Ashlene Explains the History of the Brazilian

If you heard the term “Brazilian” 30 years ago, you’d probably think of someone from Brazil, not a bikini wax. Even though being hair-free “down there” shows up in history as far back as ancient Egypt, the Brazilian wax as we know it only hit North American spas in the early 1980s. Today, it’s one of the most requested services at Ashlene’s Laser and Wax Studio, and the treatment my studio is known for. Over the years, I’ve refined my technique so much that clients have called us Vancouver’s best Brazilian.

Hair Removal is Older Than You Think

Removing body hair is not a modern idea. The earliest traceable hair-removal rituals come from ancient Egypt. People used homemade tweezers, pumice stones, and beeswax to remove hair from their entire body, including the bikini area.

Fast forward about 3,000 years to the Roman Empire, where it was considered uncivilized to have pubic hair. Successful men and women made razors from flint, used tweezers, creams, and stones, and removed most visible hair. If you look at paintings from that time, you’ll notice women are often shown as almost completely hairless.

In the late 1800s, American entrepreneur King C. Gillette patented the first safe, disposable razor for men. From there, hair removal slowly became more common in everyday grooming.

Enter the Brazilian

For a long time, hair removal “down there” was not part of the mainstream conversation. That changed in the 1980s, when the phenomenon we now call the Brazilian wax arrived in North America.

In 1982, seven sisters from Brazil moved to the United States from Vitória, Brazil. They had run successful salons back home, and even with a language barrier, they quickly gained experience in New York salons and built a loyal clientele of celebrities and magazine editors.

In 1987, all seven sisters, each with a name starting with “J,” opened the now-famous J Sisters Salon in Manhattan. The salon did well from the start, but things really took off when they introduced what they called the “extreme bikini wax.”

In Brazil, they had been creating a completely bare bikini area for years. Tiny bikinis are common there, so removing all the hair was nothing new. But in North America, this was a first. Thanks to their well-connected clients, the trend spread quickly through magazines, celebrities, and word of mouth. Soon, almost every salon and spa was offering this new style of waxing. To honor the sisters and their Brazilian roots, the treatment became known as the Brazilian wax.

From Trend to “The Norm”

Since then, the Brazilian has only grown in popularity. A 2016 survey in JAMA Dermatology found that 62% of American women remove all of their pubic hair consistently.

At Ashlene’s Laser and Wax Studio, Brazilian waxing is one of our core specialties. Over more than 28 years, I’ve developed a technique that focuses on:

• High-grade wax infused with essential oils

• Reducing pain in more sensitive areas

• Working efficiently so the appointment is as quick and comfortable as possible

I also understand that having a Brazilian can feel nerve-wracking and vulnerable, especially the first time. My goal is always to make sure you feel safe, informed, and respected from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave.

Ready to Experience It for Yourself?

If you would like to experience what many clients call the best Brazilian wax in Vancouver, we would love to take care of you.

Book Now