The thought of getting a Brazilian wax can be horrifying, especially if your threshold for pain is abnormally low. However, as with all things, there are surefire ways to reduce that pain and make your waxing experience a little more bearable. Learn more below:
1. Exercise before getting a Brazilian – If you exercise regularly, good on you. If you don’t, we suggest for you to do some stretching at the very least. The more flexible you are, the better and quicker your aesthetician would be able to work. The whole process would take less time and you’ll be in pain for a much shorter time.
2. Never get waxed right before or during periods – Whenever your hormones are at full force, your pain receptors become extra sensitive, especially about five days before and throughout your period. The best time to get waxed would be about three to four days after the duration of your period.
3. Stop shaving – Once you decide to wax, you should stop shaving once and for all. Shaving causes the hair to grow denser and makes the hair appear thicker. After your first wax, the hairs would grow back thinner and your next waxing session would be less painful. Take our word for it!
4. Pop a pain reliever 30 minutes prior – If you really can’t stand any pain at all, take any sort of pain reliever 30 minutes before your waxing appointment. Try paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin to help minimise the pain.
5. Exfoliate beforehand – Exfoliating your private area with a scrub can be a little tricky, so we suggest using a loofah or a konjac sponge. Doing this would help get rid of the dead skin cells and lift the hairs to the surface so that waxing them off would be easier.
6. Have something to distract you – During your appointment, hold on to your smartphone or tablet to watch YouTube or play some games. Do not anticipate or focus on the pain!
7. Make sure the hairs are at least one-quarter of an inch long – Hairs that are shorter than that would be way too short to be pulled from the root. Also, the wax wouldn’t be able to grip onto the hairs as efficiently.
8. Don’t be afraid to ask for a trim – If the hairs are too long, don’t be afraid to ask your aesthetician for a trim. Waxing the longer hairs would only result in more pain.
9. Don’t numb the pain with ice – After pulling off the wax, your aesthetician would normally place the palm of her hand directly on the freshly waxed area to soothe the pain. You should feel better after a minute or two. Don’t go home and numb the pain with ice as this would tighten the pores. You want them to be relaxed while healing.
10. Take note of post-care – After your wax, avoid direct exposure to sunlight, wearing tight clothing or using any topical treatments with fragrances or alcohol on the area for at least 24 hours. You really don’t want to irritate the skin further.