Men Go Nuts for Brazilian Bikini Waxes
Growing numbers of men opting for Brazilian waxes: do they really know what they are in for?

When I casually mentioned to my husband David that growing numbers of men were now getting the male equivalent of the Brazilian bikini wax, he almost veered off the road.

"Don't ever mention that again," he said, giving a collective shiver for his fraternity brothers as well as the entire male population.

Isn't that ironic?

David certainly does not complain when I get a Brazilian bikini wax before a beach vacation including our honeymoon in Hawaii.

And now media reports suggest that in several major metro areas including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington, DC., men are paying up to $100 for bikini waxes that take it all off. Why? Apparently, men claim it makes for a more sensual experience and without the hair, everything down there looks bigger.

For women, the Brazilian wax chiefly involves the buttocks, pubic area (inside and out) and just about everything else save for what some describe as a landing strip about an inch long just above the vaginal area. In men, well use your imagination...and then some.

Ladies, it's payback time!

According to Newsweek magazine, straight men are getting the equivalent of the Brazilian bikini wax. While some gay men have been waxing their genital area for years, it seems that heterosexual or metrosexual (as the case may be) men are paying about $100 to have waxists pour hot wax on their genital area, apply strips of cloth and then remove the hair all of it!. And no this isn't considered S & M, it's all in the name of vanity.

Apparently, the trend started among the young gay men of Greenwich Village and Chelsea in New York City, but has always been common among professional bodybuilders, swimmers and bicyclists.

But as women know all too well, waxing, especially in the bikini area, comes with certain problems including ingrown hairs and worse, wax burns. Are men really ready?

1. Doubtfully, that's why we created Dermadoctor's 10 Commandments for men who opt for a Brazilian bikini wax.

2. Do not shave the treatment area for at least 10 to 14 days before you wax. If you do, the procedure hurts more; a lot more. Also, it's not quite as effective as when the hairs are longer.
3. Pre-medicate about an hour before the procedure. No matter how macho you are, take your chosen pain reliever about an hour before your appointment.

   For me, pre-op alone for a Brazilian wax involves taking at least three Advil's, multiple deep breaths, experiencing several aborted panic attacks as well as mental exercises to distance myself from my body to deal with the pain and the utter shame that I will surely feel as the waxist molds me into certain, inhuman positions. I don't do yoga, so my ankles do not hook behind my ears all that easily.

4. Shower and clean your entire body thoroughly before the appointment. It's only fair. You will see what I mean as this service involves a certain amount of nudity and some very embarrassing positions.
5. Make sure to seek the services of a licensed esthetician who is trained in the Brazilian technique and regularly treats men. Calling first is a good idea.
6. Use a good body scrub between wax treatments to discourage in-grown hairs such as DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Body Scrub with Chemical + Physical Medi-Exfoliation, Murad Acne Body Wash, California North Gelskin Scrub and Neova Body Smoother.
7. Apply No Bump Skin Treatment after the procedure to the newly hairless area to stave off ingrown hairs which form when hairs, growing back after waxing, fail to grow out of the skin. The hairs curl over inside the follicles under the skin and create an unsightly "bump" that can be painful, if it becomes infected.
8. If a burn occurs, apply Vaseline or Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment or Neova After Shave Therapy to soothe the affected area.
9. You also may need some ibuprofen or aspirin after the procedure if your muscles are sore from the pretzel-like positions your body was molded into by your waxist/torturer.
10. If errant hairs appear, be ready to tweeze. You may need to purchase your own tweezer like Rubis Swiss Cross Slant Tweezer as your partner probably won't want to share theirs. Can you really blame them?
11. It's not over just because it's over. As we women know, waxing may last longer than shaving and I stress may but that doesn't mean you are free and clear of your hair-removal responsibilities for extended periods of time. Men too will probably need to wax every four to six weeks. So you may want to consider making your next appointment before you check out or else you will surely lose your nerve.

Denise Mann
DERMAdoctor Staff Writer

(Any topic discussed in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please check with your doctor.)

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