WAXING is an established method of getting rid of hair and ensuring a smooth finish.
Along with shaving, plucking and epilating, it removes unwanted hair but often promises a fuzz-free finish for longer, lasting around four weeks.
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What is a Hollywood wax?
The Hollywood is arguably the most extreme wax, removing everything down there.
Beauty website Treatwell describes it as: “Designed to remove every last hair from the front and back of your bikini zone, the Hollywood wax promises a smooth and tidy finish that lasts up to a month.
“Arguably one of the most popular styles of waxing for women today, to put it plainly, a Hollywood wax removes all of the hair in your bikini area from front to back. And we mean all.”
A Hollywood gives a Barbie-esque finish, said to be popular among stars of the porn industry.
The Hollywood wax operates a no-holds-bar approach as it needs to get every last hair, meaning it’s likely you’ll be put into a variety of positions.
From your knees up to ankles in the air, you can’t be shy when going for this style.
What is a Brazilian wax?
Probably the most famous style, it rose to prominence in New York in the late 1980s.
This type of wax removes most of the hair from the genital area, but leaves a ‘landing strip’ on the pubic bone.
This can vary in width and length, and some women prefer a triangle.
Website Treatwell gives a handy insight, saying: “The treatment begins with you lying in a comfortable position with your back on a table which is covered by towels and clean paper sheets.
“Wax is first applied to the groin area, with hair removal starting out wide and working in towards more sensitive areas leaving a narrow strip of hair in the centre of a width of your choosing.
“You may be asked to adopt a butterfly position by putting the soles of your feet together and letting your knees fall apart or turn around onto all fours.
“This enables the therapist to work from front to back and tackle the entire area.”
Your waxer may offer you a pair of paper pants, often a G-string, to help you retain some modesty, but remember they sees thousands of male and female privates in their job.
How long does hair need to be before waxing?
If you can it’s recommended to leave hair growth for three to six weeks.
The aim is to keep the area trim and tidy, but to get a wax you’ve got to let it grow out a bit first.
The wax works by attaching to the hair, so if you’re smooth downstairs a wax won’t work.
Ideally hair should be about as long as a grain of rice, just enough to give the wax something to grab on to.
What’s the best time to get one before a holiday?
As your skin will likely be red and irritated, its best to have a wax at least three days before you’re thinking of wearing a swimsuit.
And if you’re heading to the beach, salt water right after a wax will likely burn and cause further discomfort.
It’s also worth making sure you don’t book your wax for five days before or after your period, as you will probably be more sensitive.
On the day it’s usually wise to wear a pair of big, cotton pants to a waxing session.
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You may want to put on your tiniest lace G-string, but your skin will likely be irritated so let it breathe.
Following a wax remember to exfoliate in the shower to prevent any ingrown hairs.
You should usually wait a month in-between waxes, and the more you wax the finer and more sparse the hair will be, meaning it will hurt less each time.
Women admit they're confused by different bikini waxing types and names
