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 Or am I just hopelessly outdated?"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.

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?

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Bliss Wants You to Say Farewell to Bush. Yes, That One.

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:53 -0800

You've got to give credit to the clever guys and gals over at Bliss for their amazing ability to play on words - The Big 'Orange' or 'Dew' Diligence Facial, anyone?

And now the quick-witted company has an offer sure to make you chortle. From Monday the 19th until Sunday, February 1st, you can say farewell to bush at Bliss Spas in NYC, LA, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Scottsdale by saving 20 percent on a Brazilian bikini wax appointment when you present the coupon from the link above. You'll also receive a 20 percent discount on Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads (regularly $38), Poetic Wax Kit (regularly $45), and Get Out of Hair! Lotion ($35) at participating Bliss Spa locations and at Blissworld.com when you type in BUSH in the shopping bag at checkout. So whether you're happy or sad about W leaving office, you can save a few bucks on your personal deforestation.

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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!

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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.

Lovely Links, 6/28

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:11:41 -0700

Beauty and the Blog shares behind-the-scenes video from Sephora's new catalog.

Off the Rack tries out Avon's Instant Pedicure, to great results.

Kiss And Makeup notices some Photoshopping in L'Oreal's new Scarlett Johansson ad. Be prepared, though: It's pretty, uh, subtle.

Lipstick, Powder 'n Paint gives a glowing review to Guinot skincare.

Fashionista mulls why the alien babydoll look is so hot in the modeling world.

Beauty Snob has a guide to safe, smart Brazilian waxes for summer.

Temptalia shares an unbelievable color look that you've got to see.

The Beauty Brains reveal the two products that you shouldn't mix together.

Girlawhirl shares her love of Becca concealer, which I also think is tops!

What to Expect From a Brazilian Bikini Wax

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:48 -0700

After looking at these cute retro swimsuits, you might be inspired to hit the beach. If you're going to do that, you may want to trim your lady forest - or, like some women, you may want to lose your hair completely. As I've said before, there's no right or wrong way to groom your nether regions but if you're curious about Brazilian waxing, it can't hurt to try it. Well, actually, it can and will hurt - but that's why I've created this guide to your first time.

First of all, let's get our definition straight. A Brazilian wax removes all of the hair from front to back, usually (but not always) leaving a thin "landing strip" of hair a few inches below the belly button. Expect it to cost anywhere from $40 to $80. To find out how much pain to expect, read more.

Read these tips for a painless wax before you head to the spa, and at the very least, take Ibuprofen an hour before your appointment. At the spa, you'll be shown to the waxing room to change out of your pants or skirt (including underpants). For a more modest bikini wax, you'll sometimes get a paper thong; for a Brazilian, you'll more likely be naked from the waist down. If you're like me, you'll feel ridiculous standing around half-naked.

Your waxer will ask you to lie down on your back. That's a good time to ask any questions so that you're both clear on what you want to have removed. After that, she'll probably dust your hair and skin with baby powder, which keeps the wax from sticking to your skin. Most waxers will ask you to assist by holding your skin taut or moving your legs a certain way; some will even ask you to kneel down and stick your bottom out so she can remove all of the hairs there. After the waxing is done, the esthetician will probably tweeze any stray hairs.

As for the pain, I won't lie: It's intense, but it's also fairly brief. It usually hurts more to have the hair on your pubis removed than the hair near your vagina, so be prepared for that. Your hairlessness should last for up to four weeks, at which point you can go back in for another round of waxing.

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Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:55 -0800

Get the look for less: 10 cheapy products that pass for well-known expensive ones.
Bella's November must haves.
The return of . . . street drug slang or eye shadow shade.
Are Brazilian waxes necessary?
10 great holiday gifts for mom - on any budget.
You'll never guess what people are using Botox for.
10 inexpensive feel-good gifts for dad.
Why won't this $85 treatment work for me? Let's find out.
A gorgeous golden holiday makeup palette.
3 ways to ditch rough, callused feet.

Wax On, Wax Off: The Best of Hair-Removal Posts

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

After last month's attempt at a DIY bikini wax resulted in spectacular disaster - we're still discovering particles of sticky wax on the bathroom floor - I have decided to splurge on a professional deforestation this month. Very exciting stuff, folks. If you're thinking of ripping out some of your hair, look no further. Behold, six wax-themed posts to help you grin and bare it.

Photo by Annabananabobaloo

Do Bonuses and Deals Make You Buy?

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:59:59 -0700

This morning, an email deal popped up in my inbox. Bliss spas (save for those in New York and Hoboken) are offering a free Brazilian bikini wax with the purchase of a Triple Oxygen Treatment facial. (Details here.) The bargain hunter in me squealed and thought, "Well, it has been almost a year (!) since I've had a facial, and when you factor in the $70 that I'd save on the waxing, it's not a bad deal . . ." In general, do special deals and bonuses make you more likely to whip out your wallet?

Photo by Flickr user tinou