This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 87.244.185.5 (talk) at 15:42, 12 March 2007. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 15:42, 12 March 2007 by 87.244.185.5 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Brazilian waxing" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2006) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Brazilian waxing is a type of waxing involving the bikini area. This procedure involves the complete removal of hair from the buttocks and adjacent to the anus, perineum and vulva (labia majora and mons pubis). It can be thought of as a more thorough form of bikini waxing. The majority of types of Brazilian waxing leave a small line of pubic hair above the vulva, commonly known as the "G-Wax" or just "Brazilian". Waxes that completely remove the pubic hair are either termed 'Hollywood' or 'Sphynx' depending on the salon visited. Sometimes the term Full Bikini Wax or FBW is used. While mainly associated with females, the practice is engaged in by males as well. It is named after Brazil, the country with which it is most often associated and from which the modern practice originated.
History
Waxing of the genital areas has been prevalent in many societies around the world for centuries, in Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt but especially in arid or desert, predominantly Muslim and Arab countries. Arab, Turkish, and Persian women as well as women from the Albanian culture and Mediterranean regions have for centuries been waxing in the genital areas. The waxes used were often sugar-based and made with lemon; however present variations include oils and scents to lessen the discomfort. The reasons for genital waxing in these regions have not necessarily been for cosmetic reasons throughout history, as it is in the case of North and South America as well as Europe, but instead these cultures mentioned above have generally practiced waxing for centuries more for reasons of personal hygiene and/or religion. As a result, in many of these cultures, body hair of any sort on women is considered socially unacceptable. However, waxing the genital area completely is relatively new to modern Western cultures, developing mostly in the 20th century. In the United States, for example, the habit of waxing or even shaving the pubic area did not become common place until the 1990s.
The Brazilian wax originated in Brazil for women wanting to wear the then-new thong bikinis, which was not widely popular inside the United States at the time. Waxing gained in popularity through the 1990s, with several celebrities, such as Paula Yates and Gwyneth Paltrow, extolling its virtues.
Male Brazilian Waxing
Full body waxing, including genital waxing, has been popular in the gay community for some time, and is becoming popular with heterosexual (and metrosexual) males as well, especially in the bodybuilding and fitness community. In the male version of the Brazilian wax, men will sometimes leave a triangle-shaped patch above their penis untouched (since this area can be exceptionally sensitive to irritation) and will also have the hair surrounding the anus removed. Many men find the process of having their genitals and anus waxed by a female beauty therapist mildly sexually arousing. Male brazilian waxing is also called a "crack and sack wax", refering to the crack between the butt cheeks and the sack as the scrotum.
Process
The client is asked to disrobe. Occasionally, for females, a paper g-string is provided to protect the client's modesty. The procedure starts with baby powder, talcum powder, or oil being spread liberally over the area to be waxed. This prevents the hot wax from sticking to the skin. Then, as in other forms of waxing, hot wax is spread over the area from which hair is to be removed. The wax is allowed to harden briefly, then one edge of the wax strip is pulled up and used as a 'tab' to quickly pull off or "zip" the rest of the wax, usually in the direction opposite of hair growth. The waxer then works his or her way around the body systematically removing the hair from the genital area, buttocks, and anus. This procedure removes the wax, hair, and any dead skin cells lying on the skin surface. The person performing the wax will then finish with tweezers to remove any stray hairs that the waxing missed. Finally, the remaining pubic hair (the so-called "landing strip") is either trimmed with scissors, or waxed off if the client requests it. The remaining hair may even be in a particular pattern (hearts are a popular option), or dyed.
There can be some embarrassing moments for male clients during the waxing process, particularly if the male becomes sexually aroused. Having an erection during the process is not uncommon and the leakage of pre-ejaculate fluid can also occur. Most female beauty therapists are trained to deal with such situations by either ignoring the issue or by placing a cold towel over the client's erect cock to diffuse the situation. Many therapists advise that an erect cock is easier to wax at its base since the skin is strethched tightly, causing less pain and a better waxed result.
The wax used is often a mixture of natural beeswax and tall oil rather than the more common synthetic 'waxes' used for regular leg waxing. It is felt that beeswax is stronger, and more effective at removing the thicker, coarser pubic hairs.
The pain involved with this procedure can be slight or severe and can continue for quite some time (from several seconds to minutes). See this video to view some people's expressions during the quick pull. Some claim to perceive less pain during subsequent treatments. Many products are available to lessen the pain, such as topical anesthetics.
Some advise following the procedure with an application of a hair inhibitor, which will slow the regrowth of hair and may halt regrowth completely. The results can last up to two months.
The benefits are similar to those of other types of waxing, such as lack of razor burn and soft hair regrowth. The disadvantages are also similar, though since it is performed on an extremely sensitive region of the body, the pain can be more acute.
It is recommended that one get a properly trained beauty therapist to perform this procedure, but with care it can safely be done on oneself with a home kit. Not all salons will do the male version of the brazilian, so it is best to telephone ahead and ask.
Due to the pain involved, and the need for a specialist to perform the waxing, home shaving kits have become popular to achieve similar effects to the Brazilian wax.
Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene is of utmost importance before visiting a salon for a brazilian wax. Professional beauty therapists report that up to 30% of American women and 40% of men who come for a brazilian wax have poor personal hygiene. It is vital that the genitals and anus (for males and females) are washed thoroughly before visiting a salon to ensure the therapist is not offended. It is awkward to have a brazilian wax during a menstrual period as the vaginal area will be more tender (and cause more pain) and the risk of leakage during the procedure is high.
Brazilian Butterfly
A specialised type of Brazilian waxing is the Brazilian Butterfly, which is, as the name suggests, a Brazilian on both sides of the perineum.
See also
- Glabrousness, a complete lack of hair on genitals and most other parts of the body.
- Anal bleaching
- Smoothie, slang term