While it's not exactly swimsuit season in many parts of the world at the moment, many women love to wax rather than shave for the longer-lasting smoothness. We wax everything from our eyebrows to our ankles, and pretty much everything in between.
One area that falls in the "in between" department is the bikini area. And women are waxing away more than just their bikini lines. They're going all in for a full "Brazilian" wax, which removes all the hair down there. Painful as it sounds (and is), the trend continues to display a total bald eagle where a fuzzy beaver once lived.
But are these Brazilian waxes safe? Even with the finest precision, careful disinfection processes, and after-care, there are dangers to beware of before heading to the spa, lady parts first. If you're considering taking the hairless route, educate yourself about the Brazilian wax before you allow even a drop of hot wax to go anywhere near that special place where the sun don't shine.
1. Burns
We all know that waxing involves hot wax, it's not brain surgery. But too hot, and your lady bits will feel the heat. And especially when it comes to a Brazilian wax, where every bit of hair is removed, if the wax is too hot, it can scald the very sensitive area, leaving you wishing you used your trip to the spa for a manicure instead.
As per Huffington Post, "While a qualified professional should know how to keep wax hot enough to work without hurting the skin, burns can happen. Waxaway adds, "Wax is at an ideal consistency and temperature when it resembles honey and glides easily over your skin. The wax should not be uncomfortably hot on your skin."
If it seems too hot, it probably is, so tell the technician immediately. Now's not the time to be timid, she is all up in your hoo-ha after all!
2. Ingrown Hairs
Once you've had your waxing, you'll feel as smooth as a Barry White song. But some people are susceptible to ingrown hairs which can be painful and unsightly. According to Bustle, "Every time you cut off a hair or pull it out by its roots, you put yourself at risk for an ingrown hair. De-rooting a hair means a brand new baby hair will start growing. Baby hairs are thin and weak and can have trouble finding their way to the surface. If they get caught under the skin, you will get an irritated bump, which can get infected."
This doesn't mean you should skip out on your Brazilian, but take the proper steps to avoid this post-waxing woe. Health suggests, "If you're prone to ingrown hairs, reach for pads or scrubs with salicylic acid two days after waxing or shaving (use them too soon and you may feel your still-sensitive skin start to burn). These gently exfoliate, allowing hair to grow back free and clear of dead skin cells and dirt so it doesn't loop back on itself and create painful bumps."
3. Infection
No one wants to contract an infection at the salon, particularly "down there." We'd like to think all salons are germ-free, but even in the most sterile of environments, dangers may lurk.
According to Huffington Post, "Removing the hair, especially in the Brazilian waxing fashion, where the hairs are removed from the gluteal cleft areas, increases the risk not only of STIs but of 'self-TI's,' Jessica Krant, M.D. says. In other words, pulling the hairs out of those areas increases the risk that tiny skin tears will get bacteria in them that was never meant to be inside the skin. It can cause surface infections and even deeper cellulitis in some cases."
Waxing can remove the top layer of skin, leaving room for bacteria to make its way in when it wouldn't have been able to permeate had there been hair there. As per Health, "We have pubic hair for a reason. It acts as a shield against bacteria, allergens, and other unwanted pathogens. Stripping away that natural barrier puts you at higher risk of irritation or infection in the vaginal area." Is the hairless look really worth the risk?
If you're hell-bent on getting a Brazilian, know the risks. Choose a highly-recommended salon which follows all recommended protocol for health and safety. If something seems off, put your panties back on and select a new place for your pruning procedure.