Bikini waxing

Bikini waxing refers to the removal of unwanted hair at the top of the leg, below the navel, and in the bikini area, otherwise known as the bikini line, a term generally understood to describe any pubic hair that is visible beyond the boundaries of a typical bikini swimsuit, sometimes including the forearms. Other methods of hair removal, such as shaving, sugaring or using chemical depilatories creams are often used in place of waxing. It is suggested that women started removing this hair when bathing suit styles became abbreviated enough to keep these areas uncovered, especially the term bikini line indicates a date later than the nuclear explosion at the Bikini Islands in 1946 and the introduction of swimsuits that followed. Changes in lingerie styles and their popularity have encouraged year round waxing of the bikini area. In Middle Eastern societies, removal of the female body hair is considered a proper form of hygiene, necessitated by ancient local customs. Contemporary sources indicate that the French nobility also practiced waxing during the 17th century.

Types
Bikini waxing can be classified into three types that has variable names depending on the salon visited. It has been claimed that Brazilian waxing, the most renowned form, was named after the Brazilian sisters who delivered the service in New York, USA.

American waxing refers to a removal of hair exposed at the top of the thighs and just under the navel when wearing a regular bikini bottom. It is also known as a basic bikini wax.

French waxing leaves a vertical strip in front (a landing strip), two to three fingers in width just above the vaginal area. It is also known as a partial Brazilian wax. Hair of the peri-anal area and labia may be removed. Removal of hair from these areas are also known as the Playboy wax or G-waxing. A soft wax used by sculptors to create models for casting in bronze in also known as French wax.



Brazilian waxing refers to a removal of almost everything, front to back except for a thin strip of hair on the pubis. An extreme form of bikini waxing, it involves a complete removal of hair from the buttocks and adjacent to the anus, perineum and vulva (labia majora and mons pubis). Waxes that completely remove the pubic hair are known as a full Brazilian wax, full Bikini wax, Hollywood wax or the Sphinx. While mainly associated with females, genital waxing also has a male clientèle.

In spite of the name, Brazilian waxing is not particularly popular in Brazil, where it is considered extreme. There is no name or nickname for Brazilian waxing in Brazil, where it is simply referred to as "removing all the hair", or as "complete groin". The waxing style which leaves a small strip of hair is known in Brazil as cavado, a word that means "to miss peripheral material" and is also applied to small bikinis. In Brazilian Portuguese, "to wax" is depilar, which means "to remove hair" regardless of the method.

Caution and controversy
A bikini wax involves the removal of pubic hair adjacent to the pantyline (or "bikini") area. This is a fairly common procedure in the United States. Because it can be painful, some estheticians suggest taking ibuprofen one hour before the wax. The procedure is similar to that for the more extreme Brazilian wax. Unlike the Brazilian wax, a bikini wax can be performed privately in the home, but it is generally more convenient to have a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician perform the procedure.

Some women suffer from pimples or "razor bumps" after shaving this area. This commonly results from shaving in the wrong direction, so that the end of the hair becomes ingrown. Suggested (after the fact) solutions include lightly dusting with baby powder or the use of an acne cream, which thins the outer layer of skin (stratum corneum). A preventive alternative, long familiar to barbers, is to only shave "with the grain": on the legs, this means shaving toward the feet. Many television ads show women shaving "against the grain."

The medical community has also seen a recent increase in folliculitis, or infection around the hair follicle in women who wax and/or shave their bikini areas. Some of these infections can develop into more serious abscesses that require incision with a scalpel, drainage of the abscess, and antibiotics. One of the common organisms causing this infection is MRSA, or methacilln resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, the bacteria that has been covered in many recent news reports and is resistant to many conventional antibiotics used to treat similar infections.

Brazilian waxing faces more controversy than other types of waxing. It is a physically painful experience during and after waxing, which can become even more unpleasant if receiving cunnilingus from a bearded partner. American actress-model Lisa Barbuscia commented on her negative first experience at getting a Brazilian at a Los Angeles salon popular with porn stars: "It was so painful I collapsed. I only fainted, but I was nearly carted off to hospital and I have vowed never to try it again." Some critics of the procedure believe that Brazilian waxing can contribute to making an adult woman look underage, citing this as one reason for its popularity in the pornographic industry. The look has also been called perverted and unnatural. There is also a health risk involved if it is not done properly, as well as a risk of infection if done on a person with a weakened immune system. Despite the controversy there has been reports of women of all ages opting for this extreme form.

Process
The procedure starts with baby or talcum powder being spread liberally over the area to be waxed. This prevents the hot wax from sticking to the sensitive skin. Then, as in other forms of waxing, hot wax is spread over the area from which hair is to be removed. The wax is allowed to harden briefly, then one edge of the wax strip is pulled up and used as a tab to quickly pull off or zip the rest of the wax, in the direction opposite of hair growth.

Then the procedure progresses to systematically removing the hair from the genital area, buttocks, and anus. This procedure removes the wax, hair, and any dead skin cells lying on the skin surface. The person performing the wax will then finish with tweezers to remove any stray hairs that the waxing missed. Finally, the remaining pubic hair (the so-called "landing strip") is either trimmed with scissors, or waxed off. The remaining hair may even be in a particular pattern (hearts are a popular option), or dyed. The pain involved with this procedure can be slight or severe and can continue for quite some time (from several seconds to minutes). Some people experience less pain during subsequent treatments.

The wax used is often a mixture of natural beeswax and tall oil rather than the more common synthetic 'waxes' used for regular leg waxing. It is felt that beeswax is stronger, and more effective at removing the thicker, coarser pubic hairs. Many products are available to lessen the pain involved, such as topical anesthetics. Sometimes a hair inhibitor is applied, which slows the regrowth of hair and may halt regrowth completely. The results can last up to two months. It is recommended that one get a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician to perform this procedure, but with care it can safely be done on oneself with a home kit.