Whether you’re comfortably stretched out at a studio or straddling a chair in your own bathroom, Brazilian waxes aren’t known for being an easy process—or a painless one. However, you can give yourself an amazing wax at home, and there are more DIY kits and products than ever to choose from. Brazilians may be daunting, but with expert advice, editor-approved wax, and a mirror, they don’t have to be. Ahead, everything you need to know about DIY Brazilians, including tips on how to make the process as painless as possible.
“Be sure to look for a product that specifically says Brazilian on the packaging, as not all formulas are suitable for this sensitive area,” explains Natalie Ismiel, brand ambassador for the hair-removal brand Nad’s.“For a first timer, it might be easiest to use a hard wax, as strip waxes are a little bit more difficult to do on your own and take practice.”
Moreover, stripless wax puts all of the power in your hands—literally. “It also gives you more control when applying the wax, which is especially important when waxing smaller areas,” adds Ismiel. “Wax strips require you to smooth over the strip in the direction of the hair, which is harder to do in the areas where you have less visibility.”
Most at-home wax treatments have clear instructions on how long to heat the product. That said: “It should be the consistency of cold honey,” says Nandi Wagner, lead esthetician at Bliss Spa in SoHo, who advises doing a test patch on your inner wrist to make sure it’s not too hot or too runny. Keep in mind that you’ll likely need to re-heat after 10 to 12 minutes of waxing.
Right after a shower, when your skin is clean, soft, and dry. You shouldn’t use any lotion or oils before, but there’s no need to prep with an alcohol pad, either—that can be overdrying. Avoid waxing when you’re on your period (extra sensitive) or after you’ve been drinking (we get the impulse, but you’re more prone to bleeding; instead, take an Aspirin for courage in pill form). “You should also avoid Brazilians if you are taking oral retinoids or using topical Retin-A and if your skin is irritated or flaky,” adds Ismiel.
It’s time to get flexible. “You might have to change positions a couple of times, depending on the area you are waxing. Try standing, while propping one leg up on a bathtub or chair,” says Ismiel. “This position also works for the inner and back areas.” Though you might want to strategically arrange a mirror (or two). “Stand in front of a mirror, if possible, to give yourself extra visibility,” she adds. “If you have trouble reaching, you can also lay in front of a standing mirror, while bending your knees and spreading your legs widely. Prop up your lower back with a pillow. You can do this on the floor or on your bed on top of a towel.”
Don’t rush into things, though—it’s smart to trial run each pose before you even heat up the wax. “Before you start, be sure you test out different positions to see what is most comfortable for you and provides the best reach for each area you plan to wax,” explains Ismiel.
The top inner thigh by your hip area. “It’s a horrible analogy,” says Wagner, “but it works: Think of mowing the lawn. You don’t start in the middle of the yard where the grass is thickest, because if you do, your mower is going to get stuck and stall out. You always start from the edges where it’s thinnest and work your way in.”
“Apply it in a swirling motion, like you’re putting peanut butter on a piece of bread. This ensures that you’re catching all the hair in the wax. When you’re done, the wax should be about the thickness of a quarter or nickel,” explains Wagner. Make sure that the end of the wax is in a place where there’s no hair, so you can get the best grip on it as possible. When the wax feels tacky—but not sticky—it’s ready to be removed.
You want to pull in the opposite direction of hair growth, but it can be tricky to figure out which way that is sometimes. A cheat sheet: “On most people, hair grows in toward the center. This is biological—the hair is there to protect our reproductive organs. So if you’re starting at the top, the hair grows downward, so you want to swirl the wax on in a downward motion, then pull up towards you. When you’re in the back, do the opposite,” says Wagner. When you get down to the sides of your inner thighs, the hair is growing toward the center, but sideways, so you will need to switch from pulling up or down.
What about that hard-to-reach area? “Evolution hasn’t evolved so that we can see the rear, so this is a hard area to do on your own,” acknowledges Wagner. “If you’re going to attempt it, you want to lean back—not so much that your back is flat on the ground, but at an incline—and work one side at a time.”
“The most important thing is to read the instructions and precautions thoroughly before waxing, to minimize pain and irritation. Sometimes the pain can be caused by anxiety you may be feeling about waxing,” explains Ismiel. “Relax your body and take deep breaths!
Once you’ve done your first wax, you’ll find that every wax after that gets easier and less painful.” Beyond chilling out mentally, prime your body for the experience physically. “Try not to drink significant amounts of alcohol or coffee before waxing, as it can tighten your pores and feel more painful,” continues Ismiel. “It’s best not to wax during your period, as you will likely be more sensitive and prone to experience discomfort.”
You can fool your body by holding your skin taut while you wax, as well. “The tighter and smoother the skin is, the easier it’ll be to remove the hair. It’ll also be less painful because the pressure of pulling the skin tricks your pain sensors in that area,” notes Wagner.
Box treatments often include post-wax products that soothe tender skin and remove extra wax. If you need reinforcements, try cleansing additional leftover wax with coconut oil, and calming down irritated skin with a cool compress and witch hazel. “Steer away from fragrances or creams with fragrance to reduce irritation,” says Ismiel. For the next 24 hours, wear cotton underwear and skip workouts, steams, or saunas—all things that can clog your still-open follicles.
“After waxing, you should exfoliate at least 3 times per week to prevent ingrown hairs,” explains Ismiel; Wagner recommends regularly using glycolic wipes to keep the area exfoliated and coconut oil to moisturize and soften the regrowth after the first 24 hours. “If you think you want to stick to waxing, try not to shave between waxes to reduce irritation and ingrown hairs. Hair can grow back thinner and weaker the more you wax,” Ismiel adds.