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A couple
of months ago, I was lured into a high-end salon on the
promise, trumpeted in an enthusiastic news release, of a
“pain-free” Brazilian bikini wax.
What that
meant, I discovered upon arrival, was that I would have
my choice of squeeze toys while the spirited
aesthetician distracted me with fun conversation.
Considering the barbarity of a Brazilian — which, for
those who don’t know, leaves you as bare as the day
you were born — I was not reassured.
“There
is no such thing as a pain-free Brazilian,” the
aesthetician, as friendly as advertised, confirmed as I
climbed onto the table. “You are violently ripping
hair out of your body.”
White
knuckles clutching a rubber cow in one hand and pig in
the other, I endured a wax as excruciating and
humiliating as ever — knee out, leg up, hold that
taut, flip over — despite our lovely conversation
about restaurants.
So,
distractions alone do not ease waxing torture. But there
are techniques and products that can make it more
tolerable.
Michelle
D’Allaird, a licensed aesthetician and owner of
Aesthetic Science Institute in Latham, N.Y., offered
these tips for mitigating the pain of a bikini wax:
Make sure
you go to an experienced waxer who is knowledgeable
about prepping the skin, pulling the wax and treating
the skin post-wax.
Avoid
getting waxed a week before and a week after your
period, when you’re most sensitive.
Hair
ideally should be 1/8- to ¼-inch long. Anything longer
will be painful, shorter might not grab.
Take
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin; not aspirin) 30 to 60 minutes
before your appointment.
Generally,
opt for hard wax over soft wax.
Get waxed
every four to six weeks. When it’s done regularly, the
hair thins and comes out easier.
If skin
is irritated afterward, ice for three to five minutes.
Do not
get waxed if you’ve been suntanning in the past three
to five days or exfoliated that day. Also, taking
antibiotics sensitizes the skin, so wait five to seven
days after discontinuing antibiotics before getting
waxed.
Among the
brands of numbing creams and sprays that purport to dull
the pain of waxing, BareEase and Cream is the most
specifically tailored to bikini waxes.
Launched
in spring 2010, the cream was developed by
anesthesiologist Dr. Edna Ma, who works at St. John’s
Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., and also happens
to be a contestant on “Survivor: South Pacific.”
BareEase
contains the anesthetic lidocaine at 4 percent
concentration, the maximum allowed by the FDA for
over-the-counter products, plus aloe and jojoba. It
comes with a pink latex panty that you slip on after
applying the cream, to form an occlusive barrier that
helps maximize absorption and numbing.
You’re
supposed to apply the cream 30 to 45 minutes before your
scheduled wax, then put on the latex panties and go
about your business while the cream absorbs. When you
arrive for your appointment, you take off the panties,
wipe away excess cream and settle in for an
“ouchless” wax. The numbing properties last another
30 minutes before they start to wear off.
To test
the cream, I applied it to half of my bikini area. I was
lying on the waxing table 45 minutes later. First the
side with the cream. Ouch. Definitely felt that. Then
she went to the non-numb side. Ouch! That hurt even
more.
Ultimately,
BareEase significantly reduced the sting but didn’t
eliminate it.
$25 for
one 0.3-ounce tube and panty.
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