Bum waxing advice?
April 23, 2013 7:16 PM Subscribe
Thinking about getting my bottom (including, er, interior parts) waxed and want to know what it's like before I take the plunge. Any tips or advice on what to expect or how to prepare? Also, any recommendations for places that perform this service in NYC? Thanks!
Throwaway email: bumwaxingadvice@gmail.com
Throwaway email: bumwaxingadvice@gmail.com
And trim down the hair to a manageable length first using scissors or clippers.
posted by Go Banana at 7:40 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Go Banana at 7:40 PM on April 23, 2013
Answering as a woman:
I actually really like it? The skin is nowhere near as sensitive as in the rest of bikini area. So all I feel is the (psychologically) satisfying pulling out of the hairs. It feels amazing afterward, too, although things do get a little sweatier.
And I take 3 ibuprofen beforehand.
My favorite place to get a bikini wax is Bliss spas. They're expensive but not crazily so, and they have a proprietary wax which really is better than what other places use--it pulls off of the skin more easily. I can't afford to go them exclusively anymore but definitely for your first time I'd go there.
There's also a chain in the city called Uni-K wax. They use hard wax like Bliss (although it's still not as good as Bliss's own wax). It's kind of bare bones and I didn't feel like the technicians were as well trained or experienced as the ones at Bliss. And I only got my legs and underarms done there. Actually I think the only places (in NYC) I've ever trusted with between my legs are Bliss and the J Sisters who purportedly brought the Brazilian wax to the US from Brazil (I thought it was overrated).
AVOID rinky-dink nail salons at all costs.
posted by thebazilist at 8:42 PM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
I actually really like it? The skin is nowhere near as sensitive as in the rest of bikini area. So all I feel is the (psychologically) satisfying pulling out of the hairs. It feels amazing afterward, too, although things do get a little sweatier.
And I take 3 ibuprofen beforehand.
My favorite place to get a bikini wax is Bliss spas. They're expensive but not crazily so, and they have a proprietary wax which really is better than what other places use--it pulls off of the skin more easily. I can't afford to go them exclusively anymore but definitely for your first time I'd go there.
There's also a chain in the city called Uni-K wax. They use hard wax like Bliss (although it's still not as good as Bliss's own wax). It's kind of bare bones and I didn't feel like the technicians were as well trained or experienced as the ones at Bliss. And I only got my legs and underarms done there. Actually I think the only places (in NYC) I've ever trusted with between my legs are Bliss and the J Sisters who purportedly brought the Brazilian wax to the US from Brazil (I thought it was overrated).
AVOID rinky-dink nail salons at all costs.
posted by thebazilist at 8:42 PM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
My understanding is that the first time is a little more painful because they are getting ALL the hairs, not just the 1/3 of them or so that are growing at any one time.
Be careful with trimming, there needs to be some length for the wax to grab onto. Wherever you end up going to, call them first and ask what length they prefer.
posted by gjc at 9:36 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Be careful with trimming, there needs to be some length for the wax to grab onto. Wherever you end up going to, call them first and ask what length they prefer.
posted by gjc at 9:36 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Female answering, has had Brazilian waxes for years -
It is definitely not a big deal.
Take a shower the day of, and pay more attention than normal to your hygiene. If you work out that day, shower between working out and going to the salon.
Go to a pro - many cities have salons that specialize in Brazilian waxing, and even though it is definitely not a big deal, it isn't fun to even have you leg waxed by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. The skin in your nether parts is a lot more stretchy and harder to pull taut than, say, your leg which is easy to wax cleanly from.
Check yelp reviews - I've gone to people who make me do crazy yoga poses, but the best places I've gone (all in L.A., sadly) basically whipped it all off in 5 minutes flat without having me to more than flip over once. So yelp is definitely your friend.
If you want, do some mild trimming, but if you don't feel like it, they will take care of it at the salon.
Aftercare is probably the most important part of a successful wax job - aloe and moisturizer, no hot showers the day after and probably no hot baths or hot tubs. After the first 72 hours, start exfoliating in the shower. I'm kind of crazy about salux exfoliating bath cloths, I first ran across them at a Korean spa and have used them for years since. Be consistent about exfoliating, this will dramatically cut down on ingrowns.
