So I’m reading up on this Brazilian bikini wax controversy and I’m going to get back to you all with some answers, and some details on sugar waxing. But for now, as I’m preparing for a bikini wax of my own, I thought I’d share some tips on how to prepare for one. First, make sure you exfoliate the area the night before. In reality you should be exfoliating the area at least every other day to prevent ingrowns. But you want to slough off the dead skin so you get a smooth wax. Then make sure to trim the hair, if needed. You want about a quarter to half-inch of growth, no more. Now if you want, you can take a Tylenol a half hour before the wax to reduce the pain. But take it from someone who’s tried everything from Advil to a glass of wine beforehand—it’s gonna hurt no matter what you do. However, we’re more sensitive to the pain during our time of the month, so schedule accordingly.