How Long Does a Brazilian Wax Last?
If you’re interested in full hair removal down there, a Brazilian wax might be a good choice. In this article, we go over how long the results last for a Brazilian wax, so you can determine if it’s worth it for you.
What Is a Brazilian Wax?
A Brazilian wax is a hair removal method that removes all pubic hair. That includes the pubic area and everything around it — basically, everything between your thighs and up to your butt. It’ll leave you totally hairless, unless you choose to leave a small strip, sometimes called a landing strip, or other area of hair in the front.
The waxer can use two different types of wax — cold or hot — to remove hair. The wax sticks to the hairs, allowing them to be pulled out by the root.
A Brazilian wax is different from a bikini wax. Though both address pubic hair, a bikini wax only removes hair along the edge of your bikini line, thighs, and below your navel, leaving some amount behind.
The benefits of a Brazilian wax include:
- Less likely than shaving to cause irritation
- Results last longer than shaving
- Hair grows back softer than shaving
- Less hair growth over time
Keep in mind that, especially for your first wax, the procedure may cause discomfort. You may also experience redness or irritation for a few days after, especially if you don’t practice proper aftercare.
How Long Do Brazilian Waxes Last?
A Brazilian wax typically lasts three to four weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. If you get waxed consistently, you may experience less hair growth over time and need to make waxing appointments less frequently.
How quickly your hair grows depends on your genetics, how many times you’ve waxed before, hormones, and any medications you’re on, as well as where your hair is in the growth cycle.
The first time you get a Brazilian wax, you may see new hair again in a few days. This happens because some hairs may not have been long enough to be grasped by the wax. Hair needs to be about 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch long before waxing to be grasped properly. If your hair seems to be growing back faster than it’s supposed to, it may be because it’s breaking during the wax, instead of actually being pulled out by the root.
Shaving between waxes doesn’t help your results last longer — it usually just reinforces the strength of the hair at the root, making future waxes less successful at removing hair and potentially more painful. Getting a Brazilian wax every three to four weeks allows hair to regrow properly, so your results improve over time.
Does Waxing Stop Hair Growth Permanently?
While waxing isn’t a permanent hair removal method, it does reduce hair growth over time. The more waxing treatment you have done, the less your hair will grow back.
Each time you remove the hair from the root, you damage the hair follicle, so when it grows back, it feels softer and finer. Eventually, damaged hair follicles stop growing hair altogether.
How the Hair Growth Cycle Affects When You Need a Brazilian Wax
Where your hair is in the hair growth cycle affects how long your Brazilian wax will last. Hair grows back at different rates because it doesn’t all go through the stages of the growth cycle at the same time.
There are four phases of the hair growth cycle:
- The growth phase (anagen): When the follicle is pushing out new hair
- The transitional phase (catagen): When the hair follicle shrinks, slowing hair growth, and the hair separates from the bottom of the follicle
- The resting phase (telogen): When hair is released but doesn’t fall out yet, new hair starts to grow in the follicle beneath this hair
- The shedding phase (exogen): When old hairs routinely fall out, such as through washing or brushing, making way for new hair growth to come in
A Brazilian wax targets hair in the growth phase. After you get a Brazilian wax and remove those hairs, the hairs that were in the resting phase start growing back, so you’ll notice hair regrowth in a few weeks, but it won’t be as thick as before. Though your hair isn’t always in the same part of the growth cycle, regular waxing can help individual hairs sync up.
What to Expect When You Get Your First Brazilian Wax
If you’ve never had a Brazilian wax before, it can seem a little nerve-wracking. Here’s what to expect for your first Brazilian.
Preparing for Your First Brazilian Wax
Before you go in for your appointment, you can take some steps to prep for your waxing session. If possible, it’s good to time your appointment for when your hair is 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch long, or trim it to that length in advance to help achieve the best results and minimize discomfort. Also, exfoliating the area in the days leading up to the wax, and after, can help prevent ingrown hairs.
If you’re concerned about pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever about 30 minutes before your wax to help. You might also want to wear loose-fitting bottoms to your appointment for extra comfort.
You shouldn’t get a Brazilian wax if you’re sunburned or have very sensitive skin. Some medications, like isotretinoin, are contraindicated with the treatment. You also might want to skip waxing if you’re on your period, though some salons will still perform the waxing service if you wear a tampon. Make sure to discuss this in advance of your appointment.
