What separates these areas is how much hair is left and whether the cleft between the buttocks is treated. The bikini line is only what shows outside your underwear. A Brazilian, also called full bikini, is everything at the front and between the legs. Hollywood is the same plus the perianal area at the back, so no hair is left anywhere. Below we go through each area by its borders, explain where the confusion in the names comes from, and what people choose more often for laser.
Three areas by their borders
The names sound similar, but the borders are different, and the borders are what the price and the length of the session depend on.
The perianal area can also be taken on its own, if you used to do only the full bikini and decided to finish the area off.
| Area | What it covers | What is left | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bikini line | the strips along the edges of underwear, the triangle on top | most of the hair | 15-30 min |
| Full bikini (Brazilian) | everything at the front, pubis, labia, between the legs | a strip if you want one, or nothing | 30-45 min |
| Hollywood | full bikini plus the perianal area, the cleft between the buttocks | nothing | 30-45 min |
Where the confusion in the names comes from
Different salons name the same areas differently, and that is the main source of misunderstandings when booking. "Brazilian" came from waxing: there it means everything at the front and between the legs, usually with a narrow strip of hair left. Laser salons more often call the same area "full bikini" and use "Brazilian" as a synonym. Hollywood means the same everywhere: nothing is left, including the cleft at the back.
Another source of confusion is "total bikini". It is not a separate area but a marketing name, and in one salon it means the full bikini, in another Hollywood. So when booking, ask not about the name but about the borders: does it include the area between the legs and the area at the back?
What people choose more often for laser
With waxing many people stop at a full bikini with a strip, because the procedure hurts and they would rather not extend it. With laser the logic is different: the larger the area treated, the less regrowth shows between sessions, and the border between the treated and untreated skin becomes noticeable over time. So if you want the hair gone completely, it makes sense to take Hollywood from the start: the perianal area can be added later, but then its schedule of sessions runs separately from the rest of the area.
The second reason is ingrown hairs. They appear most often in the folds and along the underwear line, where the skin rubs. Laser removes the hair itself and with it the cause of the ingrowth. More in does laser hair removal help with ingrown hairs.
Sources: NHS, ingrown hairs
Does it hurt and how many sessions are needed
Skin there is thin, the hair is dense and there are more nerve endings, so the intimate area feels sharper than legs or arms. The sensation is described as sharp heat and a snap of an elastic band rather than pain. Which areas are the most sensitive is covered in does laser hair removal hurt. Contact cooling of the handpiece takes away most of the discomfort: the skin is chilled at the moment of the pulse. Many people find the perianal area easier to sit through than the front: it is small and needs only a few pulses.
A course for the intimate area takes 6-10 sessions, like other areas, the first three 4-5 weeks apart. After the course one or two maintenance sessions a year are needed. More on intervals in how often to do laser hair removal.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, laser hair removal
Hygiene and what matters in this area
The intimate area is the case where it is worth looking at the salon more closely. Look for a room that closes with a door, a disposable sheet and a specialist in gloves. The session is done lying down, the specialist treats the area section by section and gives you warning before each one. Feeling shy is normal, but for the specialist this is a routine area. If you are uncomfortable, say so directly, the pace and the order of sections can be changed.
Preparation is the usual one: shave the area the day before with a razor, no wax or tweezers for 3-4 weeks before the session, no creams on the day of the visit. During a period the full bikini is done with a tampon; it is not a contraindication, but many people prefer to reschedule because of the extra sensitivity. There is a separate article about it: can you get laser hair removal on your period.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, laser hair removal
How it works with us
At MEDULLA the three areas are separated by borders and by price: bikini line from 850 CZK, full bikini from 1700 CZK, Hollywood from 2400 CZK, the perianal area separately from 850 CZK. A full bikini with us is everything at the front and between the legs, Hollywood is the same plus the cleft at the back, and the difference is exactly that. At the consultation the specialist shows you the borders and asks whether to leave a strip.
Intimate areas are most often taken in packages: underarms and Hollywood for 2700 CZK instead of 3200 separately, full legs and full bikini for 4000 CZK instead of 5200. A package makes sense once you have decided to do a full course.
Reviewed by: MEDULLA team