Waxed

Waxing Styles
There are several popular waxing styles, which may be known by other names depending on the salon:

- Bikini: Perfect for a waxing newbie, this type cleans up the sides, as well as a little off the top for low-rise shorts and pants. It’s perfect if you’re shy; you can wear paper undies called “bikini buddies” during the treatment. (Also known as the Basic)

- French: Similar to a basic bikini wax, this type takes about a half-inch more off each side.

- Brazilian: Most Brazilian waxes remove all hair front and back (including labial lips and butt), but leave a thin “landing strip” down the front. (Also known as the Playboy) However, at many salons, a Brazilian doesn’t include the landing strip.

- Full Brazilian: Leaves you completely bald. (Also known as the Telly Savales, the Full Monty, the Sphinx, and the Hollywood)

Be sure to ask the aesthetician how her salon defines each type of bikini wax.

Also, don’t hesitate to tell the waxer specifically what you want (two fingers’ width of hair taken off on top, inside lips, no butt, etc).

Some women even ask for shapes like hearts, lightning bolts or boyfriend’s initials.

There’s no reason to be shy with such requests – the waxer has heard it all.

What to ExpectWhether you’re at a pricey day spa or your neighborhood salon, the process is pretty much the same. The aesthetician will show you into a treatment room, then leave while you undress from the waist down (including the panties!).

The treatment then may differ depending on the type of wax. Most salons still use “soft” wax, the warm, drippy stuff that is applied with a small wood spatula, then covered with a cloth and ripped off. However, a new “hard” wax that may be gentler for sensitive skin is also used in some salons. With hard wax, the aesthetician applies the warmed wax to the hair, waits for it to cool, then pulls it off directly – no fabric needed.

Depending on the style you’re getting, be prepared for the aesthetician to move your body around. For a Brazilian wax, you may be asked to pull a knee up to your chest (so the waxer can reach sensitive areas). If you’re also waxing your buttocks, you may need to hold your, er, cheeks apart. Obviously, this procedure isn’t for the shy.

Pain ReliefLet’s be honest – waxing doesn’t tickle. But a little discomfort is worth it for skin that stays smooth for at least a couple weeks. If the “ouch” factor has you stressed, pop an ibuprofen 20 minutes before the treatment to help with the pain. You can also try an over-the-counter numbing cream like PRE-Kini, available at drugstores such as CVS.
Post-WaxTo minimize redness and bumps, try an after-wax product that contains azulene, an essential oil derived from chamomile. Gretchen Hauer, an aesthetician at Avia Spa in Santa Barbara, CA, also recommends applying Tend Skin - a lotion that helps prevent ingrown hairs – the day after your treatment. For general soothing, you can use aloe vera gel, but the best thing is to just leave the area alone.

The main thing you’ll feel post-treatment? “Clients have a real sense of accomplishment after they’ve been waxed,” Hauer says. “They always feel sexy and are excited to show their partner.”

With the fuzz now under control, you may actually be eager to don a swimsuit and head to the beach. However, steer clear of the pool or ocean for at least 24 hours – your freshly-waxed skin may be sensitive. Ditto goes for hot showers and hanky panky.
Finding a WaxerRifling through the Yellow Pages is fine if you want a plumber, but to find a waxer, ask a friend for a recommendation. If she doesn’t have a specific aesthetician or salon in mind, track down a day spa that performs services like massages and facials – most also offer waxing.

Wherever you go, write down the name of your waxer so you won’t have to bare all to another stranger in your next session (assuming you’re pleased with the results).
Laser Hair RemovalFor some busy women, getting waxed every 3-4 weeks is a hassle. If you want to get rid of an unruly bikini line for good (and say goodbye to ingrown hairs), consider laser hair removal, which uses a low-energy beam to kill hair follicles.

Is it for you?Blondes may have more fun, but not in this department; the technology doesn’t work on blond, red, white, or gray hairs.

Why not? Lasers that remove hair are fundamentally pigment machines that see light and dark. “The laser is attracted to the dark pigment in the hair,” explains Heather Endicott, FNP-C, a nurse practitioner at La Jolla Spa MD in California(SpaMd.com).

This means that patients with lighter skin and darker hair are ideal candidates. Specially designed lasers also work for women with dark hair and dark skin; the provider will use a laser specifically made to treat dark hairs while protecting dark skin from burns. Make sure the establishment you choose has this laser – dark-haired, dark-skinned clients are usually not good candidates.

A successful procedure can reduce hair growth up to 80%, Endicott says. The hairs that do remain will be fine and sparse.

What does it entail?Though every patient is different, most need 5-6 treatments for best results. Treatments should be 4-6 weeks apart. A bikini-line session may take around 10-15 minutes and will remove approximately 20% of hairs.

Though each laser pulse has a sting akin to the feeling of a snapped rubber band, it is fast and temporary.

The cost varies depending on factors such as level of provider’s expertise, local market and amount of hair removed, but the price for bikini hair removal is usually $150-$350 per session.
Finding a PractitionerEvery state has different laws about who can do this procedure. Some even allow aestheticians to do it – scary!

If the provider isn’t qualified, you could end up with laser burns, or worse, permanent scarring. The person operating the laser should be, at the very least, a registered nurse, but it's even better if they're a nurse practitioner/physician's assistant or a physician.

Beware of an establishment that boasts the lowest prices in town. “Bargain shop your shoes, not your medical procedures,” Endicott says.

To make sure the provider is qualified, “the number one thing you can do is ask a lot of questions,” Endicott says.

Inquire into the provider’s training, degree, years of experience, and patient results. You may even ask for a complimentary spot test.

If someone gets offended, hightail it out of there.