Who Will You Bring to Brazil?

“That's the thing about the Brazilian. It makes you do crazy things. You have to be very careful who you invite to Brazil” Sex and the City siren Samantha Jones, as she advises Carrie on this popular form of bikini waxing.

In the late 1990’s, seven Brazilian-born sisters opened the J Salon in Manhattan, New York, and introduced their hometown hair removal method to the United States. Since then, women can’t get enough of the Brazilian bikini wax. What it is: every last bit of hair is removed from your pubic area with hot wax and cloth, except for a thin landing strip. “Think porn star. Think pain. But also think fanatic devotion.1”

What to expect:
1. Make sure you have at least a quarter inch of hair for the wax to adhere to.

2. Most waxings occur in a private room but don’t be surprised if you are separated from other clients by nothing more than a curtain. You remove your pants and underwear and may be provided with a paper thong, but probably not.

3. You will be lying down on a chair similar to the one at the dentist. If you hair is longer than a quarter of an inch, your waxer will trim it to the right length.

4. The waxer will work from the front to the back, spreading hot wax in sections. She will then apply a cloth strip over the waxed area and press down. After the wax has cooled, she will pull it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling hair out by the root.

5. Your waxer will touch and move you all into sorts of positions normally reserved for the bedroom, but rest assured, it is business as usual for her. Butt waxing differentiates the Brazilian from a normal Bikini wax, so you may be asked to go on all fours or lift your legs in yoga-like positions.

6. A good waxer is quick and the entire process should not take longer than 20 minutes. Once the wax is over, she will spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas.

First-time waxees will experience pain, but frequent visits minimize the pain factor and need for the procedure. With each waxing, the hair will grow back finer and slower. Some take a pain reliever, such as Advil, about 15 minutes before their appointment. A Brazilian wax lasts about 3 weeks, but has to be a certain length to be waxed. Expect redness and bumps for about 3-4 days, and avoid sex for at least 24 hours after your appointment. Do not be alarmed by spots of blood, but be sure to wash the waxed area using a loofah or body pouf to remove any bacteria.

Like a new haircut, your Brazilian will take some time to get used to. At first you will feel like a little girl, then a naughty little girl. Once the shock (and pain) subsides, you will find yourself gliding down the streets because getting waxed “is one of those hidden female pleasures, like wearing trashy lingerie under a business suit. It’s your little secret that makes you walk around with a smile, and puts and extra swagger in your step.1”

1 Valhouli, Christina. Salon.com. Sept. 2, 1999. http://www.salon.com/health/feature/1999/09/03/bikini/index1.html

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