If there’s one phrase that can make any girl flinch, it’s this one: Brazilian waxing. This technique of removing hair from your pubic area by wax is notorious for being extremely painful. So, like any other curious person, I decided to try it out and see if the pain was worth it all!
Brazilian waxes are known to give you smooth, bump-free bikini lines and keep your lady bits fresh and clean. However, many people don’t have the pain tolerance for it, since it’s such a sensitive area to rip hair off of. I have coarse, thick hair on just about every area of my body, so I knew this was going to be more painful for me than for girls with thinner hair. But, all in the name of beauty, I decided to go along with it anyway and see how it would go.
I decided to stop by Strip Ministry of Waxing, a top-notch waxing parlor in NYC. The minute I stepped into this place, I knew I was in good hands! They gave me water and could tell I was pretty nervous. They sent me to my closed-off room to strip down and get to business, and I was trying to make myself as ready as possible for the pain that I thought was going to come.
But, surprisingly, it did not hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would. Overhyping the situation really helped build adrenaline and make the pain more tolerable, and the professional waxer really knew what she was doing. She took her time to make sure I was comfortable and made sure she got as many hairs as she could (I made the terrible mistake of trimming beforehand, which made some hairs too small for the wax to grip).
Overall, it was definitely a tolerable experience, and I was out of there within 30 minutes. I would definitely get it done again, and I would recommend it to just about everyone! Just make sure you go to a professional place, such as Strip Ministry of Waxing, so you know you’re going to get the most painless experience possible!
If you frequently fall down BeautyTok rabbit holes like me, you’ve likely come across siren eye hacks for hooded eyelids, mermaidcore nail inspo, and videos of TikTokers dermaplaning, or using a thin plastic razor to remove facial hair, peach fuzz, and dead skin while exfoliating.
I first thought of the cosmetic process as intense and a prime opportunity to cut my sensitive skin. After watching enough clips of creators gliding their tools across their faces and then applying makeup (that supposedly lasted so much longer), this convinced me to give it a go.
While using facial oil, stretching the skin while shaving, and other helpful tips from these videos, I did find my foundation and blush to feel much smoother afterward, as it stayed on all day and never looked cakey or patchy. Read on for tools used, tips utilized, and makeup results as well as suggestions from a dermatologist/skincare expert.
After deciding to dermaplane, I headed to my local Marshall’s and picked up a razor set and a hydrating face serum with rose oil, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, both priced individually at $5.99.
As seen in practically every dermaplaning-related TikTok video, the first step is to clip back all hair away from your face so that it is easier to focus on the area you want to shave. I centered this test around my sideburn/cheek area, moving all other hair away from this spot for a more precise shave.
The common next step in these clips is to cleanse your face to remove all potential dirt, sweat, oil, and makeup. As board-certified dermatologist Dr. Angela Casey, MD, tells me, it’s essential to wash your face with a “pH-balanced, gentle cleanser using lukewarm water.” After this, I then followed many creators who used a face serum in place of shaving cream or soap, so that the razor blade could smoothly glide along my face, preventing nicks.
As for a serum or oil choice, Casey recommends one with antioxidants, as this ingredient serves as an “extra layer of protection on your skin.” I chose one that had soothing additions like hyaluronic acid, which Casey says is “important in keeping your skin hydrated,” especially when taking off dead skin while dermaplaning.
Before taking any blade to my face, I carefully stretched the desired area’s skin back with my fingers, as the other hand would hold the razor. This, as many TikTokers stress, is another important step to prevent nicking as a dermaplaning novice.
While actually shaving, I moved the razor in a downwards motion at a 45-degree angle, as instructed by BeautyTok creators. I also made it a point to avoid any acne marks, pimples, or wounds while shaving to not cause infection.
After shaving any particular area, to avoid clogging the razor and having excess clumped hair stick to your skin, I learned it’s helpful to use a cotton pad or wipe to collect the hairs and dispose of them. After cleaning all oil and hair from the blade, it continued to smoothly move along my skin, preventing infection and cuts all the while.
After successfully removing unwanted hair and dead skin from my face through dermaplaning, I cleansed my face again with a gentle cleanser to avoid causing redness or a negative reaction. I let my skin breathe for an hour, marveling at its new glow and soft feel.
I then applied a vitamin C serum as this is a normal part of my skincare routine. Surprisingly, it didn’t sting as I thought it might, perhaps since I gave my skin time to adjust after dermaplaning.
Following the vitamin C serum, I then added a moisturizer with SPF 30 sunscreen within (anyone on BeautyTok has certainly heard this imperative advice before!) “Sunscreen is a non-negotiable,” Casey says regarding everyday skincare and following a shaving process such as this. She recommends grabbing one with “broad-spectrum, UVA/UVB protection” since this will “help lock in the antioxidant serum and seal the skin barrier, offering protection and hydration.”
Lastly, I then began applying my facial primer, foundation, and blush products to my skin as I usually would after cleansing, using a serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. My pores were not visible, my makeup did not emphasize any facial hair and ultimately, dry skin patches were removed, which resulted in a clump-free and not cakey makeup look.
Thanks, BeautyTok! To learn more about dermaplaning for your skin type and goals, it’s great to check in with your dermatologist for personalized recommendations.
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