If reading the words Brazilian wax makes you clench your vagina, we're with you - those babies can hurt. Getting the hairs unceremoniously ripped out of your downstairs is no one's idea of a good time.  

And while we don't have to be hairless downstairs, some of us prefer it that way - and waxing gives a long-lasting smoothness that shaving just can't compete with. 

In order to make our next appointment as pain-free as possible, we asked a beauty therapist from Endota Spa to answer all our burning questions. 

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Is a Brazilian really more painful around the time of my period?

If you've wondered if this was an urban legend, turns out it's not. "When you're menstruating, your body produces hormones that cause contractions in the uterine walls and constrict blood vessels, making your skin more sensitive. This can make waxing feel a lot more painful than normal." 

Should I cancel my Brazilian if I have my period?

So you know it's going to hurt like a b*tch, but you're still game - is it allowed?

"It is still safe to perform the treatment however please let your waxing therapist know you're on your period before they start, expect it to be a little more painful, ensure you have showered prior and wear a tampon or menstrual cup". 

How long should I wait after shaving to book a wax appointment?

For a wax to work you need to have enough hair for the wax to grip on to, so you should wait "a good seven days to ensure hair growth comes through and is long enough to be removed during the waxing session". 

How long should I be waiting between waxes?

"As the time can vary between waxes, depending on how quickly or coarsely the hair grows back, it's best to wait around a month. Shaving in between will cause the hair growth cycle to become distorted and to grow back quicker. If you have been a regular shaver you may need to come in for a wax earlier than a month to start to train the hair cycle again".

Can I work out straight after a Brazilian?

If you were looking for an excuse to skip the gym, you're welcome.

"Working out right after may cause an adverse reaction to your freshly waxed skin. We recommend waiting 24 to 48 hours before exercise especially if you are new to waxing. Waxing opens your pores, so sweating during a workout after waxing doesn't give your newly opened pores enough time to close. The skin does need time to calm and recover from waxing, as waxing exfoliates the skin, leaving it more sensitive to sweat or bacteria."

Can I go straight from the gym to get a Brazilian?

"Sweat can affect wax adhering to the hair and can cause skin tearing. It is recommended to wait until you have cooled down and showered for hygiene and safe wax practices". So definitely hit the showers and cool down before your appointment. 

What should I wear to my Brazilian appointment?

Comfort is key. "Wear loose clothing to your appointment so you'll be comfy afterwards. Your beauty therapist may also provide you with disposable underwear to wear during the waxing treatment".

You should also make sure you wear your loosest underwear if you plan on being out and about afterwards: "For the rest of the day, you should steer clear of applying too much friction and tight underwear as you may wind up with even more irritation or ingrown hair in the waxed area".

What should I do if I get an ingrown hair?

It's hard not to, but don't pick at it. "First important step is to not pick at, squeeze or try and remove the hair yourself. Apply ingrown hair spot treatment creams and keep the area gently exfoliated to lift dead skin".  When you get to your next appointment, if there's any remaining irritation your beauty therapist will be able to help you with it. 

bh loves: LYCON Ingrown-X-it Cream, Bump eRaiser Triple Action lotion, Nad's Ingrow Solution

What should I do to prep my skin for a Brazilian?

• It’s important to make sure your hair is long enough; you want it about the length of a grain of rice or slightly longer. But there's no need to trim it if you think your hair is too long—your wax specialist will trim it if needed.
• Moisturise and exfoliate prior as dry skin and hair compacted with dead skin are harder to remove and often will not get picked up by the wax.
• If possible ensure you have showered and cleaned the area or take some wipes with you to freshen the area beforehand.

How should I take care of any irritation after a Brazilian?

• Depending on the skin and whether this is a first treatment or not, the skin can stay red, tender and can appear spotty for 1-2 days afterwards. This is a normal histamine response in the skin.
• Avoid tight clothing, exercising, hot and salty water and exfoliating or applying tan to the area for 24-48 hours after your appointment.
• In between appointments ensure you moisturise daily, keep the area exfoliated twice weekly, avoiding shaving in between appointments and don't squeeze ingrown hairs.

Do you follow these steps before you get a brazilian?