Are the different bikini wax types driving you nuts? Don’t you worry anymore because we are here to rescue you with our detailed guide on the different types of waxing.
Bikini, Brazilian, French, Hollywood—these are just a few bikini wax types but they are enough to confuse anyone especially a first-timer. But it doesn’t have to be so! The whole idea of getting a bikini wax sounds daunting as you would have to let a stranger be into your *private business*. This, however, doesn’t mean that you cannot make an informed choice. Allow us to make that part of this process less daunting for y’all.
There are several types of waxing depending upon people’s personal preferences. Moreover, It’s a procedure done at salons or spas, and it’s not like that these places have a universal naming process. So, chances are different salons will have different names. And voila! More bikini wax types are floating around than you can comprehend.
Irrespective of these factors, we have come across nine popular bikini wax types: Regular, Full Bikini, French, Brazilian, Full Brazilian, Hollywood, Californian, Heart Shape, and Full Moon. These bikini wax types sometimes feel so much the same that the lines of differences between them begin to blur. Even after knowing which is which how to know which one is the best for you? This is what we essentially want to help you with. In this detailed guide, we will cover all these nine types of waxing, their process, pros, cons as well as frequently asked questions on the same so that you can make an informed choice before your next waxing appointment.
So, let’s get started!
9 Bikini Wax Types - Complete Guide
1. The Regular Bikini Wax
As the name suggests, this is the standard bikini wax. Just the regular one, something you can easily get comfortable with. Just like a white tee and blue jeans—the regular. It simply involves tidying up the hairy garden growing over and around your nether regions.
In a regular bikini wax, the technician would merely remove the hair that would be visible outside the bikini, i.e. along the panty line. This would include removing hair from upper thighs, outside the panty line, top of the panty line. Enough hair would be removed following the panty line so
that they don’t peak out of your bikini. Just like the neat trimming of hedges. You may also try for homemade wax types in case you don't want to go for any chemicals!
Pros
- Simple
- Beginner-friendly
- Costs less than other bikini wax types
- Good for regular upkeep
Cons
- Not suitable for all kinds of bikini wear
- Would still require upkeep at home
2. The Full Bikini Wax
Don’t let the name full you. Even though the name of this bikini wax suggests that it would do something on the lines of removing the whole of the hair from your bikini area, it does nothing even close to it. This is not one of those bikini wax types.
In the full bikini wax, the technician would follow the same outline as that in the regular bikini wax. They will only go deeper, meaning that more hair would be removed from along the panty line which would be deeper into the said line.
Pros
- Gives more definition than regular bikini wax
- Good for maintenance
Cons
- Not suitable for all kinds of bikini wear
3. The French Bikini Wax
Waxing styles have changed a lot over the years. And that’s how we have yet another one of the most popular bikini wax styles—the French bikini wax. It is also known as the landing strip bikini wax as it leaves a rectangular strip of hair in the front that looks exactly like a landing strip.
The French Bikini Wax could be understood as the next stage of the full bikini wax. In this bikini wax type, the technician would remove hair further deep into the panty line. They will take away all the hair along your panty line and leave only a small rectangular strip of hair in the front. Instead of doing the waxing to yield a triangular shape to match the bikini, the edges of the strip would be straight.
Pros
- Removes most hair
- Good waxing style to ease into Brazilian and Hollywood bikini wax types
Cons
- Might include tweezing to get that neat shape
4. Brazilian Bikini Wax
Brazilian wax is one of the most popular types of waxing that has found a place in the lives of hundreds of thousands of women. This is the ultimate bikini hair removal technique which removes all of the hair except leaving a bit on the front.
In the Brazilian bikini wax, the technician would remove all of the hair but give you an option of keeping just a bit of hair on the front. This means all the hair from the front, labia as well as between your butt and around your butthole would be waxed away. You can keep a bit of hair on the front in a shape of your liking, could be a triangle, rectangle, or square. But the most popular shape is the triangle.
Pros
- Takes away most of the hair
- Great option for thongs or similar revealing bikinis
- Favourable to those who like being hairless
Cons
- Not for beginners
- Painful than other bikini wax types such as the regular or the French bikini wax
- Comes with discomfort
- Relatively expensive
5. Hollywood Bikini Wax
Move beyond all the bikini wax types that we have told you about till now. Hollywood bikini wax is here. It is the level next to the Brazilian. It has been immensely popular amongst Hollywood celebrities and hence the name.
For Hollywood waxing, the technician would remove all of the pubic hair leaving you completely and entirely bare. All of the hair from your nether regions is waxed off including the front, back, labia, upper thighs, between the legs, and butthole.
