I got my first wax senior year of college for spring break in Miami. I decided to opt out of the beginner bikini option and went for the full monty: the Brazilian wax. For those who may be unfamiliar on what a Brazilian wax is, it's a technique where all of the pubic hair is removed from front to back, leaving you as smooth and as bare down there as a baby.
It was a beautiful sunny Saturday, so my girlfriends and I picked a salon and set up a group appointment to get our first waxes just in time to hit the beach. I was so excited, but I also had no idea what to expect. We were a group of novices in the wax world all joining forces to accomplish the same mission. This may sound dramatic, but as each of us entered the salon rooms one by one, I could hear a couple of them squeal in pain. A few of the other rooms remained silent. Were they dead? Did they pass out? What's going on in there?! Those were just a few of the many thoughts running through my mind until the wax beautician called out my name. It was finally my turn to find out and face the music.
While lying on the soft terry cloth table, my beautician tried her best to make small talk with me in efforts to distract me from the task at hand. She won and I was caught off-guard every single time. Each pull was fast and painful. The sting would last for a few seconds, but when placing her hand over each area after the pull, the pain settled. These steps repeated multiple times while being put in every compromising position to get the job done. About halfway through, I told her I wanted to stop and then I looked down at how ridiculous “my half-assed situation" looked and was forced to continue until every hair was gone.
In the end, I absolutely loved the results.
Not only did I feel fresh and smooth, but the comfort in knowing that I wouldn't have to worry about my nether regions for a few weeks put me at ease! The whole experience made me curious of why other women get waxes and who they get them for, if anyone.
My girlfriends and I have had numerous discussions as to why we wax. Let me introduce you to a few of them:
For Special Occasions
Tiffany: “I didn't really think it was all that painful or unbearable. It's definitely NOTHING like getting your eyebrows waxed of course, but my experience wasn't terrible and I loved the results. I'd definitely do it again. I also choose to wax when I know I will be wearing bikinis. I like the clean look and not having to feel self-conscious about what bikinis I can and can't wear. It makes me feel free and I like that."
Sade: “I usually get waxes for special occasions. It makes the hair lighter after a while, which I like and if I haven't gone in a while, it's not as hairy or painful. When I had a boo, I did it for him, but then after a while, I just liked the general upkeep here and there. I used to go every six weeks, now I make sure to schedule 4-5 appointments over the course of the year. It makes me feel like I'm maintaining myself, similar to the feeling of getting your nails done."
Summer: “Well, I don't get waxes every month like I used to. I will every once in a while. Initially, I was getting them because I didn't want to shave… then, I got married. I do like how clean it looks and feels, but moral of the story is that I cared before I got married. I don't really do it much anymore because it's super painful, and I mean, he's going to want it regardless."
For A Man
Maria: “I JUST got a wax! It makes me feel fresh, clean, and sexy and I don't have to worry about razor bumps from shaving. When I get a wax, I'm ready to show off my kitty to anyone!"
For Herself
Brooke: “I've been getting waxed for so long that I consider it part of my regular beauty regimen. In the same way that I get my nails done every other week or get my hair done weekly, I get a wax every month. It makes me feel great and confident. And this way, I'm ready for bikini season year-round."
Christina: “Reluctantly, yes, I'm #teamwax. I haven't subjected myself to the torture since December since it's been cold and no one's clearly been on my lawn, but I'll get them when spring gets here. I definitely get them for the confidence and sexy factor. And a groomed lawn definitely makes sexy undies look better."
Sam: “I get Brazilians regularly. I feel cleaner when it's all gone and it's really smooth. It lasts longer than shaving too. I go about every five weeks and I get them for myself. The older I get, the more I like doing those things for me."
We all have various reasons why we maintain the upkeep of our lady parts. For me personally, I get waxed sporadically. Although again, I love the results, it's a lot of maintenance that I'm just too lazy to put in. It's also uncomfortable and costly over time. I believe a Brazilian can range from $30-$50 depending on where you get it done.