Oh, and tip your aesthetician.
posted by arnicae at 9:43 PM on April 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
It is definitely not a big deal.
Take a shower the day of, and pay more attention than normal to your hygiene. If you work out that day, shower between working out and going to the salon.
Go to a pro - many cities have salons that specialize in Brazilian waxing, and even though it is definitely not a big deal, it isn't fun to even have you leg waxed by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. The skin in your nether parts is a lot more stretchy and harder to pull taut than, say, your leg which is easy to wax cleanly from.
Check yelp reviews - I've gone to people who make me do crazy yoga poses, but the best places I've gone (all in L.A., sadly) basically whipped it all off in 5 minutes flat without having me to more than flip over once. So yelp is definitely your friend.
If you want, do some mild trimming, but if you don't feel like it, they will take care of it at the salon.
Aftercare is probably the most important part of a successful wax job - aloe and moisturizer, no hot showers the day after and probably no hot baths or hot tubs. After the first 72 hours, start exfoliating in the shower. I'm kind of crazy about salux exfoliating bath cloths, I first ran across them at a Korean spa and have used them for years since. Be consistent about exfoliating, this will dramatically cut down on ingrowns.
Oh, and tip your aesthetician.
posted by arnicae at 9:43 PM on April 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
Seconding Bliss in NYC. They are great at this, and they use wax that works with sensitive skin.
posted by bedhead at 9:46 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by bedhead at 9:46 PM on April 23, 2013
Female here, too. Waxing that area actually hurts much less than you're probably anticipating. Take a couple of ibuprofen about an hour before if you want. The salon I go to also offers a glass of wine to customers while they wait, which helps too.
Remember to breathe and try to relax. It's over pretty quickly, and the discomfort doesn't linger, in my experience. Avoid using any scented soaps or lotions in the area for the day or so after the waxing, especially if you have sensitive skin. I try to remember to wear an old pair of underwear to the salon, too, because at the places I've been to, the aesthetician puts some soothing salve stuff on the freshly waxed skin afterwards, and I don't necessarily want it (or any wax remnants) on my "nice" underwears. If you anticipate having irritated skin afterward, you can ask your aesthetician about recommended remedies; I use hydrocortisone cream if necessary.
In my opinion, the most painful part is the awkward small talk the aesthetician makes while doing her thing in the "interior parts." It's sort of like chatting with your dentist only 1000x more awkward, because, well, your junk is involved.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:36 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Remember to breathe and try to relax. It's over pretty quickly, and the discomfort doesn't linger, in my experience. Avoid using any scented soaps or lotions in the area for the day or so after the waxing, especially if you have sensitive skin. I try to remember to wear an old pair of underwear to the salon, too, because at the places I've been to, the aesthetician puts some soothing salve stuff on the freshly waxed skin afterwards, and I don't necessarily want it (or any wax remnants) on my "nice" underwears. If you anticipate having irritated skin afterward, you can ask your aesthetician about recommended remedies; I use hydrocortisone cream if necessary.
In my opinion, the most painful part is the awkward small talk the aesthetician makes while doing her thing in the "interior parts." It's sort of like chatting with your dentist only 1000x more awkward, because, well, your junk is involved.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:36 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I was really woozy from the adrenalin after I had it done. I had to walk about a mile home. DO NOT RECOMMEND. The same thing happened when I got a (medium-sized) tattoo. If you have a tattoo, it's about the same level of pain, just for a lot shorter duration.
posted by desjardins at 6:46 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by desjardins at 6:46 AM on April 24, 2013
Can you clarify: Are you getting your anus waxed? Or are you calling your vagina part of the interior of your "bum"?
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:07 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:07 AM on April 24, 2013
Upon some reflection, I think we should assume this question is about the questioner's asshole -- despite vulva-related answers above. Does anybody get the "interior parts" of her vagina waxed? I thought Brazilian waxing involved the labia (external) not the internal sexual organs.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:34 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:34 AM on April 24, 2013
I get it all off, okole part too; don't worry about it. Doing it for years, every time it gets easier.
Breathe, it's 20 minutes.
posted by ibakecake at 11:28 AM on April 24, 2013
Breathe, it's 20 minutes.
posted by ibakecake at 11:28 AM on April 24, 2013
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posted by pazazygeek at 7:39 PM on April 23, 2013