Brazilian Laser Hair Removal Study
Report Prepared by
Dr Philippa McCaffery and Dr Gabrielle Caswell
Cosmetic Physician's Society of Australasia
Why are Australian women choosing permanent pubic hair removal?
Aim
This study aims to understand why the phenomenon of the “brazilian” has become, in less than a decade, such a broadly requested pubic hair reduction method for women. The study also aims to elucidate the reasons for women seeking permanent pubic hair removal.
Background
Most clinical studies concerning hair removal, to date, have focused on methods of removing hair in the management of hirsuitism. Few social scientific studies have concerned the practices of women's routine hair removal (Basow, 1991; Tiggemann & Kenyon, 1998).
Somewhat more common are psychological investigations into the impact on women of hirsuitism ( Barth, Catalan, Cherry, & Day, 1993; Kitzinger & Willmott, 2002; Rabinowitz, Cohen, & Le Roith, 1983). However, Basow and Braman (1998) showed that negative perceptions of women's body hair are not confined to hirsuitism. In their study, participants, who were randomly assigned to watch a video-recording of the same bikiniclad woman either with or without visible body hair, judged the woman as less attractive, intelligent, sociable, happy, and positive when hairy than when hairless.
The presence of hair on a woman's body can, therefore, be problematic irrespective of whether or not it fits the medical definition of hirsuitism. As Ferrante (1988) concluded: "Perhaps it is because the division between masculine and feminine hair growth is physiologically arbitrary yet socially and psychologically rigid that any amount deviating from hairlessness is threatening. A woman never knows when she may have crossed the boundary" (p. 231).
These studies suggest that most women within cultures that view body hair as masculine, will remove at least some of their hair. The only two published social psychological surveys on women's hair removal strongly support this hypothesis: Basow (1991) found that 81% of the professional North American women in her sample reported removing their leg and/or underarm hair; and Tiggemann and Kenyon (1998) found that 91.5% of their Australian university student sample removed their leg hair, and 93% removed their underarm hair.
Tiggemann and Kenyon also surveyed a group of Australian high school students, and found similar results: 92% reported removing their leg hair, and 91.2% their underarm hair. Industry reports provide similarly high statistics (Hope, 1982); for example, Chapkis (1986) cited the "Epilator 2700" estimate that between 85 and 90% of women have body hair that they would prefer to be rid of.
Removing hair completely from the genital area is relatively new to modern Western cultures, becoming popular in the 20th century. In Australia the practice of waxing or shaving the pubic area did not become common place until the 1990s.
The Brazilian wax originated in Brazil for women wanting to wear the then-new thong bikinis. The “Brazilian” involves removing all pubic hair from the mons pubis, labia and the bikini line. Some hair may be left on the mons pubis depending on individual patient preference.
Getting a “Brazilian” was popularised on shows such as Sex and the City and within the past 3 years is as commonly advertised by Beauty Therapists and Laser Hair Removal clinics as other more traditional beauty and cosmetic treatments.
This method of hair removal has evolved from a cult phenomenon to being a treatment favoured by women of all ages, all cultures and socio-economic groups undergoing laser hair removal for genital hair.
With the advent of medical laser hair removal, it is now possible for women to permanently reduce unwanted genital hair. This study aims to elucidate the reasons for women seeking to permanently reduce genital hair. And, in particular, the study is seeking to determine whether anecdotal reports of sexual pleasure enhancement, following brazilian laser hair removal, are reflected in the responses of the study group.
This is a first attempt to understand a contempory female issue and it is envisaged further International studies will follow.
The study was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire, encouraging those participating to be as candid as possible. Now that the pilot study is completed and preliminary data analysed, it is proposed to conduct a larger study across all states in Australia.
Methodology
The CPSA conducted a pilot study of 90 female patients undergoing laser hair removal at a number of laser hair removal clinics in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. Completed surveys from the general public were also submitted via the internet. The study's aim was to answer the following questions:
1. What percentage of female patients undergoing laser hair removal of pubic hair seek the “brazilian” method as their preferred method of hair removal.
What are the main reasons for these women seeking the “brazilian” method. Are these reasons :
2a Cultural / Religious
2b: Aesthetic – is the current trend for removal of female pubic hair via the “brazilian” method simply a fashion trend, driven by media inspired models of best appearance
2c: Hygiene – do women feel “ cleaner” removing all their pubic hair
2d: Sexual – does removing pubic hair enhance sexual pleasure
2e: Other
Questionnaire
You are invited to participate in a study of female hair removal preferences, in particular, the “Brazilian”. This study aims to understand the underlying reasons for women seeking permanent hair removal via the “Brazilian” method. Your participation in this study is voluntary and anonymous. Your laser therapist will hand you this questionnaire.
Please complete the questionnaire and return it to your Laser Hair Removal Clinic. You can return your questionnaire in person or by fax. The results will be analysed and submitted for publication to relevant medical journals. We appreciate your participation and results of the study will be widely published at all participating Clinics.
