BellaSugar

Let's Tackle that Hairy Question: Are Brazilian Waxes Necessary?

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:27 -0800

Do you really need a Brazilian wax these days? That's the question a woman posed to the Times of London, after a new beau was "shocked" by her presence of pubic hair. In her letter, she says, "I don’t think that a permanent tan and Brazilian wax should be dealbreakers in a relationship. Or am I just hopelessly outdated?"

Long story short, advice columnist Suzi Godson tells the woman to let 'er rip. "Grooming down there is now considered to be normal, on a par with manicures, blow-drying, and eyebrow waxing," she says. "There is something hugely irritating about being forced to conform to an aesthetic ideal instigated and perpetuated by the porn industry, but, like keeping one’s armpits and legs smooth, it is now expected."

Oh brother. You already know that I hate, hate, hate the whole "wax, or else you are gross and undesirable!" standpoint, but I wanted to get a professional opinion on the matter. So I turned to sex educator Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., MPH, author of Because It Feels Good. Her advice is about 10 times better than Godson's, so read more.

Expectant Mamas Can Get Waxed, Too

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:00:59 -0700

If I were carrying a baby Bella inside me, I'd like to think that I'd have some pressing issues on my mind: Lamaze classes, proper nutrition, getting the nursery ready, that sort of thing. Pubic grooming doesn't make the list. (It's not like I'd be able to see anything below my bump, anyway.) But if you want to test your pain threshold before the birth, you could always go in for a bikini wax. Completely Bare spas have introduced a prenatal wax for pregnant women.

Developed with the help of a physician and esthetician, the service aims to make hair removal more comfortable for the bun-in-the-oven set. Since pregnant women frequently have sensitive skin and reduced maneuverability, the treatment incorporates special pillows, different positions, and a nipple cream to soothe freshly waxed skin. For women who love to be bare, it's a smart idea. But I have a feeling that if I were incubating Bella Jr., I'd probably rather splurge on a nice foot massage than deforestation.

Source: Flickr User daquellamanera

The Spray That Makes Waxing 10 Times Easier

BellaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:00:25 -0700

I've been searching for a new waxing esthetician, someone who can make it easy for me to hit the beach without showing the world my lady garden. This is more difficult than it might seem, especially because bikini waxes are no, uh, trip to the beach. Every time I try a new place, I worry that I'll have inadvertently stumbled upon the Cruella DeVille Haus of Hair-Ripping, and that I will be tarred and de-feathered by someone with a serious sadistic streak.

Earlier this week, I braved a new waxing salon. (Found it on Yelp, which is a great resource for that sort of thing.) And what do you know, it was an almost relaxing waxing. I credit both the esthetician's skill and her recommendation of GiGi numbing spray ($10.49). It's a lidocaine spray that you spritz on your skin about five minutes before the waxing begins. I am overprotective of my dainty bits when it comes to chemicals, so I used it just on the parts not covered by a bikini. Worked like a charm, made the process much more bearable, and so this stuff comes highly recommended.

Reader Review of the Day: Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:05:35 -0700

Hair removal is the bane of many of our existences, but it doesn't have to be. A few months ago I dished on my experience with Bliss Poetic Cosmetic Waxing Kit ($45), and now it's Bluegirl81's turn. Here's what she had to say about this DIY home waxing product below:

This wax is amazing. I used to break out on my face when waxing at home or the spa, but this wax does not make me break out. It is virtually pain free compared to other waxes. I have been removing hair on my face for over 10 years and this is by far the best. I will never use another at home wax. Highly recommended.

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Beauty Byte: No Ban on the Brazilian

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:00:08 -0700

As the warmer months approach, perhaps you're thinking of heading to the salon for a bikini wax - or maybe even a Brazilian, if you dare. And if you're living in New Jersey, you can rest assured, knowing that a possible ban on Brazilian waxing has been lifted. Last week, officials in the Garden State threatened to prohibit the risqué service due to concern about hair removal safety around the oh-so-sensitive intimate areas, particularly after two women were sent to the hospital with infections following the bare-down-there treatment. In a letter to the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, the state's director of consumer affairs, David Szuchman, noted that the procedure in fact can be safely carried out.

