Shanghai's ladies tentatively explore Brazilian depilation

The West's predilection for snipping, cutting and tucking away at bodily parts in the pursuit of beauty has caught on in the East, but there seems to be one beauty treatment that is taking a while to snatch up China's interest - Brazilian waxing.

Brazilian waxing, as the name suggests, originates from Brazil. Brazilian women are obsessed with depilation due to their famous dental floss bikinis and vibrant Rio Carnival, where naked bodies in glistening gold spray and sequined thongs are seen atop bejewelled floats.
There are three types of waxing for down south: bikini, Playboy and Brazilian. A bikini wax removes all hair outside of the panty line, leaving a small triangle. The Playboy leaves a very narrow strip in the vaginal area. The Brazilian goes all the way.

To many, it may seem unnatural, but advocates claim it frees up options for what one can wear and improves one's sex life. The downside is that within two weeks the stubble is unsightly and in a month it will all grow back.

While Brazilian waxing has gained devotion in the West and many popular followers, including celebrities like Kirstie Alley, Paula Yates and Gwyneth Paltrow, it is relatively new in China.
Talking to five young Chinese working women, four did not know of Brazilian waxing.

"Chinese don't go for this, as we are not that hairy. Maybe for arms and legs but I won't do it there," Xu Pei Feng, 23, says. Cindi Zhang and Selin Zhu both agreed that pain is one factor that would hold them back.

"I would feel more comfortable doing it if I heard others had already tried it," Zhu says. "Waxing on arms and legs is already painful enough, but what about these more sensitive areas?"

Dragonfly is one of the few places in Shanghai that offers waxing services. They were only started at the request of customers. Seventy percent who go for Brazilian waxing are expatriates while 30 percent are Chinese working women.

"It's more of a habit, a lifestyle choice. It's something that if you try it once, you'll keep doing it. However, it can be difficult for some women to overcome the intimidation of revealing such intimate parts," Georgie Yam, CEO of Dragonfly says.

Glossy fashion magazines have slowly introduced Chinese women to these exotic western practices.

"Chinese ladies are getting open-minded about treatments, whether it's make-up, hair or even plastic surgery," Yam says. "So removing excess hair from the body is not a big deal."

In the name of research, I decide to try it out. Following Amanda, the beautician, upstairs of Dragonfly's Xinle outlet, I feel my stomach churn. Inside the dimly lit room, I try to prepare myself, but it feels uncomfortable for a stranger to see me naked.

"Relax, treat this as a visit to your gynaecologist," Amanda reassures me.

Yet, it's hard to act nonchalant when you are bare and a stranger is handling your nether regions. The warm sensation of the hot wax is the prelude to what I fear -- the ripping. With a count of "one, two, three!" Amanda does it in one swift stroke as I gasp. Contrary to belief, the stinging pain is bearable and lasts as long as it comes. The waxing is over in 15 minutes. Peering down, I like what I see. | Yeow Hui Ling