Your Date of Birth:
Residential postcode:
Country of Birth:
Please tick the from the list of reasons listed below, the one which best describes your main reason(s) for seeking a “ Brazilian “ laser hair removal treatment. You may tick more than one reason. If none of the reasons listed fits your best reason, please outline your reason for seeking permanent pubic hair removal in the “ Other “ category:
1. Cultural : Removal of pubic hair is a cultural norm for me
The person who first recommended hair removal to me was:
A family member A friend Other ( specify )
I started removing pubic hair at age:
Aesthetic: I prefer the appearance of: minimal / no pubic hair
I started removing my pubic hair at age:
Hygiene: I feel cleaner removing my pubic hair
I started removing pubic hair at age:
Sexual : I experience greater sexual pleasure will minimal / no pubic hair
I would recommend removing pubic hair to other women as a way of improving their sex life Yes No
Other : The reason I have chosen to remove my pubic hair permanently is ( please specify )
Results
The study was conducted over a three week period in March to April 2007, in 4 Laser Hair Removal Clinics in metropolitan Sydney, located in Edgecliff, Bondi Junction, Parramatta and Canterbury as well as internet contributions via the CPSA website: www.cosmeticphyicians.org.au
In clinic questionnaires were handed to all clients requesting “ brazilian” laser hair removal. Completion of the questionnaire was voluntary.
Clients surveyed ranged in age from 20 to 51 years.
44% of clients were in the 20 – 30 year age range;
33% of clients were in the 30 - 40 age range;
20% of clients were aged 40 – 50 years; and
3% were older than 50 years.
90 completed questionnaires were analysed to provide the following results:
63% of clients reported feeling “sexier” with minimal/ no pubic hair.
75% of clients reported “ aesthetic” as a major reason for removing their pubic hair, 71% reported “hygiene” as a major reason for removing pubic hair. 17% reported “cultural” as a major reason for removing their pubic hair.
60% of clients reported experiencing greater sexual pleasure with minimal/no pubic hair and
61% of clients said they would recommend “brazilian” hair removal to other women as a way of improving their sex life.
Discussion
This study is the first to attempt to document and elucidate the reasons for the widespread adoption of a cultural norm, previously confined to one sector of the female community (ie Middle Eastern women ), by females of all ages within a multicultural society in Australia.
Whilst the high percentage of woman reporting “aesthetic” and “hygiene” as major reasons for removing pubic hair was expected, the equally high percentage of women reporting an increase in sexual pleasure following laser hair removal of pubic hair and their recommendation of it to other woman as a way of improving their sex life, significantly surpassed the author’s expectations.
The observation that the simple act of removing pubic hair can significantly improve sexual pleasure for women has potentially profound ramifications for the study of female sexual function.
The last significant study on the female sexual response was The Hite Report on Female Sexuality (1976, Macmillan and Bertelsmann). It is interesting to note that this study is now over 30 years old.
Dr Hite states "In my research, I found that 72% of women did not regularly have orgasm during coitus, yet 93% could reach orgasm easily and pleasurably with self-stimulation that was dissimilar to the stimulation received during coitus. Thus I concluded that women do not have a problem; it is society that has a problem with its definition of sex that should be changed to include the stimulation women need."
Dr Hite’s finding that the majority of woman did not experience orgasm during intercourse was ground breaking and highly controversial at the time.
30 years on, the physiology of female sexual excitation and the exact mechanism of female organism remains unclear, despite this being the 21 century and a time when the entire human genome has been mapped.
Whatever the reasons underlying this apparent anomaly, if one considers the anatomy, it makes great sense that removing the pubic hair and thereby the physical barrier between a female and her sexual partner, would significantly improve the female’s sexual pleasure. Males after all do not have hair on their penises and therefore, experience no barrier to their skin’s sensory receptors.
Therefore it is also possible that removing pubic hair and the physical barrier to direct skin to skin stimulation of the clitoris during intercourse, could increase the incidence of women experiencing orgasm during intercourse.
If this simple solution allowed a significant number of woman to experience orgasm during intercourse (who were not previously able to do so), it would turn the revisionist view of sex espoused by Dr Hite, which has been generally accepted by most females over the past 30 years, right back on its head.
It is beyond the expertise of the authors to enter the debate on female sexual dysfunction, however, at a time when a number of drug companies are searching for the female “Viagra” to meet the perceived demand from women, we would submit that removing pubic hair should be offered as a safe and side effect free option for woman who are experiencing difficulty with sexual arousal and indeed, for any female seeking enhanced sexual pleasure.
We hope that relevant researchers use the information from this study to further elucidate the physiology of female sexual function.
References
Basow, S.A. (1991). The hairless ideal: Women and their body hair. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 15, 83-96.
The hairlessness norm: the removal of body hair in women : Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, Dec 1988 : Marika Tiggerman, Sarah J Kenyon
Barth JH, Catalan J, Cherry CA, Day A. 1993 Psychological morbidity in women referred for treatment of hirsutism. J Psychol Res. 37:615–619Barth, Catalan, Cherry, & Day, 1993;
Kitzinger, C., & Willmott, J. (2002). The thief of womanhood: Women's experience of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Social Science & Medicine, 54, 349-361. Kitzinger & Willmott, 2002;
1983 Dec;53(3 Pt 1):827-30. Anxiety and hirsutism. Rabinowitz S, Cohen R, Le Roith Rabinowitz, Cohen, & Le Roith, 1983)
Basow, S. A., Braman, A.C. (1998). Women and body hair: Social perceptions and attitudes.Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22, 637-645. Basow and Braman (1998)
BMJ 2003 326 45-47 ( 4 January ) education and Debate The making of a disease: female sexual dysfuction Ray Moynihan journalist
The Hite Report on Female Sexuality (1976, Macmillan and Bertelsmann)
Jennifer Cunningham, Jan 17th, 2003, Hite Research International
