Bikini waxing is still something of a relative taboo. Controversy baiting Sex and the City has touched upon it, beauty blogs mention it now and again, but in general no one's exactly jumping at the chance to recount having hair ripped from their netherest regions.
But then if you are going to brave waxing, it's nice to know what is going to happen. Can you leave your knickers on? Will you have to get on all-fours in order for them to be really thorough? Will the waxer laugh if you have an overgrown ladygarden? Will it hurt?! The questions alone are enough to put you off.
I recently paid a visit to Notting Hill's Strip Wax Bar, who have allegedly ripped pubes from the coiffed quims of Sienna Miller and Victoria Beckham, to get to the bottom of the legendary Brazilian.
Firstly, they do like you to remove your knickers as it makes the whole affair a whole lot easier and over more quickly, something they let you know in the Q&A section on their website so you are aware before you book. The pre-warning pleased me, not only because it meant no surprises, but because there was none of that, 'will they think I am a pervert if I just whip them off, or a prude if I leave them on' confusion on arrival.
I expected this semi-nudity before a stranger would make me feel incredibly uncomfortable, but in actual fact, the chatty, relaxed manner of the therapist, who told me she had branded 15 women with the ubiquitous landing strip that day alone, really put me at ease. I was also pleased to learn that those undignified all-fours rumours were (at least at the Strip-Wax Bar) entirely untrue in favour of skillful, and far more lady-like maneuvering of the legs.
As for the pain, there is no way having hair abruptly pulled from its follicles couldn't hurt, but the premium Lycon Wax used at the Strip Wax Bar certainly makes it as painless as it can be. Skin is pre-oiled so that the wax sticks only to the hair and not the skin, which means that the pain of the wax being pulled from the skin is ruled out totally.
The Lycon wax, is applied and allowed to dry to a solid, where it is pulled straight from the skin. This allows it to grip right around the hair, meaning less breakages, the ability to get even very short hairs, and ultimately a very thorough finish.
I left the Strip Wax Bar incredibly pleased with the results and feeling a little silly that I had been to embarrassed to try out waxing before. The friendly, chatty therapists, and swanky setting of the Strip Wax bar made all the difference.
The Strip Wax Bar has salons in Notting Hill and Chelsea, and bikini waxing ranges from £22-£50.
Image Via FabSugarUK