There is a scene in Sex & The City where Carrie and her friends go to Los Angeles, Carrie goes to a new beautician for a wax who ‘takes everything’. Later, when the girls are discussing their shock about being ‘totally bald down there’, Samantha tells Charlotte that her husband Trey, who has been having some problems in the bedroom, might finally be able to consummate their marriage as ‘he probably hasn’t been to Brazil before’. After this episode, the Brazilian wax became hugely popular. But what is it, where did it come from and should women really be getting them? Let’s find out.
With a Brazilian wax all of the pubic hair is removed, front and back, by waxing. Ouch. Some people like to leave a thin strip of pubic hair, referred to as a ‘landing strip’.
The Brazilian wax, apparently, was first named by the J. Sisters salon in Manhattan in 1987.
According to Wikipedia, some people claim that the concept of the Brazilian came from a letter documenting in 1500 AD, which read: “…suas vergonhas tão altas e tão çarradinhas e tão limpas das cabeleiras que de as nós muito bem olharmos não tínhamos nenhuma vergonha” (English translation: “their private parts were so exposed, so healthy and so hairless, that looking upon them we felt no shame”).
Brazilian waxing is the most controversial form of waxing, Brazilian waxing is unpopular amongst some women (and men), especially feminists who claim the only people who like it are men who want their women to look underage. Which may be why it is hugely popular with porn stars.
Model and Socialite Lisa B said that when she got a Brazilian at a salon in LA that “It was so painful I collapsed. I only fainted, but I was nearly carted off to hospital and I have vowed never to try it again.”
Other negatives are that it is a painful experience and if it is not done properly it can cause infection, prolonged bleeding or swelling of the area. It helps to take ibuprofen an hour before you have your Brazilian wax (this is what Madonna does).
The positives are that many women say it improves their sex life. If you get it done frequently then the hair will become weaker and the regrowth will become less as time goes on.
A Brazilian wax usually last between three to six weeks, but this depends on your hair regrowth rate. Some irritation may occur too, try some aloe vera on the irritated area. If you have ingrown hair (which will look like little bumps. They happen when the hair is not pulled out correctly. The hair curls back in on itself or grows sideways into the skin) you can buy beauty products that specialise in the improvement of ingrown hair. If you are confident you can even tackle the problem with some tweezers, just be careful.
The new rise in Brazilian waxing may be because of The Only Way Is Essex and the popularity of vajazzling, which was pioneered by Amy Childs.
Interestingly, New Jersey has banned the Brazilian wax for health reasons. This happened after two women in New Jersey were hospitalised after having the procedure.
If you want to have a Brazilian do so. Just make sure you go to a salon which is hygienic and knows what they are doing, take a painkiller before and make sure you are not prone to infection.