New Jersey officials agreed. So salon owners win, and the Brazilians will stay. What do you think about this hairy situation? As long as the proper safety precautions are taken, are you pro-Brazilian? Or do you think they're just too risky?

Source

How to Have (Nearly) Pain-Free Bikini Waxing

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:00:40 -0800

At the risk of taking the bullet train to TMI City, I loathe bikini waxing. It is the Sisyphean task of my beauty regimen: I wax, the hair returns, I wax again. On and on it goes.

For a while, I got a $35 wax from a really sweet lady... until I noticed that she was double-dipping the waxing stick. Since I'm a clean freak, I've decided to wax less often but go to a better place. Ergo, I de-fuzz with the bikini wax at Bliss spas, where double-dipping is strictly verboten. Plus, it's shockingly not painful to be waxed here. Bliss has its own special wax that is the closest thing to pain-free ladyparts grooming that I've experienced. It doesn't stick to the skin, but it grabs even the smallest hairs. So one quick rip, and that's all you need. During my weekend bikini wax, at one point I literally didn't feel the wax pulling my hairs out. Score!

If you don't live near a Bliss spa, or you'd like to save a few bucks, check out the waxing kit ($45). It contains the same wax and tools that the pros use, and I've had success using it at home. (Not for Brazilians, though; there are some things that are too tricky for me.) Along with the Completely Bare kit, it's the best at-home option for a minimally painful wax.

Reader Review of the Day: Parissa Quick and Easy Wax Strips

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:00:11 -0800

I don't know many people that actually enjoy shaving or waxing. But what I do know, is how much of a relief it is to find a hair removing product that actually works. That's what reader Steph55 found in Parissa Quick and Easy Wax Strips for Face and Bikini ($8). Here's what she had to say about these all-in-one strips:

"I stopped shaving because I grew tired of the maintenance. Waxing is a great alternative but can be very messy. Parissa Wax Strips are not messy and they are quick and easy to use with minimal pain which makes hair removal so much more bearable. I feel these are the best wax strips on the market. Because of their high quality they enable me to do a complete hair removal which saves me time, money, and the embarrassment from having to go to a salon."

If you'd like the opportunity to be featured on this daily post, it's easy. Just head over to our Product Reviews website and submit your opinion. Oh, and don't forget that by writing just three reviews per week, you could be entered in our contest to win a $500 gift certificate from Benefit Cosmetics. The more beauty opinions you write, the more entries you'll receive. Check it out!

Australians Pushing Brazilians on Preteens

BellaSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:00:52 -0800

Things are getting kinda hairy Down Under. Parents are extremely ticked off because a website is promoting Brazilian waxes-for preteen girls. Girl.com.au, whose slogan is "Girl Power - Empowering Girls Worldwide," is a girl-centric website that usually covers things like Nancy Drew online games and PG movies. But along with this kid-friendly fare, there's a primer on Brazilian waxing that includes this gem:

Nobody really likes hair in their private regions and it has a childlike appeal. Men love it, and are eternally curious about it.

The article also tells girls what to expect during a wax, claiming that the procedure is "surprisingly not as painful as you might think." Now, even if this copy were showing up on a women's website, I'd have issues with its bizarre worldview. (Really, "nobody" likes hair down there? All men love the "childlike appeal"? Ugh.) But it's even worse to see this directed at children. Between this and Nair Pretty, it seems like our culture is sexualizing girls at younger and younger ages. I can't see how that's a good thing.

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Ten Tips for a Nearly Painless Bikini Wax

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:00:50 -0700

I think only masochists look forward to a bikini wax, and small wonder: It hurts! The thing is, it doesn't have to hurt quite so badly. I've compiled a list of ten ways you can reduce the pain of waxing. If you're new to waxing, I highly recommend going to a professional to see how it's done. After a few times, you might want to try doing it at home to save a few bucks; I really love completely bare's wax kit because it's practically pain-free. (Let me know if you'd like a how-to on at-home waxing; I'd be happy to do one!) For now, to learn how to keep pain at bay, read more

