What’s The Difference Between A Brazilian and A Bikini Wax?
One of the significant hassles of life is shaving, especially when shaving the sensitive skin of your bikini area. From razor burn to nicks and cuts, many women dread the act of keeping their bikini area smooth and neat but love the feeling of supple, soft, clean skin.
The alternative to shaving is waxing, but if you've never undergone waxing before, you may have several questions and concerns about it. Many have wondered, “what’s the difference between a Brazilian wax and a bikini wax?” Essentially, the difference between Brazilian and Bikini wax is that a Brazilian wax removes more pubic hair.
This article has you covered with helpful information, including what each wax procedure involves, the different versions of each, the type of wax used during the process, and which is better for you. Also included is a brief explanation of what you can expect during the procedure and any beneficial aftercare tips to make your first waxing experience go as smoothly as possible.
The Bikini Line
A bikini line wax is the basic type of wax that targets the pubic hair along the sides and top of the bikini area. Removing just this hair ensures that your bikini area looks neat.
Types of Bikini Waxes
A regular bikini wax is more detailed than a bikini line. It includes the bikini line with additional options for the removal of hair that the underwear or swimsuit covers. Some choose to take the sides in and the hair on the labia allowing hair to be left in the center. Others choose to take all the hair from the pubic down to the labia but leave the hair between the buttocks. Most people feel very confident knowing hair isn’t close enough to the leg crease to poke out of a swimsuit and their sensitive skin is smooth and not irritated by a razor.
The Brazilian Wax
The Brazilian wax on the other hand, goes a step or three further than the standard bikini wax by removing more hair. But, of course, how much hair you have removed depends on what look and overall feeling you want. The Brazilian wax can be completely bare from front to back or only leave a strip of hair at the top of the pubic area. It is still considered a Brazilian wax because the wax is removed from the buttocks.
Types of intimate Waxes
Depending on the salon you go to, there can be different versions of a Bikini wax. Even calling the Brazilian by a different name such as “The Hollywood”. What differentiates them is how much hair you want to be removed and from where. Your waxer should be asking you questions along the way to make sure you're comfortable with what is being removed. Keep in mind, each salon may have other names for different types of Bikini wax services:
Bikini Line
This version of the wax typically removes hair two inches along the underwear and two inches on top of the bikini area.
Bikini Full
This version of the Brazilian wax removes most of the hair as much or as little as you like, with the option of leaving a strip of hair on the top portion of the pubic area, usually in a distinct shape but not the hair between the cheeks.
Brazilian
This version of intimate wax services removes most of the hair from the pubic region and between the butttocks with the option of leaving a strip of hair on top, usually in a distinct shape.
This version of the Brazilian wax also has the option of no hair left, removing all the hair on the top of the pubic area and between the butt.
What Kind of Wax Is Used?
Whether you want to get a Brazilian or bikini wax, the type of wax that salons typically use is hard wax. Most professionals consider this the best option, especially for those with sensitive skin.
You may be wondering why hard wax. Believe it or not, despite its name, hard wax is gentler than soft wax and better suited for sensitive areas such as the nose, full face, underarms, and of course the pubic area. Hard wax is able to pull the hair from the root without ever adhering to the skin. The hard wax works by being applied with a spatula, and removed a minute later by pulling the wax itself, meaning there’s no need for a muslin strip. The hard wax wraps around the hair and minimizes tugging and pulling allowing a clean comfortable wax experience with no sticky residue left behind.
Soft wax is what you usually think of when you think of body waxing. It is used best in larger areas such as arms, legs, chest, stomach, and back. The application is the same by being applied with a spatula but it is removed using a muslin strip. The process might hurt a little more painful because the wax adheres to the skin.
Both hard wax and soft wax get the job done by removing the hair from the root allowing the skin to stay smooth longer than shaving. By pulling the hair from the root, it allows more time for the new hair to grow in soft.
Which Is Better for You, Brazilian or Bikini Wax?
Whether a Brazilian or bikini wax is better depends on what you require. How much your swimsuit reveals or just simply the desire to feel cleaner with having the hair removed from the inner butt cheeks. That's because the difference between a Brazilian and bikini wax is just the added butt strip.
So, for example, you can leave a triangle shape of hair on the pubic mon and wax rest, the labia all the way back including between the buttocks then a Brazilian wax is ideal for you.
However, if you can tolerate a bit of pain and discomfort and want an overall tidier and cleaner feeling pubic area, then a Brazilian wax is for you. Either way, the intimate area wax is less than 15 minutes.
The Procedure | Bikini Wax
Now, let's discuss the bikini wax. Below is a brief breakdown of what typically occurs during a bikini wax.
What To Expect During A Bikini Wax
Your esthetician will ask you to lay on your back with your legs in the butterfly position, the area will be cleaned and a protective oil barrier applied. If using hard wax your esthetician will apply the wax using a clean wax spatula (stick) and dispose of it once done. Your esthetician will apply another strip of wax allowing time for the first strip to dry, and once ready, your esthetician will quickly remove the first strip, and continue the pattern by laying another one during drying time. This allows the service to be fast with little discomfort while removing the wax and the hair from the root.
Important Aftercare Instructions for a Bikini Wax
To ensure the best experience possible, follow these instructions after your bikini wax. Avoid standing water, such as pools and lakes, wear loose clothing to avoid uncomfortable friction, and wait 24 hours before engaging in sexual activity.
In addition, avoid sweating in the pubic area, perfume, or highly fragranced products because this can irritate the skin. Instead, apply a non-fragranced serum or oil that your wax provider suggested to the area twice a day for a few days after the waxing.
The Procedure | Brazilian Wax
Next, let's discuss the Brazilian wax procedure. This type of procedure involves more waxing and is very much similar to the bikini wax service it has the same position and pattern of laying the hard wax strips.
What to expect during A Brazilian Wax
The Esthetician will have you laying on your back in the butterfly position but after the desired amount of hair is waxed from the front your Esthetician will have you switch to another position. The second position is for the wax to be removed from between the butt cheeks. In this situation, you will be asked to position your knees to your chest with your legs in the air while still laying on your back. If you're unable to do this position due to pregnancy or any other reason there is another position where the waxer will have you laying on your hip with the opposite leg bent. The butt strip seems to hurt the least and causes the least amount of discomfort.
Important Aftercare Instructions for a Brazilian Wax
Aftercare for a Brazilian wax is similar to that of a bikini wax. However, your pubic area will have more hair removed causing more pores to be open and free of hair because a Brazilian wax removes more hair and affects more areas of the pubic region. So, it's essential to wear loose-fitting clothes and avoid swimming, sweating, or friction in that area for the first 24 hours after a Brazilian wax.
Main Takeaways
After reading this article, you now know all you need about Brazilian and bikini waxes, including the difference between Brazilian and bikini wax services, what to expect during each, and the best aftercare instructions to ensure the best possible experience. So, if you're ready to experience a great smooth, tidier pubic area, contact Rejuvenate You today!
