The Ultimate Guide to the Different Types of Bikini Waxes

Before we get into some useful tips on how to groom your pubic hair, we celebrate whatever amount of hair you choose to keep down there — all, none, or something in between. “It’s a personal preference. There’s no right and wrong. Whether you want to leave it or wax it off, it's all about feeling comfortable and confident in your skin,” says Page Buldini.

If you are in the camp of hair removal, a couple of the benefits of waxing your pubic hair are that it can prevent ingrown hairs, last longer than shaving, and slow down regrowth with consistent wax services. But if you’re new to the world of bikini waxing or want to switch up your usual look with a new style, you’ll quickly realize there are many different types of bikini waxes to experiment with. 

Of course, your esthetician or waxing pro is there to answer your questions. “Leading up to your appointment, I recommend reaching out to them if you feel anxious or have concerns,” says Buldini. While your waxing technician has seen it all before, we understand you might want to be as well-informed as possible before you strip down. Here, Buldini describes the most popular types of bikini waxes so you can get an idea of what you’re signing up for. Still, getting on the same page with your esthetician and clarifying which hair you want to remove or keep is always a good idea. Salons might have their interpretation of the different styles, so make sure you’re not walking out with a fully bare bum you may not have wanted. 

Classic Bikini Wax

If you’re looking to target areas of pubic hair that can be seen outside your bikini bottom, a classic bikini wax will do the trick. “Sometimes, I even have the client leave their undies on or use disposable underwear to show them exactly how much I’m taking off,” says Buldini. If you like the idea of keeping a decent amount of hair, or if this is your first time getting a bikini wax, this style is perfect for you. “Since we’re not removing all of the hair, I wouldn’t say it’s completely painless, but it’s certainly more tolerable than going completely bare,” she says. 

Full Bikini Wax

The name of the style is slightly misleading, as it implies that your esthetician would remove everything (that’s a Brazilian, more on that below). However, there’s still a little hair left behind in this case — less than in a classic bikini. Sometimes also known as the “triangle bikini wax,” this method leaves a “triangle-shaped amount of hair on your pubic bone that could be as full or as small as you’d like,” says Buldini.