Waxing or laser: what changes for this area
Waxing leaves the skin smooth the same day, but the hair grows back. Most people repeat it every three to four weeks, and because the hair has to be long enough to pull each time, there is always an awkward in-between stretch.
Laser works the other way round. It is not done in one visit; over several sessions the hair grows back thinner and more slowly, and the time you spend on it shrinks as the sessions add up. During a course you do not shave, wax or pluck at home — your technician shaves the area right before each session.
For the bikini area in particular, many people choose laser, because the folliculitis and ingrown hairs that come with repeated waxing are especially common here.
Folliculitis and ingrown hairs: why they are more common in Hanoi
Right after hair removal, the follicles stay open for a while. Add sweat and friction and small red bumps can appear — that is folliculitis, and it shows up more often in a hot, humid city.
An ingrown hair is one that curls back under the skin instead of coming out. It is most common where coarse hair is pulled out again and again, and it can leave a dark mark behind.
- For 48 hours after a session, skip saunas, swimming pools and hot baths.
- For the same period, wear breathable cotton rather than tight clothing.
- Take a day or two off exercise. Sweat and friction together are the worst combination.
- Start gentle exfoliation after three or four days — not straight after the session.
Worth knowing before you book
- Sessions are not done during your period. If your dates might overlap, tell us and we will move the appointment.
- For laser there is no need to shave beforehand — your technician shaves the area right before the session. Waxing is the opposite: the hair needs some length.
- If you have tanned or been sunburnt recently, tell us. The settings are adjusted, or the start is pushed back.
- If you use retinol or acid products, pausing them for a few days beforehand is the safer choice.
What about men?
We are often asked about a male Brazilian. CHAMING's bikini (VIO) hair removal is for women only.
Men can have every other area done — beard, chest, back, arms and legs — with the same care before and after. Between sessions, a beard can be shaved with an electric shaver.
How many sessions it takes
Honestly, it varies. Hair thickness and density, hormones and growth cycles all differ from person to person. The bikini area has hormone-driven hair, so it usually needs more sessions than the arms or legs.
At the first visit your skin and hair are looked at, and you are told the expected number of sessions and the cost before anything starts. We do not describe it as permanent — the accurate description is hair that becomes visibly sparser as the sessions add up.