Have You Had a Bikini Wax? What's Involved?

You got a lot of good answers and pointers. I don't bother with the disposable panties they give because it's pointless. I understand feeling self-conscious but salon estheticians are professionals and do so many. They're not fazed at all. Think of it like going to the gyne -- there isn't anything they haven't already seen. It only takes 10mins or so. I leave a little in the front and have everything else removed and still cringe when they apply the wax in the more "tender" areas, anticipating what's to come. It's a great feeling of cleanliness, though.

My co-worker is going to have laser/permanent removal and is using a groupon to defray the cost.

Definitely use a reputable salon. These estheticians need to be licensed just like hairdressers. Sometimes they give you a paper bikini and other times they just cover part of you with a towel, leaving half of you exposed. You tell them how much you want taken off. You can even show them with your underwear or bathing suit bottom on if you want, and then they leave while you change and recline on the table or chair. Sometimes it's a table like massage therapists have (with a pillow for your head), and sometimes it's sort of like a dentist's chair that reclines. In any case, they have you cover yourself with a towel and then they shift it as needed to do one side and then the other - they do what they can to preserve your modesty but you have to get a little exposed, obviously!

I think you may be asking for more details: They will trim hair as needed, then they use a big tongue depressor to smooth the wax on your inner thigh and up onto the very lower part of your abdomen when the hair grows. They let the wax cool and harden a little, then they tear it off against the grain of the hair, then they press with their hand for about 15 seconds to deaden the nerves a bit. It's like tearing off a bandaid - about 50 times more! But it's quick.

You have to be comfortable being touched in that area, but it's very professional and "impersonal" if you will. The person will chat with you like the hairdresser or dental hygienist does - just small talk.

But it's definitely better than shaving. Hair grows in softer, not coarse like after shaving. It lasts longer because the hair has been pulled out by the root and so it needs to grow for a longer time before it gets to the skin level. The more you do it, the less hair, but it takes a while to get to that point.

I agree that you can take tylenol beforehand. Some women get some bruising so you can apply ice if needed afterwards. But the discomfort is really short-lived and you won't be in pain for more than 15 seconds after each strip is peeled off!

It's also okay to tell the professional that you haven't done this before and are nervous.

I have my bikini waxed about every 5 weeks. I go to a salon to have it done. MUCH easier than doing it at home, and totally worth the cost. They leave the room while you take your clothes off waist down, then lay down with a sheet or towel over you. They raise the towel, have you separate your legs, and get to work. They are usually done within 10 minutes. The hair needs to be at least 1/4 inch long, and they will trim it if need be. I have done fully bare, but prefer a little something leftover.
2 Key pieces of advice: take Advil or Tylenol about 30 minutes before you go, and don't shower until the skin has had a chance to calm down. It will be a little tender for a few hours.

PM me if you have other questions.

Some places will give you a paper 'bikini' underwear type thing to wear, which is a little pointless in my opinion! You can't be modest with these waxings, depending on how much you want to wax - i.e. just the inner thighs all the way to waxing everything. Including around our anal area. It's all very, very professional. I have a rather high pain tolerance, so it's not too bad. You will be red and tender for about a day. It is so worth it, though, because what they miss with the wax, they will get with tweezers. I don't get them often enough to where I don't have to shave, but I've heard that if you do get them regularly, the hair doesn't grow in as thick or as coarse. Before you get one, you will have to have a couple weeks worth of hair growth to make it most effective.

I get my lower legs and a bikini wax every 5 or 6 weeks and I LOVE it. I wear my underwear and she usually has me just hold my underwear in a little so she can wax. I usd to have her do the top of my legs as well but I've been waxing for about a year and that hair doesn't seem to grow in anymore! YAAY! Most technicians are really good about draping a towel over the area that is not being used for modesty.
It will hurt starting off so taking a pain killer before might be a good idea. Some places have a spray that they can use to numb it a bit. You might want to ask about that.
My legs and bikini area always looks red and kinda gross for a couple of hours after I wax. So if you have a event you're going to, you might want to have it done a day or two before the event.
Also, for some reason my knees get really dry and it makes it hard to wax. If you get your legs waxed, I would make sure you're well hydrated and use a buff on your knees.
I think that's it. Let me know if you have any more questions.

I've always had mine done in my underwear. In addition to a pain reliver, take an antihistamine to reduce the red bumps afterwards. It is worth it, and it really doesn't hurt once you get used to it.

Yes, you get naked from the waist down. OR they give you this strange little white "napkin" LOL! to wear.

What I did was take my favorite thong and ask her to work around it. It provided the "guideline" for what I wanted done.

I've given birth twice in front of a room full of people. How hard can it be to do this for one person, was my reasoning. No thanks to the silly napkin!

Now, having said that, make sure you go to a high end salon. It should be very clean. Look around the room. No wax on the walls. They should have a ton of sticks in there. NO DOUBLE DIPPING in the wax pot!

You may very well have irritation afterwards. Yes, it hurts. (Most things that make us beautiful seem to do that!) It will last about 3 weeks. It's 2 GOOD weeks after the irritation wears off and the stubble starts making us grumpy.

After doing this 4 or 5 times, I tried laser hair removal. I never went back. The laser hair removal didn't hurt as much and it's permanent. In the long run, I will save a ton more money doing the permanent laser treatment.

However, having the waxing done was great because my hubby and I could decide what we liked, tweak it, so to speak.

So, go to a salon first, M.. Don't have just anyone do it. You could get hurt if you don't.

Good luck!
Dawn

I get waxed about every 6weeks and love it. the important thinf is to relax. and dont go right before yoir period because you are more likely to bruise.

Exfoliate the area the night before. Wear a skirt or dress the day, it's more comfortable than pants or jeans afterwards. take a Tylenol about 30-45m before your appt. sometimes they have a cream when waxing doesn't hurt at all. Don't do a brazillian your very 1st time.