Alt text: Woman wondering does Brazilian wax hurt while preparing
Image description: Nervous woman sitting in salon chair before first Brazilian wax.
If it’s your first time doing Brazilian wax, asking “Does Brazilian wax hurt?” is quite normal. The truth is, it is likely going to hurt. If you try to pull your hair, you can feel how much Brazilian wax can hurt.
However, with some pain management techniques and prevention methods, you can easily manage pain and discomfort. In the long run, it will all be worthwhile as it reduces hair growth, and your pain tolerance will also increase with sessions.
Now, let’s dive into discovering how much your Brazilian wax might hurt, and what you can do to lessen the pain.
What Is Brazilian Wax?
Alt text: Diagram of Brazilian waxing coverage areas
Image description: Illustration highlighting pubic, bikini, and buttock areas for waxing.
Brazilian wax is a complete hair removal solution for your private area. It removes your pubic hair, including from the vagina lips (labia), and the mons pubis. Also, it covers the areas of your thighs, below the belly button, and butt.
This means your whole pubic area will be waxed if you choose to do this type of waxing. However, your mons pubis will be left with a thin strip of hair, known as a “landing strip”.
The difference between Hollywood wax and Brazilian wax is that while Hollywood wax removes all the hair from your pubic area, Brazilian wax leaves a small strip. However, in the case of Brazilian wax vs bikini wax, bikini wax is full-coverage, unlike the Brazilian wax.
How Painful Is Brazilian Wax?
Alt text: Woman showing discomfort during Brazilian wax
Image description: Female client wincing slightly while esthetician applies wax professionally.
Waxing is already painful, and if you imagine this in your pubic area, you can understand that the pain will multiply. However, this pain isn’t unbearable, and it gives temporary discomfort.
The pain level in Brazilian bikini wax differs from person to person. Some might feel it is extremely painful, while others feel that it’s manageable. The pain level depends on your pain tolerance, hair thickness, and your esthetician’s expertise.
Nonetheless, the pain will lessen with regular sessions of bikini and Brazilian waxing, as it will make your hair thinner. Additionally, some precautions and aftercare tips can also help individuals manage the pain more effectively over time.
5 Main Reasons Why Your Brazilian Wax Is Painful
Alt text: Causes of painful Brazilian waxing
Image description: Infographic showing reasons like hot wax, poor technique, wrong wax.
- Using The Wrong Type Of Wax
- Using Improper Techniques
- Rushing The Brazilian Wax Service
- The Wax Is Too Hot
- Lack Of Experience Of Your Esthetician
While you are wondering what to expect from a Brazilian wax, you might also be confused about the pain level. But there are certain reasons why your Brazilian wax might feel more painful than other types of waxing. Let’s know why it is happening.
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Using The Wrong Type Of Wax
Most salons use strip wax for Brazilian waxing. But using strips in your pubic area can tenfold the pain, like your labia or scrotum is ripping off.
However, hard wax is less painful when used for Brazilian waxing. This also requires a professional to handle, ensuring you experience minimal discomfort. Besides, most salons don’t use this as it demands more time and is more expensive than strips.
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Using Improper Techniques
Another significant reason your Brazilian wax is hurting more is probably how it’s being applied. Using improper techniques when applying Brazilian wax can hurt you more than usual.
Applying Brazilian wax requires an experienced technician. An inexperienced process can make the whole session feel like a “test and trial” rather than a successful one.
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Rushing The Brazilian Wax Service
Brazilian wax should be a show and a patient service. So, if you visit a rushed salon where they’re trying to make it work within 5-10 minutes, it will hurt like hell.
The prepping and aftercare of a Brazilian wax requires a lot of patience, so if you want to escape the discomfort, consider visiting a professional like Sugar And Wax Haven.
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The Wax Is Too Hot
Many estheticians try to speed up the whole process without paying attention to the wax’s temperature. As a result, applying too hot wax can ultimately give a second-degree burn to your private area. And this will undoubtedly cause you unbearable pain.
Therefore, taking the time to understand whether the wax temperature is low enough to tolerate is essential. Otherwise, it may cause critical issues like skin removal, scabbing, and/or scarring.
