What’s French for Bikini Wax? An Insider’s Guide to Grooming Like a Parisian

One kiss, two kisses? Tip, no tip? Doorman, door code? Lost in translation is a real thing. If you’ve ever found yourself alone in Paris, you know that it can be difficult enough to ask for a salad with the dressing on the side, or convince a Parisian cab driver to take you around the corner when he insists c’est pas possible. However, one subject in particular can pose a unique challenge when you’re a stranger in a strange land: waxing. A relative hush already exists around this topic stateside. So, when in the City of Light, who do you turn to, where do you go, and what should you even be requesting?

As it turns out, waxing in France is actually pretty straightforward. In fact, it is so casual and accepted as a part of everyday life that it is compared to taking the metro. Yes, as in the subway. “In France we have something called the ‘ticket de métro,’ ” explained Nadia Milachon, veteran esthéticienne at the L’Institut D’artois in Paris, a full-body spa nestled in the Eighth Arrondissement, trusted by models, actresses, and editors for keeping every inch from their toes to their fingertips in tip-top shape. Milachon went on to describe that grooming habits for many women in France revolve around requesting a slim rectangular strip of hair that resembles the shape and size of a Parisian metro ticket.

If the request is the norm, it’s certainly not the only option on the menu. The Clarins spa at Le Royal Monceau in Paris, which also confirmed the popularity of the “ticket de métro,” stressed that other styles are available, too. For example, those who prefer to remain completely bare can ask for the Américain also known as the intégral, which is essentially France’s version of our Brazilian—though they’ll find themselves among the minority. According to Aurore Brahame, an aesthetician at Le Royal Monceau’s spa, only three out of ten French women prefer the bare look. The other extreme, however, is experiencing a resurgence. As in the United States, “The trim neat bush is definitely becoming more and more au courant,” says Brahame of the service they call maillot échancré.

The translation? You won’t raise any eyebrows by sticking to your personal preference. Though, it should come as a comfort to know that if you want to experience life as a true Parisienne, all you have to do is ask for a ticket.

L’Institut D’artois
38bis Rue d’Artois, Paris
institutdartois.wordpress.com
011.33.1.53.76.22.20

Spa My Blend by Clarins at Le Royal Monceau
37 Avenue Hoche, Paris
leroyalmonceau.com
011.33.1.42.99.88.99

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