During the wax
Your wax specialist will ask you to get undressed from the waist down and lay down on a table. Though a Brazilian usually involves removing all hair from the pubic area, they may ask if you have any preferences, like if you want any strips of hair left.
Next, the wax specialist will clean the area. They might also apply a pre-treatment product. Then, they’ll take wax from a pot and apply a layer to the area, where it will stick to the hair. A piece of waxing paper or cloth is pressed down into the wax, creating a strip. The strip is then ripped off quickly in one movement, pulling the hair out with it. This process continues one strip at a time until all of your hair is removed.
Your waxer might ask you to help hold back certain areas of skin to make the area you’re waxing is more taut. When an area is taut, it’s easier and less painful to strip the hair. For leftover hairs that don’t come up with the wax, your waxer may use tweezers. When the treatment is done, they might apply an after-treatment product to soothe irritation, exfoliate dead skin, and help prevent ingrown hairs.
It’s totally normal to feel some pain or discomfort during your wax, but be sure to let your wax specialist know if you feel uncomfortable or easy in any way.
Brazilian Wax Aftercare
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience some redness, itchiness, or sensitivity in the waxed area for a few days after your wax. But as long as you go to a professional wax specialist, any negative after-effects should be minimal or non-existent as long as you continue a good skincare routine.
To make the recovery more comfortable, you can try the following after your wax:
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t cling in the pubic area.
- Apply a cool compress to the area.
- Wash with mild soap to prevent irritation and remove extra wax.
- Take showers instead of baths for the first 24 hours
- Avoid sex for the first 24 hours to prevent more irritation.
- Avoid using lotions on the waxed area for the first few days.
- Avoid the sun for a day or two as tanning can irritate freshly waxed skin.
How to Make Your Brazilian Wax Last Longer
How long your Brazilian wax lasts depends on how quickly your hair grows, which really depends on things like your genetics, hormones, and any medications you’re on. So while it isn’t always possible to control, going for regular waxing and avoiding shaving in between treatments are the best ways to maintain your results.
Should You Give Yourself a Brazilian Wax?
Although home waxing kits are available, giving yourself a Brazilian wax at home can be very risky. The treatment involves waxing areas that are hard to see and reach, so it’s difficult to perform correctly yourself. Incorrect hair removal can cause ingrown hairs, and products in at-home kits might also cause irritation.
Also, the wax temperature needs to be carefully managed so that it only removes hair and not skin. If the wax is too hot, you risk tearing the skin or getting burned, which might require medical care to treat and carries the risks of infection and scarring.
For the best results, find an experienced and qualified aesthetician.
4 Alternatives to Brazilian Waxes
Brazilian waxes are just one hair removal method. Here are some alternative treatments to consider.
Bikini Wax
A bikini wax is similar to a Brazilian wax, but it only removes the hair on your bikini line or the area that would be visible outside of a bathing suit or along your panty line. Since it doesn’t remove as much hair, it might be a quicker and more comfortable procedure, but it has different aesthetic results.
Sugaring
Sugaring involves using a natural paste made of water, sugar, and lemon juice to remove hair by the root. The paste is applied, and then, without strips or cloths, is pulled off, removing hair in the direction of the hair growth. Sugaring only sticks to the hair, not the skin, so many people find it less painful than waxing.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal can remove hair in the bikini area for longer than waxing and can be less painful. It uses highly concentrated light to destroy hair follicles so they can’t grow. While it’s not permanent, you may not have new hair growth for several months or years. To achieve a good result, you may need six to eight treatments, six to eight weeks apart, because hairs are in different stages of the growth cycle.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is an option for permanent hair removal, but it may be more painful and expensive than other alternatives. It’s invasive and involves a thin wire being inserted into the hair follicle under the skin. An electric current moves down through the wire, destroying the hair root. You may need an appointment every week or every other week for up to a year and a half to achieve results.
Is a Brazilian Wax Right for You?
If you’re looking for a relatively quick procedure to remove your pubic hair and don’t mind a little discomfort, a Brazilian wax might be the right option for you. But be sure to find a professional wax specialist who knows how to handle the treatment.
If you need help finding a waxer, StyleSeat has a directory of estheticians and pros to choose from. Book your waxing appointment through StyleSeat today, and you’ll be enjoying smooth skin in no time!
