A Brazilian wax is a professional hair removal service that clears hair from the front of your bikini area, the labia or scrotum, the perineum, and the bum crack, with the option to leave a little shape up front or go totally bare. Yep, everything. So if you typed "what is a Brazilian wax" into Google with one eye closed, there's your answer. The rest of this guide covers the stuff you're actually nervous about: what really goes down in the room, how much it stings, and how to prep so you're in and out before you can second-guess yourself.
Nervous? Totally normal. Every regular on our books started right where you are.
Ted D Bare has been doing gender-inclusive waxing in San Jose since 2006, and Brazilians are kind of our thing. We're the studio behind the 7-minute Brazilian (yes, the one from TikTok), so trust us, nothing about your body is going to surprise us.
The TL;DR
A Brazilian removes hair from front to back: pubic mound, labia or scrotum, perineum, and bum crack.
You can keep a strip or triangle on the mound, or take it all off.
A bikini wax only tidies what peeks out of your underwear. A Brazilian goes the whole way.
Grow hair to at least ½ inch, skip lotion on the day, and wear loose pants.
The first one stings the most. By visit three, most people are chatting through it.
What Is a Brazilian Wax, Exactly?
Think of it as the full tour: the pubic mound, the outer labia or scrotum, the perineum (the strip of skin between your legs), and the bum crack. And yes, the "lips" are included. That's what makes it a Brazilian and not a bikini.
From there, you pick the finish:
Brazilian with a shape. Everything underneath gets cleared, and a landing strip, triangle, or little square stays on the mound.
Full Brazilian wax. Everything goes. No strip, no triangle, no negotiations. Can't decide between a Brazilian or a full Brazilian? It mostly comes down to how bare you want to be and how you feel about keeping a little strip of personality.
Partial or "half" styles. These aren't standardized, so one studio's half Brazilian might skip the back while another skips the labia. Always say out loud what you want gone and what you want kept.
Fun fact while we're here: the name comes from the J Sisters, seven sisters from Brazil whose Manhattan salon made the style famous in the US around the late '80s and early '90s.
At Ted D Bare, every Brazilian is done with soft wax. Soft wax gets a bad rap online, but here's the tea: technique matters way more than the wax. In trained hands, it's quick, precise, and a big part of how we pull off the 7-minute Brazilian.
Brazilian Wax vs Bikini Wax: Where's the Line?
The line is literally your underwear. A bikini wax cleans up whatever would show in a swimsuit. A Brazilian clears the whole area, including the parts no swimsuit is ever going to reveal.
| Service | What comes off | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bikini line | About a finger's width inside the underwear line, plus the hair below your navel | Swimsuit season, low commitment |
| Bikini full | Deeper into the sides and higher on the front, labia left alone | A tidier look without going bare |
| Brazilian | Pubic mound, labia or scrotum, perineum, and bum crack, with a shape left up front if you want one | Smooth everywhere, with options |
| Full Brazilian | All of the above, nothing left behind | Totally bare, nothing to trim or style |
Torn? Start with a bikini and work your way up. Bikini waxes at Ted D Bare start at $55, and Brazilian pricing is confirmed at the start of your appointment based on what you're having done. Before you commit, scope out every style of Brazilian and bikini waxing in San Jose we offer, from a barely-there bikini line all the way to totally bare.
What Is a Brazilian Wax for Men?
For guys, it's usually called a Manzilian (or a Boyzilian, or a Brozilian, depending on how much you like puns). The coverage is the same idea: groin, shaft, scrotum, perineum, bum crack, and bum cheeks, with the option to keep things trimmed on top instead of bare.
Guys book them for less chafing on gym days, no razor bumps in places razors really shouldn't go, and a clean look that lasts weeks instead of days. Worried about the ouch factor? Fair. Here's an honest Manzilian pain scale from a studio that does them every single day (hi, that's us).
Why People Get Brazilians (and the Honest Downsides)
A Brazilian is a personal choice, not a health requirement. Here's what clients love about it:
It lasts. You get about three to four weeks of smooth, compared to a day or two with a razor.
Fewer razor bumps. No daily shaving means no daily irritation.
No stubble. Hair comes out from the root, so there's no scratchy next-day regrowth.
And the honest part:
It stings, especially the first time.
Ingrowns happen if you skip exfoliation between visits.
It's a commitment. Smooth results mean booking every few weeks.
If your skin is sunburned, broken, or already irritated, reschedule. Waxing damaged skin is how small problems become real ones.
What Happens at Your First Brazilian Wax Appointment
Here's the play-by-play, so there are zero surprises:
Quick check-in. We'll ask a couple of questions about your skin and any medications (the FAQ below explains why that matters).
Undress from the waist down and get comfy on the table.
Trim if needed, so the wax grabs properly.
Wax, section by section. A thin layer of warm, soft wax goes on, a cloth strip gets pressed on top, and zip, it's off before you can overthink it. Your esthetician may ask you to shift a leg or hold your skin taut, so just follow their lead. You're in very good hands (literally).
