My First Brazilian Wax

“You’re not supposed to have hair on your vagina. You’re supposed to shave.” I looked at my cousin, stunned. My 8-year-old mind couldn’t comprehend what I was hearing. Shave? My bikini? How could I put a razor there? A joyful day at the pool quickly became an embarrassing nightmare. I glanced down at my Black bikini, suddenly feeling self-conscious.  A joyful day at the pool quickly became an embarrassing nightmare. 

After I got home, I went straight to my mom to request a razor. I was going to follow my cousin’s advice and start shaving. After the task was complete, I thought the worst was over. But it had merely begun. My previously unproblematic skin was suddenly filled with bumps. I quickly learned I had ingrown hairs. This is when a hair grows back into the skin, causing inflammation. People with curly hair are more susceptible to the condition. This is because coily hair is more likely to curve back and re-enter the skin. Over the years, the problem became so bad I booked an appointment with a dermatologist. She gave me a short prescription and told me to stop using regular soap on my mons pubis. Instead, I should alternate between hibiclens and benzoyl peroxide. My skin did improve after seeing a dermatologist. However, my ingrowns never completely went away.  Through online research, I learned that shaving makes one more prone to ingrown hairs. Shaving leaves the hair with a sharp tip, which is more likely to pierce the skin and become an ingrown. I stopped shaving and noticed some improvement in my skin. 

However, this was not a permanent solution.  I realized I had a few options. I could (1) stop removing my hair (2) use Nair or (3) get waxed. When I stopped using hair removal methods, my skin felt itchy and irritated. When I used Nair, about 60% of my hair remained. I only had one final option. The dreaded brazilian wax. 

To say I was terrified would be an understatement. How could I handle being waxed in such a sensitive area? How could I expose myself to a total stranger? I also felt embarrassed about how my skin looked. I knew my skin was flawed and didn’t want anyone to see it. I was deeply ashamed when I walked into the wax parlor. Embarrassment is my truth serum. I told my waxer about all my bikini problems. Then I asked her for help. 

She looked at me and said “Your skin isn’t bad at all. Just use a scrub 2-3 times per week and come get waxes with me every month”. I followed her advice and am so grateful I did. Overtime, my waxer completely altered how I viewed my skin and skin care. In a few months, my skin was better than ever. 

For anyone struggling with hyperpigmentation or ingrown hairs, I highly recommend going to an experienced waxer. Look for someone with extensive experience and high ratings. They may be able to suggest products and a bikini routine that works for you. If you are struggling with this, know you are not alone. Keep searching for resources and products that can help you. To start your journey, I recommend reading Beauty Below by Cynthia M. Wesley. It’s a short (and cheap) book that provides foundational help on your journey. You can get it on Amazon for about $2.99. Happy Reading! 

The wax parlor I visited in this story is called The Traveling Waxer. They are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and led by Niquesha. She is a phenomenal waxer for anyone who is in the area! You can learn more about The Traveling Waxer here.