DIY Brazilian Wax at Home: Sugar Wax & Hard Wax

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Want a hair-free bikini area, but don’t want to go to the salon? Whether you’re on a budget or simply looking for a new DIY self-care project, giving yourself a Brazilian wax is a great way to save money and get it done fast. But if you’re feeling a little nervous or underprepared, we’ve got you covered: we’ll walk you through doing a Brazilian wax on yourself, both with sugar wax and with hard wax. To get silky smooth skin in no time, keep reading!

How to Do a Brazilian Wax

Let your hair grow out for about 2 weeks before waxing. Wash and dry your bikini area to prepare for a Brazilian wax.
To use hard wax, spread the wax onto your skin and let it cool. Tear the wax off in an upward motion.
To use sugar wax, spread the wax onto your skin, then tear it off with your fingers in a downward motion.
Wipe away any waxy residue with baby oil, then use moisturizer to soothe and hydrate your skin.

Using Hard Wax

Wash and dry your skin. It’s important to have a clean surface before you start waxing. Head into the shower and suds up with soap or body wash, then rinse well. Pat your skin dry to give yourself a clean surface to begin applying wax. Try to give yourself a Brazilian wax about 2 weeks after you’ve last shaved. Ideally, your hair will be 2 or 3 weeks grown out, but not more than 4 or 5 weeks.

Warm up your wax on the stove or in a wax warmer. Hard wax, or traditional wax, typically comes in solid form. To melt it, follow the instructions on the package and either warm it up on the stovetop or in a wax warmer. It should be warm, but not so hot that it burns your skin. To test the wax, apply a little bit to the inside of your wrist. If it burns or hurts, let the wax cool before applying it.

Apply baby powder to your skin. Baby powder ensures that the wax sticks to your hair, not your skin. Apply a thin layer of powder to the entire area that you’re going to wax. Apply more powder if you experience more pain or start to sweat.

Spread the wax onto your skin in the direction of hair growth. Use a wooden tongue depressor to pick up a ball of wax. Start in an area that isn’t very sensitive, like the inside of your thigh. Spread the wax onto your skin in the direction that your hair grows. Having trouble seeing what you’re doing? Place a mirror in between your legs so you can watch your progress.

Rip the wax off your skin against the direction of your hair. Use your free hand to hold your skin taut. Grab one end of the wax and quickly pull up and away from your skin, ripping the whole thing off in one fluid motion. Going against the direction of your hair growth will give you the cleanest, smoothest wax. Is your skin stinging? Press your hand against your skin to apply gentle pressure.

Keep applying wax and wax strips until all your hair is gone. Once you get the hang of it, you can even apply 2 to 3 strips at a time. In general, try to work from the outside in: wax your inner thighs, your labia, your mons pubis, and then your rectal area. Typically, waxing your labia is the most painful part, and waxing your rectum is the easiest. Make sure to not apply soap and scented products to the area within 24 hours of waxing.

Using Sugar Wax

Wash and dry your bikini area. To prepare for a wax, hop into the shower and give yourself a quick rinse, then scrub with body wash or soap. Rinse off and pat your skin dry so the wax sticks better to your hair. Have sensitive skin? Exfoliate before waxing. This will help remove dead skin to prevent ingrown hairs. Before waxing your bikini area, let your hair grow out for about 2 weeks. Ideally, your hair will be between 1/4 - 1/2 inches (0.63 - 1.2 cm) for the easiest removal.

Apply baby powder or cornstarch to the areas you’re going to wax. This makes the wax stick to the hair and not your skin, which significantly reduces the pain. Gently pat the powder onto your skin, focusing on sensitive areas, like where your groin meets your thigh. If your pain increases throughout the process, apply more powder. Especially if you're waxing in a warm environment.

Warm the sugar wax on the stove. When you buy a good sugaring wax, the instructions will tell you how to warm it up. Typically, you can pour the product into a pot and then warm it up on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Test the wax on the inside of your wrist to make sure it’s warm (about body temperature), not hot. If your sugar wax is a roll-on, there’s no need to heat it up. Instead, you can simply apply it directly to your body. You can also make your own sugar wax out of sugar, water, and lemon juice.

Roll a ball of sugar wax in between your fingers. The main difference between sugar wax and traditional hard wax is the application method. Instead of using a wooden stick, pick up a glob of sugar wax with your fingers about the size of a golf ball, then roll it into a ball. This will help cool it down just slightly while also giving you control over where it goes.

Swipe the wax onto your bikini area in an upward motion. Start with an area that’s not too sensitive, like your inner thigh. Stand with one leg up on the toilet for better reach, and slowly swipe the wax onto your skin in an upward motion (against the direction of hair growth). Press the wax into your skin 2 to 3 times, spreading it into a thin layer. Work in an area that’s about 4 in (10 cm) long and 2 in (5.1 cm) wide. The key to sugar waxing is to press the sugar into your pores. This will help reduce the risk of ingrown hairs, and many people say that it helps with pain management as well.

Hold your skin taut as you rip the wax off in a downward motion. After you spread the wax 2 or 3 times on your skin, it will harden slightly and may even stick to your fingers a bit. Use your free hand to hold your skin taut, then quickly rip the wax in a downward motion (in the direction of hair growth). Keep going until you’ve removed the entire piece of wax from your skin. You may have to pull your wax strip 2 or 3 times before it comes off completely. Go quickly to make it hurt less! Sugaring is also exfoliating, so you may notice some dead skin cells coming off as well. If your skin is stinging, gently press down on it with your free hand to apply mild pressure. This can help relieve some of the pain.

Keep applying wax and removing it until all of your hair is gone. For your first time waxing, expect to spend about 45 minutes to 1 hour applying wax and then taking it off. You can continue to use the same ball of sugar wax that you were using until it cools down completely. Work your way over your bikini area, your vulva, and your rectum to remove all the hair, using a mirror to see what you’re doing. You may notice the sugar wax changing color over time, which is normal. It may get slightly more opaque as it cools.

Cleanup

Rinse your skin with water. Use cool water to help soothe your skin and rinse away any leftover wax. Or, get a washcloth wet with cold water and wipe down your bikini area. If this is your first time waxing, you might notice a little bit of blood, which is totally normal. Your skin is just irritated, and it will stop bleeding on its own in just a few minutes.

Use baby oil to get rid of any leftover wax. Sometimes your wax (especially hard wax) will get stuck to the skin and dry. If that happens, pour a little bit of baby oil onto a cotton pad and swipe it over your skin. This will dissolve the leftover wax while also giving your skin some much-needed moisture.

Apply moisturizer to soothe your skin. After waxing, your skin will be slightly dry and irritated. Apply a moisturizer that’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores, to care for your skin. For the first few days after you wax, wear loose cotton clothing to avoid irritating your skin. Stay away from hot baths and showers, as this could make your bikini area even more irritated.