Bikini waxing

Pubic hair, triangle style (so called French waxing)

Bikini waxing is the name for a number of techniques for removing pubic hair. This is usually done using waxing. It is named after the bikini, a swimsuit for women. When people talk abouit bikini waxing, they mostly think about women removing or styling their pubic hair. In recent times, men have also started doing it.[1]

At the start, the idea was that women would remove the pubic hair that was not covered by the bikini bottom. This is the bikini line. It is the area of the upper leg and inner thigh in which pubic hair grows that is normally not covered by the bottom part of a swimsuit.[2] Some cultures do not like that pubic hair is visible, or tr hey consider it embarrassing; for this reason, people sometimes remove it.[2] Some people remove public hair even though it is not visible. They do this for reasons of aesthetics, personal grooming, hygiene, culture, religion, fashion and for sexual intercourse.

Styles

American waxing: Hair is limited to the bikini area and, here, trimmed shorter.
French waxing: Hair is removed entirely except a rectangular "landing strip".
Brazilian waxing: All hair is removed. In some places the technique is called Hollywood waxing.

Even though it is called bikini waxing, people also use other thechniques to remove this hair, for example shaving it. When people change the way their pubic hair looks, they do this to fit with trends in society, or as a means to express themselves; sometimes they do not practice it because they think it is too expensive.[3][4]

  • "Natural" (also known as "au natural" or "bush") refers to pubic hair that has not been removed, trimmed or styled at all.[5]
  • "Trimmed" or "cut" refers to pubic hair that has been shortened, but not completely removed other than shaving the inner thighs. Some women trim, but keep hair on their labia, while removing the pubic hair on the mons pubis.

Pubic hair may be styled into several basic styles[6]: 139 [7][8] which are often referred to by different names.[9] Salons often use their own unique names for common types of waxing, for example referring to a Brazilian with a "landing strip" as a "Mohican" or a "Hollywood" as "Full Monty".[10][11]

There are three basic styles:

  • "American waxing" means that only the pubic hair is removed that is not covered by a swimsuit. For a bikini, it would be hair at the top of the thighs and under the navel. It is also known as a "basic bikini wax", or "triangle" or "bikini line". It involves waxing hair from the sides to form a triangle so that pubic hair cannot be seen while wearing a swimsuit.[12] Bikini bottoms or underwear are usually worn while getting an American wax. A normal American waxing job takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete.[6]
  • "French waxing" / "Landing strip" / partial Brazilian waxing" leaves a strip of pubic hair just above the vulva. Hair around the anus and the labia is removed.[13]
  • "Brazilian waxing" means that all hair in the pelvic area, perineum and anus is removed.[14][15] Sometimes, a thin strip of hair on the mons pubis is left.[16] It can be used by those who wear thong bikinis.[17]

Brazilian waxing is more controversial than other types of waxing.[18][19] Like all waxing, it can be painful.[14][19][15][20] Some believe it is more unpleasant to receive cunnilingus from a bearded partner after getting a Brazilian wax.[19][20] Some critics of the procedure believe that Brazilian waxing can contribute to making an adult woman look underage, claiming that this may be one reason for its popularity in the sex industry.[16][18][20] 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.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Barker, Olivia (August 23, 2005), "The male resistance to waxing is melting away", USA Today, archived from the original on December 28, 2016, retrieved August 26, 2016
  2. 1 2 Tschachler, Heinz; Devine, Maureen; Draxlbauer, Michael (2003), The EmBodyment of American Culture, Berlin-Hamburg-Münster: LIT Verlag, pp. 61–62, ISBN 978-3-8258-6762-1
  3. ↑ Turner, Beverley (2013-11-15). "Pubic hair is back". Telegraph.co.uk. The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ Shire, Emily (October 4, 2014). "Waxing: Damned if You Do and Damned if You Don't: How Pubic Hair Became Political". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ Germinsky, Lisa (December 11, 2008). "Bush is back". Salon.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Helen Bickmore; Milady's Hair Removal Techniques: A Comprehensive Manual; Thomson Delmar Learning; 2003; ISBN 1-4018-1555-3
  7. ↑ "Different Types of Bikini Wax and Application Techniques". Essortment. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Brazilian bikini wax". Brazilian Bikinis. Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  9. ↑ Salinger, Eve (2005). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pleasing Your Woman. New York: Alpha Books/Penguin Group. p. 196. ISBN 978-1-59257-464-3.
  10. ↑ Hiscock, Jane; Frances Lovett (2004). Beauty Therapy (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Heinemann Educational Publishers. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-435-45102-8. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  11. ↑ Latour, Stephanie (2002). Erotic Review's Bedside Companion: An ABC of Delightful Depravity. Anova Books. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-84411-002-5. Retrieved May 9, 2013. Salons offer a choice of waxing styles for women, including the widely renowned Brazilian or Mohican for those concerned not to reveal a single stray pube in the inciest, winciest beachwear, while The Hollywood denotes the full monty.
  12. ↑ Grey, Maggie (2012-06-30). "Basic Pubic Hairstyles". The Landing Strip. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  13. ↑ Germinsky, Lisa (December 11, 2008). "Bush is back". Salon.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Valhouli, Christina (September 3, 1999). "Faster Pussycat, Wax! Wax!". Salon.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  15. 1 2 Blue, Violet (2002). The Ultimate Guide to Cunnilingus. San Francisco: Cleis Press. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-1-57344-144-5.
  16. 1 2 Boston Women's Health Book Collective, The (2005). Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era (35th anniversary ed.). New York: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-7432-5611-7.
  17. ↑ Germinsky, Lisa (December 11, 2008). "Bush is back". Salon.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  18. 1 2 Kirsch, Melissa (2006). The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything. New York: Workman Publishing. p. 424. ISBN 978-0-7611-3579-1.
  19. 1 2 3 Joannides, Paul (2006). Guide to Getting It On. Waldport, Oregon, US: Goofy Foot Press. pp. 233–246, 528–531. ISBN 978-1-885535-69-6.
  20. 1 2 3 Godson, Suzi (2005). Sexploration: An Edgy Encyclopedia of Everything Sexual. Berkeley, California US: Amorata Press. pp. 89, 161. ISBN 978-1-56975-505-1.
  21. ↑ Tweed, Katherine (July 11, 2007). "Woman Almost Dies After Bikini Wax". Fox News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
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