Fashion + Beauty

Sunday, November 29, 2009

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Should the Brazilian Wax Be the Standard for Women's Bikini Lines?

Brazilians are the prevailing look for most women these days—but are they a downright requirement? For starters, we keep hearing about more merkins (i.e. coochie toupees) in Hollywood—and actresses' attitudes toward them. Kate Winslet joked with Allure about having one made for her (that she didn't wear) in The Reader, and when Amy Landecker talked about hers in A Serious Man, she was quick to point out that the hair wasn't really hers.

Do you remove your arm hair?

Maybe not surprising, seeing how characters' bikini lines have been used in other movies. In Sex and the City, Cynthia Nixon's prompted her friends to tease her for letting herself go; Malin Ackerman's defense in The Heartbreak Kid that she doesn't have a Brazilian because they make her feel like a little girl is followed later by a sight gag involving a merkin the size of Harpo Marx's head designed to leave the audience cringing. What do you think: Are Brazilians a basic part of good grooming for everyone—or is it every woman for herself?

Related: Spa advertisements lay on the pressure for women to remove body hair. Is it too much?

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 20
  • None's Avatar
    Posted by None Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:04am PDT

    why would it have to be mandatory?

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  • Joe's Avatar
    Posted by Joe Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:15am PDT

    Pls explain the concept of a Merkin. When exactly is this used?

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  • InLove's Avatar
    Posted by InLove Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:15am PDT

    It's a personal choice. I think that if you are going to have a bathing suit on in public then you need to have a bikini line wax to remove the visible parts, but a Brazilian is up to the individual. Personally, I always have a Brazilian.

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  • Cranberry Lips's Avatar
    Posted by Cranberry Lips Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:49am PDT

    I think it's so nasty grown women want to look like pre-pubescent little girls.... and it's even nastier that grown men are attracted by that.

    Makes you wonder why there's so much kiddie porn and pedophiles around.

    Report Abuse
  • Rebekah's Avatar
    Posted by Rebekah Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:05am PDT

    Of course not. News flash...not all women choose to get waxed. In fact, most women don't. The idea that it's some standard, mandatory? basic good grooming? is ridiculous and insulting. The length of your pubic hair has nothing to do with hygiene, believe it or not. And waxing can be dangerous--women sometimes get infections skin is removed along with hair. Not to mention that many women get ingrown hairs. And how itchy and uncomfortable is it letting hair grow back in just so it gets long enough that you can rip it back out? And how ridiculous and, frankly, stupid is it to have all of your pubic hair removed, then pay to have a "merkin" so you look like you have pubic hair? Make up your freakin' mind. If a woman chooses to get a brazilion or any other wax because she likes the look and feel, good for her. But don't expect it to become some kind of standard.

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  • Mindy's Avatar
    Posted by Mindy Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:06am PDT

    Cranberry Lips....EXACTLY!!!

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  • Shannon's Avatar
    Posted by Shannon Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:19am PDT

    I've never been waxed. I'm quite content with shaving and tweezing the visible offenders. I don't see the point of going through something painful, akward, and where I live, expensive. If my boyfriend doesn't like it, tough. Sex is sex. If you want it, deal with a natural part of the body. And besides, there is a reason we have pubic hair. Why remove a vital part of protection?

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  • sarah's Avatar
    Posted by sarah Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:43am PDT

    i will say, once you have been waxed, it just makes sense to get the full monty. i've had both a regular and a Brazillian, and i felt cheated with just the regular.

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  • Tiffany's Avatar
    Posted by Tiffany Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:02am PDT

    If u wear a bathing suit then u need 2 have a bikini waw bt other than that u don't need any thing wax x-cept may-b ur eyebrows n thats it b-cuz the hair just grows bak thiker

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  • GretchenW's Avatar
    Posted by GretchenW Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:02am PDT

    Hot wax smeared on privates with the purpose of ripping hair out so the woman can look like a 7-year-old.

    Makes tons of sense. Not.

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