Plan to wax after your period. Your pain threshold is higher in the week after your period than beforehand. Think of it like this: If sappy commercials make you cry when you're premenstrual, having wax applied to your dainty bits certainly will.
Lose your self-consciousness. Yes, a stranger is going to see you wearing, at most, a paper thong. Don't worry about offending her or feeling embarrassed. It's nothing she hasn't seen before. The less anxious you are, the less you'll worry about pain.
Start off slowly. Your first bikini wax is not the time to try a Brazilian. If you're new to waxing, go with a basic bikini wax. You can always decide to remove more the next time around.
Exfoliate. The day before you decide to wax, exfoliate in the shower. This will remove dead skin, allowing the wax to grip shorter hairs.
Speak up. A good esthetician will work with you to make sure you're as comfortable as you can be. I always ask my esthetician to tell me when she's about to pull the wax off. So don't be shy to say something if you have a low pain tolerance-it's better to speak up than to suffer in silence.
Use hard wax. Hard wax is more gentle than soft wax, so I recommend going to a spa that uses it.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. About an hour before your appointment, take an Advil, Tylenol or other pain reliever.
Breathe. It can be tempting to hold your breath, but breathing in and out helps reduce the pain. Take a deep breath in when the wax goes on, then breathe out when your esthetician gives it a yank.
Know which parts are most sensitive. You wouldn't expect it, but having hair pulled from the lower abdomen area is more painful than it is around the vaginal opening.
Turn your head and cough. An esthetician at Bliss taught me this trick: When the wax is about to be ripped off, cough. It distracts from the pain, and trust me, it works!

Source

Product Review: Completely Bare Wax Works

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:00:07 -0700

Since it's Beach Week here at BellaSugar, I thought I'd talk about a new at-home waxing kit I tried out. It's from Completely Bare, a New York-based spa specializing in nearly painless hair removal. I confess, I scoffed at the idea of a pain-free bikini wax, but after getting a freebie coupon in a Fashion Week goody bag this past February, I decided to try it. And what do you know? Truth in advertising! I had a great, surprisingly easy (and yes, ouchless) wax.

In-spa waxing really adds up, though, so I was excited to learn about Completely Bare Wax Works ($135, on sale for $99). It's an at-home, do-it-yourself kit using the same French wax that estheticians use at the spa. Would it give the same results at home? To find out, read more

I'd been using Poetic Waxing for years, but upon unwrapping the Wax Works kit, I suspected I'd been missing out on an easier way to de-fuzz. With Poetic Waxing, I had to constantly keep re-heating the wax in a bain marie, but Wax Works comes with its own professional-style, temperature-controlled heater. That alone makes me a fan.

Using the heater is really simple: You just plug it in, turn it to the appropriate temperature, and wait for the indicator light to change color. Another thing I liked about this setup was that I could leave the room while the pink wax heated; because the heater has a lid, I didn't have to worry about my cats pouncing around and getting wax on their paws. (Sadly, yes, this is a valid concern when it comes to those frisky felines.)

While the wax heated up, I watched a how-to DVD that comes as part of the kit. It's actually really charming, with cute animations showing how to apply the wax and how to properly remove it. The kit does include detailed instructions on paper, but the DVD makes it easier to understand.

In about 15 minutes, the wax was ready. The kit comes with everything you need (spatulas, paper strips, pre- and post-waxing lotions). The directions call for baby powder, which I didn't have, but, you know, I'm a rebel. I'll wax without powder. After applying the wax and letting it cool, I yanked it off with the paper strips. While it wasn't completely painless, it wasn't bad, either. What I really appreciated was how well the wax grabbed the hair. Some waxes just grab half or three-quarters' worth of the hair, but this wax got all of it but a few strays. That means I didn't have to go over my skin over and over, which kept it from getting raw.

I had high hopes for this product, and I'm glad to report that it really delivered. Since it's on sale for $99, I think it's a worthwhile investment. After all, the wax can be used on the bikini area, eyebrows, legs and underarms-so it really is a multi-purpose product. And considering a Brazilian bikini wax is $70 at fancy spas-$84 with a tip-this kit pays for itself in just over one use. Very highly recommended! And for more suggestions on at-home waxing kits read on -although, sincerely, this one is worth every penny.