A Brazilian wax removes hair from the labia and the area behind, but leaves a strip, triangle or small shape at the front. A Hollywood wax removes everything, front to back, with nothing left. That single line covers most of what people are actually trying to work out when they search for this, and it is the bit most salon websites talk around instead of answering.
Below is the rest of it: what each treatment actually involves, how long your hair needs to be beforehand, what the 48 hour rule means, and whether it is cheaper to wax or shave. Straight answers, not brochure copy.
Brazilian vs Hollywood wax at a glance
| Brazilian wax | Hollywood wax | |
|---|---|---|
| What's removed | Hair from the labia and the area behind | All hair, front to back |
| What's left | A strip, triangle or small shape at the front, your choice | Nothing |
| Typical appointment length | Around 15 to 20 minutes | Around 20 to 25 minutes |
| Best for | A tidy, natural line without going completely bare | Full clearance, no landing strip at all |
Both treatments use the same technique on the same areas. The only real variable is what happens at the front.
What stays the same matters too. Fresh wax for every client, single-use spatulas, clean linen on the couch and a consultation before the therapist starts, covering allergies, skin sensitivity and how much you want left at the front. That standard doesn't change between a Brazilian and a Hollywood: only the front line does.
Is Brazilian or Hollywood wax better?
Neither is objectively better: it comes down to what you want left at the front, not the skill or hygiene involved. A Brazilian suits anyone who wants tidiness without going fully bare. A Hollywood suits anyone who finds even a small strip gets in the way, whether that is for comfort, for how clothing sits, or simply preference. Some clients switch between the two depending on the season or what they have planned. There is no clinical reason to pick one over the other.
What's the difference between a Brazilian and a Hollywood wax?
The difference is entirely at the front. Both treatments clear the labia and the area behind in the same way, using the same wax, at the same standard of thoroughness. A Brazilian stops short of the very front of the pubic area and leaves a small amount of hair there, usually a landing strip, a triangle or a rounded shape, whichever you choose before the therapist starts. A Hollywood carries straight through that area too, so there is no hair left anywhere.
If you are searching for the difference between a Brazilian and Hollywood wax expecting it to be about how much of the intimate area is covered, it isn't. Coverage is identical. Only the front strip changes.
Do they wax the lips in a Brazilian?
Yes. A Brazilian wax includes the outer labia, which is why a trained therapist and the right wax matter more here than on a leg or an arm. Reputable salons use hot wax for this area rather than strip wax, because hot wax hardens around the hair itself rather than gripping the skin, which is far less likely to bruise or tear delicate tissue. If a salon is offering to wax this area with strip wax, that is worth asking about before you book.
Does a Hollywood wax include the bum hole?
Yes, and so does a Brazilian. This is the part most people get wrong: they assume the area between the cheeks is what separates a Brazilian from a Hollywood. It isn't. Both treatments clear that area in full. The distinction between the two only exists at the front, not at the back. If a strip or triangle at the front is the one thing you want kept, ask for a Brazilian. If you want everything gone, front and back, that's a Hollywood.
How long does hair need to be for waxing?
Roughly the length of a grain of rice, about 5mm. That's the shortest length wax can grip firmly enough to pull the whole hair out, root included, rather than snapping it at the surface. Hair that's too short gets left behind in patches, and hair that's grown well past this length can make the appointment more uncomfortable than it needs to be, since longer hair means more pulling.
This minimum comes from the hair growth cycle. Hair in its active growing phase, known as anagen, is anchored to the follicle and comes away cleanly when there's enough length for the wax to hold. Hair that's too short simply isn't held by the follicle strongly enough for the wax to catch it, so a four to six week gap between waxes tends to work best: long enough to hit 5mm again, not so long that the appointment becomes a bigger job than it needs to be.
If your hair has grown well past that point, don't reach for scissors beforehand. A therapist will trim it down to the right length before waxing, which is quicker and more even than doing it yourself at home, and it avoids the uneven regrowth that comes from a rushed trim the night before.
Do I shave before a Brazilian wax?
No. Shaving beforehand does the opposite of what you want: it cuts hair off at skin level, so by the time your appointment comes round there's nothing long enough for the wax to grip. If you're switching over from shaving, stop and let the hair grow out to the 5mm mark first, even if that means turning up to your first appointment less smooth than you'd like. One hairier visit beats a wax that can't catch half the hair and leaves you with patchy regrowth.
Can you be too hairy for a Brazilian wax?
No. There's no hair growth that rules you out of a Brazilian or Hollywood wax. If it's grown past a comfortable length, the therapist trims it shorter before starting, the same as for any client who's left a longer gap between appointments. The only length that actually causes a problem is too short, not too long.
Hot wax vs strip wax for intimate areas
Hot wax is the standard for a Brazilian or Hollywood. It's applied warm, left to set, then peeled off in one piece without a cloth or paper strip. Because it bonds to the hair rather than the skin, it lifts cleanly with less pulling on delicate tissue, which matters far more here than on legs or arms.
Strip wax has its place: it's faster to apply over large, less sensitive areas like legs or backs, so most salons use it there. For intimate waxing, though, hot wax is the more comfortable and lower-irritation choice, and it's what you should expect a properly trained therapist to reach for.
What is the 48 hour rule for waxing?
For 48 hours after a wax, the advice is to avoid anything that stresses the skin while the follicles recover: hot baths or showers (lukewarm is fine), sunbathing, sunbeds and swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms, tight or synthetic underwear, and exfoliating or touching the area. Waxing opens the follicle, which leaves the skin more reactive than usual for a short window. Skip the rule and you're more likely to see redness, small bumps or ingrown hairs than if you'd simply left the area alone for two days.
Preventing ingrown hairs after waxing
Past the initial 48 hours, a few habits keep ingrown hairs down: gentle exfoliation two or three days before your next appointment (not straight after this one), loose breathable underwear rather than tight synthetics, and leaving the area alone rather than picking at anything that looks like a bump. Most ingrown hairs settle on their own within a few days. If something looks infected, swollen or doesn't clear up, see a GP rather than treating it yourself.
Do gynaecologists recommend Brazilian wax?
There's no single clinical position on this, and it isn't a decision a salon can make for you. Some raise the point that removing all pubic hair can mean slightly more friction and a higher chance of small skin irritations, though correct technique and following the 48 hour rule reduce that risk considerably. It comes down to personal choice and skin sensitivity rather than a medical recommendation either way. If you have a skin condition, are prone to infections, or notice anything unusual after waxing, that's a conversation for your GP, not something to self-diagnose.
Is it cheaper to wax or shave?
Per session, shaving is cheaper: a razor and some shaving gel cost very little compared with a salon appointment. But shaving needs repeating every two to four days to stay smooth, while a wax lasts three to six weeks. The true cost gap narrows once you account for how often each has to be done, plus replacement blades, cuts, and the stubble in between. Waxing also tends to produce finer regrowth over time, since repeated pulling can weaken the hair at the follicle, which shaving doesn't do at all.
For current session and course pricing, see the price list. A general UK salon Brazilian or Hollywood wax typically sits in the £25 to £45 range per visit, with courses working out cheaper per session than paying one at a time.
Book a Brazilian or Hollywood wax
Waxing runs at all three Skin & Beauty Box branches: Clifton Down, Westbury on Trym and Westbury Park. If you're due a first appointment or switching from shaving, the full waxing treatment page covers what to expect and how to book at your nearest salon.