Add that up over the course of every 3-4 weeks, and you get the picture. If I had my way, I would laser it away so I wouldn't have to deal with it ever again. That day might be in my near future, but until then, I'll stick with my sporadic routine. Perhaps over the summer or for vacation, or maybe for my man. I'll do it whenever I feel like it.
What about you? Do you relate to me or any of my friends? What type of wax do you prefer and who do you wax it off for?
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Those myths that you keep telling yourself, and believe to be true may be what's holding you back, boo. Most of the time you're thinking these things on a subconscious level and may not even realize the damage that's being done. But once you gain clarity and call out your limiting beliefs for what they are, you'll finally be able to break free and reach new levels financially.
Let's dig into a few myths that have a direct impact on your money and are keeping you BROKE.
1. “Money is the root of all evil.”
Nah, this right here is a straight-up LIE! The truth is this: the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil. When you think that money is the root of all evil, you're limiting yourself from keeping money, as well as receiving more of it. Without even knowing it, you might be scared of going after opportunities that will get you to the money.
Think about it. How can money be evil? Money is simply a resource that we control. Instead of believing and saying that money is the root of all evil, replace it with this supporting belief instead:
"Money is a resource and a means to do good and live well."
2. "I'm broke."
Broke is a mindset, boo. Your financial situation is shaped by how you think about money, which influences how you manage your money. Guess what? If you keep crying that you're broke, you're going to remain that way. All you are doing is reinforcing that limiting belief into the universe and your actions aren't gonna line up with what you need to do in order to get ahead.
It's imperative that you get a grip on this way of thinking and behaving, or else you'll never be able to break the cycle. I challenge you to think more in terms of abundance and believing that you can be wealthy. Are you up for the challenge?
3. "I can afford it."
You say that you can afford that pair of shoes and then turn around and realize that you don't even have enough money for gas the morning after. You can't just look at your checking account balance in the moment and think that everything is all good. Trust me, I've been there. This is where having a clear-cut, written budget comes in handy.
A budget is really just a spending/savings plan. It's a strategic system that lets you know how much money is coming in and going out every month. In reality, a budget can:
- Help you understand your financial situation and whether you can really afford something or not.
- Help you save for the things you want and do more of what you enjoy.
- Help you avoid getting caught short by bills you can't pay.
- Help you escape the paycheck-to-paycheck life.
4. "I deserve to treat myself."
GiphyHow many "treats" do you need, sis? If you really sit down and keep it 100 with yourself, do you really deserve those so-called treats? Are you taking care of your responsibilities like you should be? Instead of buying things that you don't need (with money you don't have) and labeling them as a "treat," you should be treating yourself by investing in your future and saving some coins.
If you spend all of the money that you earn instead of saving and investing it, you will never create the financial abundance that you do desire to have.
Here's a tip: Try putting both your short-term and long-term savings on auto-pilot so you don't even notice the money that you could be missing. When you don't have to look at it, you aren't tempted by any "excess" that you might have.
5. "I need to make more money and then I'll be better with my finances."
If you can't manage the little that you have now, what makes you think that you're gonna be able to manage more money? The more money you make, the more you're gonna spend if you don't get those habits in check early on. You're going to go right back to complaining about your finances and crying that you're still broke and in need of even more money. You'll never be satisfied. There will never be enough money. Remember, there are former millionaires who are struggling out here in these streets because they wanted to live a "fake fancy" lifestyle and ball out of control.
Start by being content with the income that you currently have and handling it with better care. Learn the ins and outs of sound financial management now, so that when you're finally blessed with more, you'll be able to manage it with ease.
I challenge you to start thinking better, which will ultimately lead to you doing better. It's time to prioritize your finances in a way that you haven't done before if you want to level up this year. It's time to activate your discipline. It's time to finally do something different.
Make the commitment to yourself and decide that absolutely nothing's gonna stand in your way of breaking that broke mentality.
What’s better than being in love? Building an empire while doing it. Watch Making Cents to see how real couples turn their money dreams into money moves.
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Originally published on January 5, 2018