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Lack Of Experience Of Your Esthetician
To be an exceptional Brazilian waxer requires a special and unique skillset. Only the esthetician’s proper experience can complete the entire process smoothly and less painfully.
Therefore, if your waxer lacks sufficient experience, they will proceed slowly with the process, which will surely cause you discomfort. That’s why you should be conscious about picking the right salon for waxing.
First Brazilian Wax Vs. Future Sessions: Does The Pain Diminish?
Alt text: First versus repeat Brazilian wax session comparison
Image description: Two women, one wincing, another relaxed during Brazilian wax.
The pain you experience during your first Brazilian wax session is significantly different from the pain you’ll feel in subsequent sessions. Over time, the pain diminishes in subsequent sessions as your hair grows thinner.
With each session, you’re removing hair from the root; as a result, the new hair is shorter and less dense, making future sessions less painful. Additionally, it accelerates the process and reduces pain.
9 Pain Management Tips For Brazilian Wax
- Take A Pain Reliever
- Use A Numbing Cream
- Take A Warm Shower
- Exfoliate Gently
- Avoid Caffeine And Alcohol
- Grow Hair To The Right Length
- Wear Loose Clothing
- Skip The Gym
- Moisturize Daily
Now you know how bad a Brazilian wax hurts, and you should be prepared that it will inevitably hurt. If you want to know how to make Brazilian wax less painful, let’s look at some effective ways:
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Take A Pain Reliever
Well, it might sound easy, but it’s important to remember. Taking an Ibuprofen or Advil about an hour before your wax can help reduce the pain significantly. However, you should always consult a doctor first, in case you have some additional conditions that restrict you from having these medicines.
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Use A Numbing Cream
Using a numbing cream can temporarily numb your bikini area and soothe the pain during waxing. To proceed, clean your pubic area and then apply a thin, even layer of cream. However, make sure to use the cream at least 30 minutes before your session begins so the waxer can remove it to allow the wax to adhere.
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Take A Warm Shower
Experts recommend taking a warm shower before your Brazilian wax as it helps you to open your pores. As your pores open, the hair becomes easier to pull out, so it doesn’t hurt much. Also, a warm shower helps you to cleanse oil and dead skin cells from the area, which lets the wax stick to the skin better.
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Exfoliate Gently
How will it feel if the wax gets stuck more on your skin than your hair? Awful! But if you exfoliate your pubic area one or two days before your session, you can avoid this.
To do so, you can use a body scrub or a chemical exfoliator. However, make sure the exfoliator is pubic area-friendly. Besides, you can also try a vajacial Brazilian wax for a better outcome.
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Avoid Caffeine And Alcohol
It might be tempting to have a glass of alcohol or caffeine to soothe your nerves before the full Brazilian wax begins, but it can cause your skin to be extra sensitive. Skip drinking alcohol and coffee, and drink tons of water before your session begins. Water works like magic to reduce pain during waxing.
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Grow Hair To The Right Length
Another thing many people miss is that your hair needs to grow to the perfect length to be waxed. If your hair is too short or too long, it will cause excessive pain.
Also, the waxing efficiency depends on your hair length. So, make sure you keep your hair at least a quarter of an inch before going in for your next appointment.
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Wear Loose Clothing
Even if you are doing Brazilian wax, you need to ensure you wear proper breathable clothes to ensure your bikini area is getting enough air post-wax. Wearing tights and leggings can cause friction, which will irritate your sensitive skin after wax.
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Skip The Gym
You don’t need to be a health influencer overnight. Skip your gym for 24 hours after waxing to help prevent inflammation and sensitivity. Besides, sweat from your workout can cause bacterial growth in the lesioned area, which can later develop into folliculitis and pimples.
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Moisturize Daily
Your bikini area will be even more sensitive, and you might feel a burning sensation. Therefore, it’s suggested to use soothing ingredients like a mild moisturizer. You can also use aloe vera gel if you’re not allergic to it. Some prefer using an ingrown hair serum, which prevents ingrowns and soothes the skin.
Wrapping Up
Now that you have your answer to “does brazilian wax hurt,” you know that Brazilian wax will certainly hurt. However, with the given pain management tips and aftercare methods, it becomes manageable soon. In the end, you will get a flawless bikini area without any razor cuts!