Brazilian waxing offers not only a more time-saving but, in the long run, also a gentler alternative for your skin. Not sure what to expect when it comes to aftercare for waxing? No problem. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about preparing for and following up on Brazilian waxing.
What Is Brazilian Waxing?
Brazilian waxing is the traditional method of hair removal using wax for the intimate area and bikini line, originating in Brazil. The origins of Brazilian waxing lie in Brazil’s coastal cities, where the method emerged in the 1990s. As thongs and microkinis grew in popularity, demand for professional hair removal at beauty salons rose rapidly. Around the turn of the millennium, the trend spread to the USA, first appearing in California before later making its way to us here in Europe.
Unlike shaving, Brazilian waxing removes hair along with the hair root. The “Brazilian Hollywood Cut” is the best-known and most popular waxing variant: here, not a single hair is left standing.
Brazilian Waxing: How It Works
Whether Hollywood Cut or Brazilian Triangle, all waxing variants have one thing in common: a wooden spatula is used to apply wax to the areas of the body to be hair-free. The wax needs a few seconds to dry and harden. It is then pulled off the skin in one swift motion, removing the hairs along with their roots.
Good to know: At Sanft & Schön, we only use quality products that we’re genuinely convinced by. That’s why we swear by fast-drying Brazilian film wax, which leaves your skin silky-smooth. Thanks to its relatively low application temperature of 42–45°C, it’s even gentler on your skin, opens the pores and helps make your treatment less painful. Our wax is, of course, free of fragrances and dyes, so your skin isn’t put under additional strain or irritated.
Care Before & After Waxing: How to Be Perfectly Prepared
For an optimal waxing result, it’s not just about the skill of our depiladoras (the Brazilian term for beautician). Proper preparation on your part, as well as aftercare for waxing, are essential too. To make your waxing experience as pleasant as possible, we recommend following this checklist before your appointment.
Checklist: Avoid the Following for 24 Hours Before Waxing
- Sunbathing
- Tanning bed
- Sauna
- Exfoliating
- Applying cream or oil
- Shaving (let your hair grow to 0.5 cm)
Please avoid extended sunbathing and tanning bed sessions, as well as sweat-inducing activities like sauna visits or sport, for 24 hours before your treatment. Also, be sure not to apply any greasy or oily products to your skin before your treatment.
Let your hair grow for about two weeks before coming to Sanft & Schön. Is your hair longer than 1 cm? Feel free to trim it a little. By the way, you’re also welcome to visit our studio during your period. Just make sure to insert a fresh tampon or menstrual cup beforehand – then nothing stands in the way of your Brazilian waxing.
If you’d like to coordinate your waxing appointment with your cycle, we have good news for you: women’s pain sensitivity varies depending on the cycle. Women are most sensitive to pain at the end of the cycle, shortly before their period starts, and least sensitive in the middle of the cycle, during ovulation.
Are you currently pregnant? That’s no obstacle to having your bikini line waxed either – quite the opposite. Since the treatment takes place outside your body, nothing can happen to the baby. In most cases, the intimate area is shaved by nurses or midwives at the hospital shortly before delivery anyway. Professional, long-lasting hair removal can help you avoid that stressful situation.
Aftercare for Brazilian Waxing
You made it! You visited our studio, trusted your body to a professional depiladora, and can now proudly admire the result. Looks great, right? So that your skin not only looks fantastic but also feels good long-term, here are our best tips for aftercare after waxing.
Aftercare for Waxing: Checklist
Avoid the following for 24 hours after waxing…
- Direct sunlight and tanning beds
- Sport
- Alcohol-based skincare products
- Exfoliating
- Sexual intercourse
- Lace underwear and tight clothing
Right after your waxing, it’s time to rest. Give your skin enough time to recover – so avoid direct sunlight, sport, tanning beds, and exfoliating for 24 hours after waxing, and don’t use any alcohol-based skincare products after hair removal.
For aftercare after waxing, we recommend applying a cream with natural ingredients – such as shea butter or aloe vera. The cream has an immediate soothing effect on irritated areas. But be careful: too much aftercare after waxing can be counterproductive! Skincare products containing chemical additives or alcohol can have the opposite effect and put additional strain on the skin.
Tips for Aftercare After Waxing: How to Pamper Your Skin
Be patient with yourself: despite soothing lotions and creams, your skin will initially be irritated after waxing, which is completely normal. That’s why it’s advisable to avoid sport and sexual intercourse for a day. Lace underwear is better left in the drawer for now, until your intimate area has adjusted to its new look.
After your treatment, you should protect the opened pores well from dirt. A skin-friendly, cooling aloe vera gel is ideal for aftercare after waxing, as it relaxes and soothes irritated skin. To prevent ingrown hairs, we recommend using a shower scrub.
Once the redness from hair removal has faded after a day or two, the world already looks different. Instead of stubborn hairs, your skin in the bikini area now feels pleasantly smooth – we promise!
If you’re weighing up different methods for a smooth intimate area, our comparison of bikini line hair removal can help you decide.
After waxing, darker patches can sometimes appear under the arms due to irritation; we explain what helps with such discoloration in our article on dark underarms.
To keep things that way and prevent hairs from growing in over the following days, you can schedule an exfoliation into your aftercare routine on the fourth day after waxing. A regular loofah sponge is enough for this – gently massage the hair-free areas with it. This allows the hairs to grow out unhindered and keeps them from “catching” under the skin.
Source: Karolina Grabowska/pexels
Aftercare for Waxing: Conclusion
Brazilian waxing is just as trendy today as it was in the 1990s. We can thank today’s bikini styles for that too, which are skimpier than ever. Thanks to our efficient waxing method, you can focus on what really matters in summer: relaxing by the sea!
Proper aftercare after waxing is essential: make sure not to irritate your skin any further, and avoid tight clothing, lace underwear, or intense sun exposure for 24 hours afterward. Alcohol-based skincare products and other ingredients that strain your skin should also be left out of your aftercare routine after waxing. A gentle exfoliation on the fourth day after your waxing appointment is fine, though.
Would you rather say goodbye to unwanted hair for good? The methods of permanent hair removal available today are virtually limitless. Our laser hair removal at Sanft & Schön can make your dream come true, thanks to state-of-the-art diode laser technology. By the way: permanent hair removal has long since stopped being just a women’s thing. Laser hair removal for men also offers numerous benefits – whether for hygienic and aesthetic reasons or out of athletic ambition.
We are happy to advise you in detail on our Brazilian waxing and regular waxing services, whether directly at our beauty studio in Berlin Mitte, by phone, or by email.
We’re also happy to offer a wide range of facial treatments, such as microneedling, aquafacial, as well as microdermabrasion and acne treatments in Berlin.