Top 10 Tips to Prepare for a Bikini or Brazilian Wax

This website uses affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only feature products that I believe in and use myself. Your support means the world to me and allows me to host this website. Thank you!

Summer is here! For me, summer is all about shorts, bathing suits and lounging on the beach or by the pool. If you're anything like me, you're planning on spending lots of your time at the cabin, cottage, neighbourhood pool, or the lake; which means lots of time spent in a bathing suit.

If you clicked on this post, you're contemplating the contemporary torture that us women put ourselves through, otherwise known as the bikini wax. However; as the old saying goes, pain is beauty. For me, the end result of a bikini wax is well worth the discomfort. 

Waxing to me is part of my beauty routine, which is part of my larger self-care routine. When I think I look great, I feel more confident. This confidence brings me happiness which helps elevate my mood. See how beauty and self-care are connected?

I'm such a dedicated waxer that I also wax my full legs and wax all year long. That's how much I love the look and feel of the hair gone! You might be saying, "I can achieve that same look with my razor," which may be true; however, with a wax, the look and feel lasts much much much longer. 

After you read this article, make sure to check out the post, Top 10 Tips to Stay Smooth and Hair-Free Longer After a Bikini Wax.

Why I Ditched the Razor:

1. My hair grows very fast - This is awesome for the hair on my head, but not so much for any hair on my body. When I used to shave, I would shave in the morning and would have stubble on my legs by the afternoon. It was unbelievably annoying! With a wax, I can stay smooth for weeks.

2.  I have a large amount of very thick hair - It takes me a long time to shave. A "long time" is a lot more time than I ever wanted to spend on shaving. Shaving was wasting precious time in my day. With waxing, I dedicate 1 hour and I'm smooth for weeks!

3. I hated shaving - I hated the daily routine. I hated the nicks I would get. I hated the stubble. I hated the whole experience.

If you're anything like I was when I first started waxing, or like I still can be from time-to-time, you may be nervous about the whole endeavour. I'm happy to tell you that there are steps that you can take to help the experience be as comfortable as possible.

My Top 10 Tips to Prepare for a Bikini or Brazilian Wax

1. Avoid that time of the month - Avoid scheduling an appointment within 3 days before your period. You skin is extra sensitive at this time, which equals more pain. 

2. Gently exfoliate the skin the night before - Don't exfoliate the day of your appointment as this could expose your skin to bacteria during your appointment which can cause infection. Gently exfoliate the night before to help get rid of dead skin cells and to help open up your pores. Exfoliation also helps any hairs just below the skin come through. The more hair exposed, the more likely your bikini line will stay hair-free for longer.  I like the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It smells great, is cheap and does the trick.

3. Know what you want before you go - You may already be super nervous, so make it easy on yourself and know what you want ahead of time. This will leave you with one less thing to be nervous about when you're at the salon. Do you want hair left or all of it gone? Know ahead of time. A bikini wax is typically just the sides waxed. A french bikini takes off a bit more hair. A brazilian wax is when all the hair is removed. 

4. If you are getting a brazilian, ALL your hair will be waxed (behind included) - I think "behind" is pretty self-explanatory. You will be asked to flip onto your front or your side, facing away from your waxer. If you aren't comfortable with this part of the brazilian wax, tell your waxer ahead of time and they will skip this.

5. If you are getting a brazilian wax you will be fully exposed below the waist - There's no way to remove all the hair if you aren't fully exposed. The important thing to remember is that your waxer sees many people, every day, and has seen everything. So lie back, get comfortable and make some pleasant conversation. Also, you're a goddess and your body is super beautiful. Be proud of your gorgeous self! 

6. Leave your modesty at the door - Your waxer is going to be "up in your bits," especially if you're getting a brazilian. They are going to get close, especially if they are a good waxer. They will have a bright light shining on you to ensure they can see every last hair. They want to make sure you’re happy so they want to make sure every last hair is gone. Like I mentioned earlier, your waxer has seen everything, so no need to be modest.

7. Take 1-2 extra strength Advil at least half an hour before you get a wax - Commonly, people suggest this tip as a way to reduce pain; however, this is actually a bit of a misconception. Taking Advil before waxing is not for the reduction of pain. Advil doesn’t really work that way for waxing.  Rather, it will reduce how long inflammation lasts after your appointment is done. 

8. Wear loose clothing below the waist - The last thing you want to do after your appointment is put on tight pants. It is very uncomfortable. Also, tight clothing after your appointment can lead to further irritation or bacteria entering your open pores. I usually wear sweats, dresses or skirts to my appointments. Since I get my legs waxed, anything I wear goes down to my ankles. I don't want anyone seeing my bumpy red legs immediately after my appointment.

9. You will be bumpy, red, and possibly swollen after - If you have some redness and bumps immediately after, don't fret; this is totally normal! Some of you will have a lot of redness and a lot of bumps. Again, very normal! Any redness, bumps or swelling will go down later that day or the next day after.  

10. Use a numbing cream, otherwise known as a topical anesthetic - I left my best tip for last. And by best, I mean best! I won't get a bikini wax unless I have applied a numbing cream before. Numbing creams drastically reduce the pain! Numbing creams are also known as topical anesthetics, which were originally used for, and continue to be used for, numbing skin for needles and other medical procedures. The beauty industry caught on and now sells numbing creams specifically for bikini waxes. My favourite is the Relax Wax No Scream Cream.

You can also head to your local pharmacy and pay more for an over-the-counter topical anesthetic. They are usually sold in small tubes and can be quite expensive, so I wouldn't use one for larger areas, like your legs. 

Apply a numbing cream at least 45 minutes ahead of your appointment so that it is working by the time you arrive. Will your wax still be painful? Yes; I'm sorry to say, but there is no magical step you can take to completely get rid of all the pain. You are ripping hair out of your body, after all; however, a numbing cream helps to drastically reduce pain. Do not get waxed without it!

Hopefully these tips help you feel more comfortable about your next wax.

Listen to the Heal & Thrive After Heartbreak Podcast

Pick up the best seller, Her Awakening: One Woman’s Journey to Healing After Divorce