Summer in Oregon is a certain type of magic that I look forward to every year: the weather suddenly switches to sunny and warm, the lakes cold and refreshing, blackberries juicy and plentiful. It’s one of the reasons why I continue to stick out the gloomy drizzly winters-- the promise of fun in the sun. Even though most events are cancelled for this year, there is still so much to do here when the weather is cooperative. 

So when the sun finally broke through the clouds this week and the temperature jumped from the 50s to the 80s, I was so excited to get my swimsuit on and lay out (I promise I’ll put sunscreen on!). I dug through my closet to find my swimsuit in the deepest, darkest recesses behind all my sweaters and rain gear. I put on my suit and stood in front of my mirror looking like Sasquatch just clambered out of the woods in a bikini. I’ll admit, I’m pretty lazy about shaving, but I was not prepared to see my bush upkeep had gone completely by the wayside—time to book a waxing appointment. 

I’m sure there are some of you reading this right now nodding and saying “omg, totally!” Maybe you regularly get your downstairs area waxed, and this is just a regular part of the routine, like getting a haircut. Or maybe you’ve been too afraid to ask about it, let alone try it. Well let me shed some light on the topic.

Buckle up, it’s about to get real awkward and honest. 

A lot of women are hesitant to try intimate waxing. There can be a lot of emotion, shame, or even pressure in making the choice to remove hair from this area. However, it is 100% your own personal decision to wax or not to wax. Our esthetician, Allie, put it best, “It’s amazing to see how waxing can boost confidence and just make them feel like a new woman. 99% of them are waxing for themselves... not for a partner.” So tame the bush or don’t, we support everyone making the decision that’s best for their body.

First off, yes, your esthetician will see your lady bits. It’s going to be awkward the first time you do it, but it’s important to keep in mind that your esthetician is a professional who is trained at this—they’ve seen countless crotches. It doesn’t phase them because they aren’t really looking at it; they are figuring out how to remove hair. Just like waxing your leg, or armpit, or eyebrow—it’s hair on a body. As one of our estheticians explained, “ I am going to ask you to put yourself in some very vulnerable feeling positions so I can get rid of all the hair. Every vagina is different and we are in no way judging what you look like down there. Never feel self conscious about your lady parts. To me, it’s just another canvas to be waxed.”  

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s clear up another thing: it will hurt. You are using wax to rip hair out by the root. Waxing hurts to a degree no matter how sensitive the body part. If you are planning on getting a Brazilian or a bikini wax, but never have had anything waxed, I recommend starting with waxing something smaller or a little less sensitive so you know what you are getting into. There are other ways you can prepare and set yourself up for success before and after a Brazilian or bikini wax.

 “It gets easier after about three consecutive waxing sessions. There will be irritation after. You shouldn’t have sex or engage in any rigorous exercise. Nothing that could cause friction or bacteria getting into the open pore.” The day of your waxing, it’s fine to take a pain reliever, like Advil or Tylenol-- but don’t use any numbing agents. This will help minimize some of the discomfort. Also, pain tolerance can be a little lower during the days just prior to, during, and after menstruating, so scheduling around your cycle can help. The biggest thing you can do to make sure your intimate waxing appointment goes to plan? “The issue I come across most that can make the biggest difference is hair length. Too long or too short is a problem. I recommend a 1/4 inch.” 

What about… downstairs freshness? Most clients come pre-freshened to their appointment, but estheticians can offer a cleansing towelette so you can feel confident while getting waxed. Remember, this is your appointment, so don’t feel bad about speaking up if there’s anything we can do to make you feel more comfortable during your waxing service.

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and make an appointment for a waxing, but what exactly is the difference between a Bikini, French Bikini, and Brazilian? The answer, in short, is how much hair is left in certain places. A bikini wax focuses just on removing hair from the bikini line: the creases of the legs, and the top of the pelvic region. A french bikini removes more from this region, but does not wax the labia or posterior. If you are wanting hair removed from these areas, that would be a Brazilian. Brazilians are often thought of as leaving no hair down there-- but it doesn’t have to be like that. If you want a little bit left, just talk to your esthetician. 

I hope this leaves you with more clarity on a topic that can be embarrassing for some. At the Pearl Day Spa, we encourage honest and open dialogue, whether it is with clients or coworkers. As a judgement-free space, we welcome even the most feather-ruffling of questions if it will educate and support our clientele.