The single most asked question I’ve gotten here at Clean Slate Spa is“how long does a Brazilian wax last?” This is a good question to ask, if you’re considering getting one and wondering if the pain and expense is really worth it over just shaving at home!
The answer depends on what you define “how long does it last?”. The answer is quite simple, but also complex because it is dependent on individual factors such how frequently you get waxed, how fast your hair grows, and even the weather. Weather?? Yes, weather!~
Hair Growth Cycle
- Anagen, or the growth phase. This is the phase where the hair is actively growing longer. The length of time hair remains in anagen phase determines how long it can grow – this is why the hair on your head can grow much longer than the hair on your armpits or pubic area. Pubic hair stays in the anagen phase for 3 to 4 months, and about 30% of one’s pubic hair is in the anagen phase at any given time.
- Catagen, or the transition phase. During this phase the hair stops growing, the follicle shrinks, and the hair is cut off from its blood supply. The catagen phase only lasts for about 2 weeks, and only 2 or 3% of pubic hair is in this phase at a time.
- Telogen, or the resting phase. In the telogen phase the follicle remains dormant and renews itself. The old hair is shed when the anagen phase begins again and the new hair pushes the old hair out of the follicle. About 70% of pubic hair is in the telogen phase at a time, and it remains in this phase for about 3 months.
What all of this means is that an average Brazilian wax will only remove about 30% of hair by the root while it is in the Anagen phase. The majority of your hair is in the Telogen phase, so you are only removing the old, dead hair. This means that you can expect to see noticeable hair regrowth within 2 to 3 weeks. This will vary somewhat depending on how fast your hair grows naturally. It will also vary depending on the season – in summer, your hair will grow faster, because you have increased blood circulation to the skin compared to winter. This in turn provides more nourishment to the hair follicles, leading to more rapid growth. Your hair will also tend to regrow more slowly if you get waxed regularly, since you remove more of the hair by the root, which ultimately shrinks and damages the root of the follicle.
How Long Does a Brazilian Wax Last Until It Need To Return?
If you are wondering how long you should go between Brazilian waxes, it depends on the factors mentioned above. Hair grows about 1/8 inch per week, but keep in mind that most of your hair down there is dormant at any given time. So while the hair that was just beginning the andogen phase after you get waxed, will be the 1/4 inch needed to get a Brazilian after two weeks, much of your hair will still be resting. Since the dormant period is about 3 months, you can expect about half of your pubic hair to be growing again in 6 weeks. You can usually get a Brazilian wax every 4-6weeks. If you get waxed on a regular basis, you will probably be able to go even longer between waxes (maybe 5-7 weeks), since your hair will be thinner and more in sync with your waxing schedule.
I hope this answers any questions you have about how long a Brazilian wax lasts. If you have questions or need additional information, please shoot me a message.
