How to Give Yourself a Brazilian Wax

Like having a hair-free bikini area, but don't want to spend 150+ RMB? A little uncomfortable with the idea of letting a stranger near your bikini area, yet you still want the hair removed? No problem! $10 and a mirror is all you need.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 1

Gather your materials. Making your own sugar wax is simple but yet a true art. Get your things together and become self-reliant.

2 cup (400 g) white sugar

2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice, orange juice (squeezed), or vinegar

3/4 c (180 mL) water

Waxing strips (from the store or a piece of cotton fabric/t-shirt)

Use a large stainless steel pan. If you use an old, decaying pan, some of it may end up swimming in your wax.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 2

Combine the ingredients in a saucepan over high heat. Get them to a boil and reduce to medium. Stir occasionally.

Watch the pot! Undercooking is reparable; overcooking is not.

If it starts boiling again, lower the heat.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 3

Pour into a clean container when brown. The wax should slowly turn from translucent to a honey brown. When you reach this point, take it off the heat immediately.

This part is a true science; it can take anywhere from 6-20 minutes. Take a butter knife and see how thick it is (don't touch it!). If it seems to thickly move and stick as it goes, it's ready.

Try dropping it in a glass of water. If it immediately forms a bead and doesn't trail, you're good.

If it's runny and not at all wax-like, pitch it in the trash (not the sink) and start over.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 4

Let it cool. ...But not too much. Let it cool to the point where it's hot but doesn't burn you. You may have to learn this the hard way. If it cools too much, it will lose its stick. However, it can be reheated. If you've poured it into a microwaveable container, nuke it till it's malleable again.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 5

Prime your skin. You should start with a clean base. Apply baby/talcum powder to the area. Make sure every last bit is dry! As you go, you may need to reheat your wax or apply more powder. Apply more powder if you experience more pain or start to sweat. The level of pain depends on you. For some women, it's not a problem. Don't let this deter you.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 6

Apply the wax. This can be done with a butter knife. If it's too hot, wait a bit. If it's too cold, it won't tear off the hair 100% and will need to be reheated.

Apply in the direction of the hair. Try to have about 1/4 - 1/2 an inch (.63 - 1.2 cm) before you go about waxing; the concoction needs something to adhere to; however, too long and it makes things difficult.

Place a mirror between your legs to get a good look at your undersides.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 7

Place a strip on the covered area and let dry. Start nearest your navel. Rub the strips into the wax a bit to ensure a clean removal.

You can use waxing strips from the store or cut up an old cotton t-shirt. Sugar wax is water soluble and your strips can be used more than once, if cleaned immediately and thoroughly.

Cut your strips in 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) strips. The smaller ones can be used for clean-up or hard to reach places.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 8

Remove quickly. Do one or two at a time to keep it manageable. The last thing you want is a bunch of cotton strips stuck down there.

Leave the strip on the area for around 30 seconds, depending on its size. Rip it off (quickly!) in the opposite direction of hair growth.

The quicker the better; you'll experience less pain if you go faster.

Repeat this until all the hair is gone.

DIY Brazilian Wax Steps 9

Clean the area when completed. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to apply an oil or lotion to calm the area. Use tweezers to grab any strays. Of course, clean up any mess you've made, too! Wax can get a bit difficult to deal with when hardened and the sugar may attract ants if left out for an extended period of time.

Using Store-Bought Products

Steps 1

Buy a good sugaring wax. These are generally available at most large retail stores, but you may find more options at beauty supply stores. A waxing product such as Nair Roll-On Wax is a good choice because it has a roll-on applicator that dispenses an even amount of wax over the surface.

Steps 2

Cut the waxing strips into small strips. These can be bought (sometimes coming with the wax) or homemade. It's a good idea to make strips of varying sizes (from 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm).

If you opted for the homemade route, search your closet for an old t-shirt or piece of cotton fabric. Cut it up into strips like you would any other material.

Bonus -- if you take good care of them, you can use them again after a thorough washing (if your wax is water soluble).

Steps 3

Clean the bikini area to remove any residue that may be on the hair. This is super important--the wax needs to stick.

Trim the hair to 1/4 - 1/2 inch (.63 - 1.2 cm) for easiest removal.

Apply baby/talcum powder to the parts you´re going to wax. This makes the wax stick to the hair and NOT your skin, and significantly reduces the amount of pain.

If you pain starts increasing, apply more powder. Especially if the environment you're doing it in is rather warm.

Steps 4

Wipe up any wax that may get on your hands. Have a paper towel or cloth nearby. For waxes that dissolve in water, a damp cloth is fine.

Otherwise, you may moisten a cotton ball with simple baby oil. That removes excess wax very well and leaves skin smooth.

Steps 5

Begin nearest your navel and work your way down. Apply the wax in the same direction the hair grows, in thin strips.

With one hand, stretch that skin taut. Use paper towels to grip the skin so that it does not slip.

Rip off the wax with the other hand in the opposite direction to hair growth. Doing this gives you better results and hurts much less.

Do not apply too much wax as the waxing strips may not adhere to the hair.

Place a mirror between your legs so that you can wax the areas you cannot see. A compact mirror is sufficient.

Steps 6

Keep working until most of the hair is removed, or until you are satisfied with the results. Because the bikini area is very sensitive, it may take more than one session to remove all the hair.

Hair in some areas may be easier to remove than others. This is contingent upon how thick the hairs are. You may have to stop if the area becomes too red and continue after the redness subsides.

Use tweezers to pluck out remaining hair rather than waxing repeatedly.

Steps 7

Wash the area. You may have bits of wax that are playing hard to get.

Use warm water and apply a soothing oil or lotion.

Redness is normal and will fade