Tweeze the stragglers.
Soothe and go. A calming product goes on, and you're out the door.
How long does it take? Plan on about 15 minutes on the table for your first one, since we're still getting to know your hair (and you're still getting to know us). Once you're a regular and your hair's on a steady cycle, welcome to 7-minute Brazilian territory. Blink, and you're back in your car wondering what all the fuss was about.
At Ted D Bare, appointments start on time, run like clockwork, and come with a side of jokes, because a Brazilian is a lot less weird when you're mid-giggle.
How to Prep for a Brazilian Wax
Let it grow. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests hair be roughly ¼ to ¾ inch long for waxing. We like at least ½ inch, usually three to four weeks after your last shave, so put the razor down.
Shower, then skip the lotion. Come in clean, but leave body oils, lotions, and heavy creams off the area that day. They coat the hair and keep wax from sticking.
Exfoliate gently a day or two before. It loosens dead skin so hair releases more easily.
Wear loose bottoms. Joggers, a flowy skirt, anything breathable.
Does a Brazilian Wax Hurt?
Yes, a little, and we're not going to pretend otherwise. Most first-timers describe it as a quick, hot sting that's gone in a second or two. The labia and bum crack are usually the most sensitive spots.
The good news? It gets easier fast. Regularly waxed hair tends to grow back finer, and once you know what's coming, your body stops bracing for it.
A few things that help:
Pain relief ahead of time. The AAD notes that an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen, or a cold pack, about 30 minutes before waxing may help. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Breathe out on the pull. Seriously. Exhaling as the strip comes off takes the edge off.
Curious how the sting stacks up against a tattoo? We ranked it all on a Brazilian wax pain level scale, so you can brace accordingly.
Brazilian Wax Aftercare: The First Few Days
First 24 hours: skip hot showers, saunas, hot tubs, sweaty workouts, tight clothes, and sex. Heat and friction are what turn a smooth wax into a bumpy one.
Redness is normal. It usually settles within a day. If redness or swelling hangs around for more than two days, the AAD recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist.
After about 48 hours: start gentle exfoliation two to three times a week, and add an ingrown serum like our Agent 88 Ingrown Serum to keep hairs from curling back under the skin.
Want that smooth feeling to stick around? A solid Brazilian wax aftercare routine is how you protect your investment between visits.
How Long Does a Brazilian Wax Last?
Most people stay smooth for three to four weeks. Your first Brazilian might tap out a little early, and honestly, that's your razor's fault, not ours. Years of shaving leave your hair growing on totally different schedules, so some of it pops back up sooner. Stick with regular waxing and those schedules start to sync up, which means longer-lasting smoothness and fewer surprise sprouts.
Book every three to five weeks to stay on track. Planning your next wax around a vacation? Knowing exactly how long a Brazilian wax lasts (and when stubble usually shows up) makes timing it a breeze.
Brazilian Wax FAQs: The Questions You're Too Shy to Ask
Is it awkward getting a Brazilian wax?
Only if you let it be. Your esthetician does this all day. Bumps, freckles, sweat, surprise anatomy, it's all just skin to us. Tell us you're anxious and we'll talk you through every step.
Do gynecologists recommend Brazilian waxing?
Not as a health measure. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says there's no medical reason to remove pubic hair, and notes that it helps protect the skin from friction and keeps germs away. It's your body, your call.
Can I get a Brazilian wax if I'm on Accutane or using retinoids?
Not on Accutane. The AAD says you shouldn't wax while taking isotretinoin or for six months after you stop, because it can cause permanent scarring. For retinol or prescription retinoids used on the area, we ask you to pause them for 7 days before and after your wax.
Can I get waxed if I have tattoos or genital piercings?
Tattoos, absolutely. Waxing won't damage your ink, and taking off that top layer of dead skin can actually make it look brighter. Piercings are usually fine too, since we can wax carefully around them. If you have several in the same area, we may ask you to take them out first.
What's a Hollywood wax?
It's another name for a full Brazilian: every bit of hair comes off, front to back, with nothing left on the mound. Different studios use different names, so when you book, describe the result you want instead of relying on the label.
How do I choose a studio for my first Brazilian?
Look for licensed estheticians, clear service descriptions, and reviews that mention comfort. In the room, your waxer should wear fresh gloves and never double-dip a used applicator back into the wax pot. If a studio gets weird when you ask about any of that, walk.
Ready for Your First Brazilian Wax in San Jose?
If "what is a Brazilian wax" was your search five minutes ago, look at you now: you know what's included, how to prep, and how it feels. Still got questions rattling around? Our Ted D Bare waxing blog has answers for just about every "wait, is this normal?" moment, from post-wax itching to ingrowns.
Otherwise, the only thing left is to book your Brazilian. Come in nervous, leave smooth, and probably with a story, courtesy of San Jose's home of the 7-minute Brazilian.