Bikini waxing refers to the removal of unwanted hair at the top of the leg, below the navel, and in the bikini area,[1] otherwise known as the bikini line, a euphemistic term generally understood to describe any pubic hair that is visible beyond the boundaries of a typical bikini swimsuit, sometimes including the forearms.[2] Other methods of hair removal, such as shaving, sugaring or using chemical depilatories creams are often used in place of waxing.
It is suggested that women started removing this hair when bathing suit styles became abbreviated enough to keep these areas uncovered, especially the term bikini line indicates a date later than the nuclear explosion at the Bikini Islands in 1946 and the introduction of swimsuits that followed.[2] Changes in lingerie styles and their popularity have encouraged year round waxing of the bikini area.[1] In Middle Eastern societies, removal of the female body hair is considered a proper form of hygiene, necessitated by ancient local customs
Types
Bikini waxing can be classified into three types[1][4][5] that has variable names depending on the salon visited.[6] It has been claimed that Brazilian waxing, the most renowned form, was named after the Brazilian sisters who delivered the service in New York, USA.[7]
American waxing refers to a removal of hair exposed at the top of the thighs and just under the navel when wearing a regular bikini bottom. It is also known as a basic bikini wax.[1][4][5]
French waxing leaves a vertical strip in front (a landing strip), two to three finger-widths in length just above the vulva. It is also known as a partial Brazilian wax.[1][4][6] Hair of the peri-anal area and labia may be removed. Removal of hair from these areas are also known as the Playboy wax[5] or G-waxing.
Brazilian waxing refers to a removal of almost everything, front to back except for a thin strip of hair on the pubis.[1][4][5][6][8] An extreme form of bikini waxing, it involves a complete removal of hair from the buttocks and adjacent to the anus, perineum and vulva (labia majora and mons pubis).[9][10] Waxes that completely remove the pubic hair are known as a full Brazilian wax, full Bikini wax, Hollywood wax or the Sphinx.[1][5][6] While mainly associated with females, genital waxing also has a male clientèle.[11]
The so called 'Full Brazilian waxing' is not particularly popular in Brazil, where it is sometimes considered extreme. For obvious reasons, there is no name or nickname for 'Brazilian waxing' in Brazil, since the English neologism was coined as a reference to the style or waxing technique used in the country. In Brazil 'waxing' is simply referred to as "depilação", and has different names to distinguish both the area of the body where the waxing is performed as well as the amount of hair to be removed. The full Brazilian Wax is sometimes just referred as "complete groin".[9][12] The waxing style which leaves a small strip of hair is known in Brazil as cavado, a word that means "to miss peripheral material" and is also applied to small bikinis. In Portuguese, "to wax" is depilar, which means "to remove hair" regardless of the method
