Ask Susie: About Waxing

Question:

I have had my upper lip and eyebrows waxed in the past, but I have never had my bikini area waxed before.  I usually just shave that area when necessary but am thinking about giving waxing a try.

I am concerned about the type of wax, whether I should go to a salon or spa and whether or not it will be painful.  Could you give me some advice? – JB

Answer:

Dear JB,

So glad you asked this question because waxing is one of the most popular services in the spa industry and this gives me a chance to share some information that might be helpful to you and others.

The most important thing to know is that the skill of the aesthetician is the single most important factor in selecting a place and person for waxing – especially of the pubic hair area.

Therefore I would recommend that you look for a spa or salon where they do a lot of waxing rather than a place where waxing is done infrequently – often in a back room.

In larger spas, they may even have aestheticians who specialize in waxing and perform this treatment all day long. Specialists are often a good choice. One thing I like to do is call and ask “who is your most requested waxer?”

Regarding the type of wax – while there are dozens of different types of wax, a good spa and seasoned aesthetician will likely be using a quality wax because it will make the experience and the result better. And regarding degree of discomfort….once again that has a lot to do with the aesthetician.

And finally….I would recommend that you start by asking for a basic bikini wax – don’t experiment with a Brazilian (where they remove most or all of the pubic hair) your first time!