One day I visited a salon in my neighbourhood for hair services. The staff persuaded me to get a Brazilian wax (waxing genital hair). I reluctantly said the doctors don’t recommend that, and I’m unsure if I want it.
“Doctors just say that. We have many doctors coming and getting a Brazilian wax. It is good for vaginal health,” said the staff. I was convinced, so I got it. I was expecting to feel itchy for a few days as the staff informed me that the vaginal area is usually itchy for 3-4 days after waxing.
A week passed, and I experienced increased itchiness. This continued after four days. Again, I did not know what to do. Days passed, and it got worse. There were red bumps on my vulva, and I had difficulty sitting, walking, or even focusing on a task. It was painful, and I was clueless about what to do. I felt very helpless, annoyed, and scared.
Previously I consulted a gynaecologist for vaginal health-related issues. This time it was different. I was feeling inhibited from really consulting anyone because I judged myself for getting waxing done. I wish seeing a doctor for the vaginal area felt as normal as visiting a doctor for stomach aches, headaches, etc.
I thought with time, it would be okay. I used cream and oil. I frequently washed my vulva in the hope that it would get better. About a month passed, but nothing worked, and I realised I needed to see a doctor. I couldn’t continue with home remedies.
I spoke to a cousin whose friend was a doctor. My cousin shared my condition with her friend, and the doctor requested a picture of my vulva. I was self-conscious but had no choice, so I shared. She prescribed me medicine and informed me I had contracted a skin infection. It didn’t come as a surprise because, in the past month, my vulva showed symptoms of growing red bumps and rashes, and I was living in pain.
I was also disappointed that I let myself suffer for almost a month. I should have consulted the doctor earlier. After receiving the doctor’s medical prescription, I was anxious about what had happened to me. My cousin comforted me and said that I’d get better. After taking medication, I recovered within 7-10 days. I felt relieved.
However, the experience made me very angry at the salon for wrongfully forcing their services on me. That one conversation with the staff cost me more than 1000 bucks. It affected my health. These Brazilian waxes are very high priced. In most places, the starting range is 1000 rupees.
Salon alone doesn’t create a trap. I believe social media acts as an enabler. The social media representation of the vaginal images without genital hair naturally influences my mind. I begin to question why my vaginal area is dark and hairy? Is it hygienic or not? And I imagine a flaw in my vaginal appearance. Such content communicates to me that females should get the genital hair area removed or should brighten it.
The salon takes advantage of such media representations. They market Brazilian waxing in the name of vaginal hygiene. Medically removing genital hair is not required, but one may remove it based on comfort and skin type. Unfortunately, most removal processes like the cream and waxing can also cause skin infections.
Like these services, not every product advertised for women is needed or suited for every skin type. Vaginal washes are one of these products. It was quite later I learned that vagina is a self-cleaning organ.
I have grown up watching advertisements like this. After using the intimate wash product in this ad, the couple started having playful moments. The vaginal area is shown with a darker inner thigh, and the ad claims “freshness jo rangat nikhare,” meaning the product that shines up the colour and freshens the area.
These are such unethical marketing strategies, sexualising the vagina. The message is clear ladies better use these products or else you will be unhappy, just like the woman represented in the ad. These products and campaigns are sexist.
While there are intimate care products for men, I haven’t come across any intimate care product advertisements sexualising the penis (even if the ad exists). I remember watching v wash or other intimate care products only for women.
Recalling my early 20s, most friends talked about using intimate wash products and genital hair removal. Oddly itchiness after removing genital hair was normalised as most of us experienced it. What was not normalised were the colour, genital hair, and odour of the vaginal area.
First, I’m conditioned to hate my vaginal area, and then the feminine hygiene industry capitalises very cleverly on my fear. As a result, the increased commercial practices of selling Brazilian waxing services, intimate care, and vaginal whitening products must be monitored and challenged.
In my exploration of “how to maintain vaginal hygiene?” I have practised different vaginal care tips and tried most things; I used intimate wash products, hair removal creams, and razors.
I thank Seema Anand, sexual health educator, for deconstructing negative body images through her storytelling. I wish I had a teacher like her during my early teenage years. I’m in the process of loving my vulva for what it is and unlearning what the media represents. I practice vulva care in light of what suits my skin and not what salons/advertisers tell me to do.
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