Pros
- Removes all hair
Cons
- Costly
- Painful
- Not for beginners
- Comes with discomfort
6. Full Brazilian Bikini Wax
Now, this one is the final boss of the bikini wax types. It is the same as a Brazilian bikini wax in as much as it removes hair in the front, back, between your legs, butthole, labia and only leaves a small triangular patch on the front. But, it moves beyond your pubic area to your chest, legs, and even to your arms and feet. It is a combination of full body waxing with the Brazilian.
Pros
- Best for those who get regular waxing
Cons
- Covers more area, therefore, more painful and cost
- Not for beginners
- Has discomfort
7. Californian Bikini Wax
This is one of those types of waxing that has been a relatively recent development. With high bikinis becoming a fashion staple, the demand for a Californian Bikini wax also increased. This one is very much similar to the regular bikini wax or even the full bikini wax but instead of going deeper into the panty line, it extends vertically along the panty line. Therefore, the technician would wax off the hair from the extended bikini region which would include the top of your legs.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
Cons
- Only for the high bikini trend, otherwise, not specifically needed
8. Heart Shape Bikini Wax
This is one of the most popular bikini wax types. Here, the technician would remove the hair from the labia and the back while leaving a bush at the front which is shaped into a heart using a stencil and sometimes some tweezers and scissors. It is a tricky shape to get, but that doesn’t stop women from going after it.
Pros
- Looks cute
Cons
- Needs more shaping than usual
- More susceptible to ingrown hair
- Not done by every salon/spa
9. Full Moon Bikini Wax
This is yet another popular one amongst the various types of waxing that came out of the lockdown. It is a new one amongst the different types of wax styles but is still similar in many respects. In a full moon bikini wax, as the name suggests, the technician would leave hair on the front and shape them into a circle while waxing off the hair from the labia and the back.
Both the heart shape and the full moon bikini wax are like the Brazilian bikini wax with the difference being that of the shape left on the front.
Pros
- Popular
- Looks cute
Cons
- Needs more shaping than usual
- More susceptible to ingrown hair
- Not done by every salon/spa
So, which of these bikini wax types is the right option for you?
It all depends on your personal preferences and choices. We can only inform you about the different types of waxing styles and their pros and cons. You have to choose the one for you. If you are a beginner, go for the regular bikini wax. If you have experience in getting bikini wax, then choose amongst the waxing styles that you seem to like the most.
How To Prepare for Bikini Wax
Despite the bikini wax types, there are certain things that you must keep in mind before our next waxing appointment:
- Have a hearty talk with your technician and ensure that both of you are on the same page. Sometimes the names can be confusing for them as well. What you mean by a Brazilian might not be the same as what they understand it to be. So, talk
- Do not shy away from telling your technician exactly what do you want, how much hair should be removed, and from where
- Exfoliating before waxing is a good idea but does not use an abrasive formula or something that sticks to your hair
- Your hair must be at least a quarter-inch long to be considered waxing-ready. It’s good to be on the safer side and go with slightly longer hair than short ones
- Avoid waxing when on your periods. The skin is more sensitive during this time and you would feel more pain than usual
- If you are comfortable with getting waxed on your periods, then do the decent thing and ask your salon if they are comfortable with the same. Call ahead to make sure
- Make sure your salon follows hygiene standards. They must not be doing double-dipping. And, if they do, run. This is unsanitary and a pretty common cause of infections
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the most popular bikini wax style?
Hollywood wax is the most popular amongst the different bikini waxing styles.
Q. What are the different types of bikini wax?
There are several bikini wax types but the most popular ones can be categorized into nine types. They are the Regular, Full Bikini, French, Brazilian, Full Brazilian, Hollywood, Californian, Heart Shape, and Full Moon.
Q. Does a full bikini wax include the lips?
No, not all types of waxing include the lips. The regular bikini wax and the full bikini wax do not include the lips but other bikini wax types such as the Brazilian and the Hollywood include the lips.
Q. Is bikini or Brazilian wax better?
A regular bikini wax is good for beginners and regular maintenance. A Brazilian bikini wax type, on the other hand, is good for those
Q. How bad does a bikini wax hurt?
It doesn’t hurt as much as you might think. It would also depend on your pain tolerance. But, if it is something that worries you, then you can take an ibuprofen or aspirin about an hour before your waxing appointment.
Q. Is getting a Brazilian wax awkward?
Yes, getting a Brazilian wax can be awkward if it is your first time. But, if you have gone to a gynecologist, it wouldn’t be as such.
Q. What is V wax?
V wax is the short form for vagin*l wax or as it is commonly known, the bikini wax.
Q. Are there different types of wax?
Yes, just like different waxing styles there are also different types of hair removal wax. These are soft, hard, warm, cold, pre-made, sugar, fruit, and chocolate wax among others.
