Brazilian Wax vs Bikini Wax
What's the Difference?

Waxing your body is an admittedly painful but efficient process to remove unwanted hair. Other techniques are not as effective and can come with painful recoveries.

When looking for a specific type of waxing treatment, Brazilian and bikini waxes may seem synonymous on the surface but the details are where they stand out.

If you’re looking to clear any misconceptions or misunderstandings you have about Brazilian and Bikini Waxes, the experts at Smudge Beauty Bar would like you to read about these procedures.

spreading wax with stick
waxed legs

Brazilian Wax vs Bikini Wax – Differences

The main difference between a Brazilian wax and a bikini wax is the amount of hair removed. A typical bikini wax will remove the hair along your bikini line, making sure no hair is visible outside your underwear or bathing suit. The process is less invasive and less painful. Usually, some hair is left behind at the client’s discretion. Bikini waxes can also be performed while you’re in your underwear. 

A Brazilian bikini wax goes a little further by removing all hair along your pubic regions, including the labia and upper thighs. It is much more invasive, hence you can’t wear underwear during the procedure and, if some hairs prove stubborn, contorting into uncomfortable positions and some tweezing might prove necessary.

Brazilian Wax vs Bikini Wax – Similarities

The differences between the two waxing services are mainly in the details. Both treatments can be done with hard or soft wax. Soft wax is a stickier solution, requiring waxing sticks and strips to use properly. Its tendency to bond to both skin and hair increases the amount of pain caused by the process. 

Hard wax is the neater, less painful alternative but it is more difficult to use than soft wax. It is applied directly to the skin without the need for sticks and strips and it hardens onto the hair, giving a cleaner finish and reducing the pain that comes with the process. 

aesthetician about to wax body
wax in wax jar

When Should You Choose A Brazilian Wax or A Bikini Wax?

The kind of waxing treatments you choose depends on what you’re looking to achieve with the procedure. Bikini waxes are generally recommended for beginners who are conscious of being naked around people they don’t know. As a less invasive process that affects less area, a bikini wax will have you bikini-ready in much less time than a Brazilian wax.

Brazilian waxes are recommended if you’re looking to remove all hair from your pubic regions and want smoother skin afterward. Given that the treatment requires more intimacy than a bikini wax, it is recommended for those who are used to bikini waxes and are seeking a cleaner, more complete waxing treatment.

Smudge Beauty Bar – Wax On, Wax Off

Waxing may not be as fun and relaxing as a massage or a mani-pedi but it does provide a lasting solution to removing unwanted hairs from your body without the cuts and nicks that come with shaving.


Please contact us for all your waxing needs. Smudge Beauty Bar is here to help you with everything you need in waxing, including underarms, lips, and eyebrows. We do it all to give you silky smooth skin and the satisfaction of being one of our Smudgeroos.